Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger passed away at the age of 100, and although the exact cause of death has not been announced, his longevity has become a topic of conversation.
Kissinger is considered to be a figure who "lives in the history books", but in recent years, he has appeared frequently in the news, and he still maintains amazing energy at the age of 100, becoming a representative of longevity. In July this year, at the age of 100, he still flew thousands of miles from the United States to Beijing, showing that he was still full of energy, even in the face of high-intensity work.
Kissinger's secret to longevity is legendary. Although his son revealed that Kissinger often consumed fried and smoked food, drank alcohol all night, and never exercised during his lifetime.
More remarkably, he has a history of heart disease for more than 40 years and has undergone five heart surgeries, including three coronary artery bypass surgeries in 1982, angioplasty in 2005, and aortic valve replacement surgery in 2014.
In the aging process, Kissinger has not been without its challenges. He suffered a minor stroke in 2000 and lost vision in his right eye, followed by hearing loss and the need for hearing aids. Due to osteoporosis, he could only walk on a hunched back and needed the help of crutches.
People are quite curious about the way to his longevity. His lifestyle seems to contain a series of "bad Xi", so how exactly did he manage to live a long life?Is there any "health law"?
Kissinger once spoke humorously about the reason for his longevity, saying that his only secret may be "reincarnation well". He cites the family's longevity genes as an example, with his mother living to be 97 years old, his father to be 95 years old, and his younger brother to be 96 years old, suggesting that there may be genetic factors that affect his lifespan.
In fact, genes do determine people's lifespan to some extent. A genetic study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America showed that the length of chromosome terminals correlated with the length of lifespan. Chromosome terminal length is a marker of an organism's health and aging, and the longer the terminal, the lower the risk of death for the organism.
At the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in the United States, geneticist Robert Williams confirmed the effect of genes on longevity through experiments in mice. However, it is not known how genes specifically affect longevity. Mouse loci are complex and numerous, with hundreds of genes per locus, and there is no definitive answer as to which gene affects longevity.
In addition to genetic factors, Kissinger's regimen may also be related to his attitude towards life. His son, David, points out that the secret to his father's longevity may have stemmed from a positive attitude of curiosity and a sense of purpose in life. This suggests that a positive attitude towards life can also affect longevity to some extent.
Kissinger's longevity was not the result of a single cause, but was the result of a combination of factors, including genetics, mental health, mental activity, social status, and medical resources. Therefore, we cannot consider Kissinger's longevity as a template for everyone, nor can we assume that bad lifestyle Xi has no effect on health, which can lead to health misunderstandings.
Academician Zhong Nanshan pointed out that the determinants of human health include parental genetics (15%), social environment (10%), natural environment (7%), medical conditions (8%), and lifestyle accounts for 60% of the determining role. Therefore, a scientific lifestyle is the most suitable "secret to longevity" for ordinary people.
Here are some science-based lifestyle advice:
Eat more of God's creations and less man-madeEat more unprocessed foods, such as vegetables, fruits, meat, legumes, etc., and reduce the intake of additive foods, such as sugary drinks, bread and cakes, candies, potato chips, etc. This helps prevent problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, etc.
Exercise is the best "longevity medicine" :Studies have shown that regular exercise can delay immunosenescence, reduce cardiovascular risk, and slow down epigenetic aging. The elderly should maintain a certain amount of exercise and choose sports that are suitable for their physique.
Longevity is inextricably linked to sleep:Disruptions in the biological clock can lead to a variety of problems, including endocrine disorders, decreased immunity, mood swings, and more. Therefore, good sleep Xi is crucial to develop a healthy sleep routine as early as possible.
Stay in a good mood:Learn to accept that aging is an inevitable process, and identify and intervene early in potential health problems through self-observation and regular check-ups. Maintaining a good attitude and Xi is the foundation of maintaining health.
In summary, longevity is closely related to a variety of factors, and adopting a scientific lifestyle is the key to maintaining health and prolonging life.