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Note: I wrote this post last week, long before Michael Mosley was found dead, and before I knew that my nan was dying. Her dementia has become so advanced that she hasn’t been able to swallow water or food since Friday. I will be at the care home today. I thought about not posting this blog, but given the context, the information in it is more important than ever. None of us know how long we have left to live, but we usually have influence over this.
My beloved nan, Nana Shirin, will turn 99 on the 25th of June. We know from her birth certificate that she was born in 1925. However, she was always cagey about her age; as a child, whenever I would ask her how old she was, she would wink at me and cackle in her strong Indian accent, ‘I am as old as my tongue and a little bit older than my teeth!’
My mum found out that, because Nana was desperate for people to think she was younger - maybe to be the same age as Queen Elizabeth II - she somehow altered her passport to say she was born in 1926. So, even if she makes it to 100, she won’t receive her card from King Charles until she’s 101!
However, it doesn’t make much difference under the circumstances, as sadly she has advanced dementia and is barely aware of anything anymore. That’s the thing about getting older: you’re much more likely to get ill, both physically and mentally. The idea of living to 100 is all very well, but only if you can remain independent and fully mobile.
Thankfully, 60% of our health outcomes are within our control - so here are five ways to live to 100.
Go vegan (and eat lots of rabbit food)
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I’ve flirted with veganism before, sliding myself down onto its massive sexy carrot, but this time I’m fully embracing it. Why? Because most studies show that vegans live longer. In one study, vegans were 15% less likely to die prematurely of all causes. Now, 15% isn’t a lot, but it’s quite significant if you would otherwise have died.
Also, it’s not just better for you, but for the planet - and animals, of course. Being dead doesn’t do them any good.
But there are two things you have to be aware of: firstly, there are vitamins and nutrients you won’t get from a vegan diet, so you need to take supplements. Here’s the list.
Secondly, it’s quite possible to be a very unhealthy vegan, living on processed and fried foods, and shorten your life. In fact, Healthline cited a study which proved this:
Improving the quality of a plant-based diet over 12 years may reduce the likelihood of dying prematurely by 10%. Conversely, reducing its quality over the same period may result in a 12% higher risk of premature death.
So yeah: eat loads of veg and fruit, whole grains, nuts and seeds, olive oil and dark chocolate in moderation, and skip the fried and processed foods, refined flour and sugar.
Have sex twice a week
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