What does it take to live to over 100? "Research suggests our genetic makeup only accounts for 20 to 30% of our longevity. That leaves 70 to 80% to lifestyle choices — which means how you live your life can have a big impact on how long you live," says Geisinger Health System. Here are 11 longevity secrets from people who not only hit the 100 mark, but are still independent, healthy, and thriving.
Lenora, 102, swears by the Mediterranean diet. "People ask me what do I attribute my longevity to. In the first place I say I owe it all to God. God's been good to me," she told Northwell Health. "And I say olive oil because I eat a Mediterranean diet and I have always eaten a Mediterranean diet being from Italian background. And I have some neighbors that don't ever eat a vegetable but I eat my green vegetables and I eat raw vegetables and salads."
Angelina, 103, says staying single spared her plenty of stress. "You know when people ask you how do you stay so young… I said you know it's true if you don't have a husband, you don't have kids, so I don't get the stress and the stress is the biggest killer," she told Northwell Health. That's the answer."
Isadora, 102, walks as much as possible. "I do my walking every day because walking helps you a lot. I used to walk six miles a day," she told Northwell Health. "I did a lot of walking all the time."
Margaret, 101, stayed on top of all her appointments. "I'm very grateful that my health needs are met with a home health doctor who visits me monthly and that is a Godsend because my vision and hearing aren't that great and that keeps me going," she told Northwell Health. "I don't have to worry about getting transportation to my regular physician every month."
Ben 102, says his relationship with his grandchildren keeps him going. "To be in the situation I'm in and to have reasonably still have my health, but the main thing is I still have a quality of life because I have my grandchildren, my married son so we get together quite a bit."
Geraldine Karlan, 100, enjoys herself as much as possible. "As long as I stay well, I want to travel, I want to do things, I still want to dance," she told TODAY. "I like lobster. I like a steak. I like all the goodies of life."
Dr. Howard Tucker, 100, credits work for his healthy old age. "I think that to retire, one can face potential shriveling up and ending in a nursing home. It's fun staying alive and working… It's delightful work. Every day I learn something new," he told TODAY. "If (people) retire from their work, they should at least do something as a hobby, whether it be communal work or self-hobbies… you need a stimulus for the brain daily."
Les Savino, 100, does weight training and cardio several times a week. "It makes me feel good," he told TODAY. "Most people at 100 no longer enjoy life. My days are just as normal as when I was 30."
Gloria, 100, has a happy and positive approach to life. "Everybody asks me that same question and I really don't know how to answer it except that I'm a positive person to begin with," she told TODAY. "I've always looked at the positive side of things, I'm an optimist, I'm a happy person."
Priscilla, 100, swears by exercise and good sleep. "My secret is to exercise a lot. I used to exercise a lot," she told Northwell Health. "I'd do the push-up aerobics for about an hour each day but I haven't been doing it recently. Also eating healthy, getting plenty of sleep, and being a good listener. Listen to what people have to say instead of just ignoring them. If you want to help someone, you have to be a good listener in order to be compassionate for people."
Ben says his family is full of healthy centenarians and almost-centenarians. "I have had a 100 year old grandfather, 100 year old aunt, several aunts in their 90s, I had an older brother pass away at 97," he told Northwell Health. "I have a younger brother still living who's going to be 96, no he's going to be 97 also. So it's in the genes to a great extent."
