My thoughts on Wholistic Longevity

What do Kudaka — the Island off Okinawa, Japan, the Hunza Valley below the mountains of Pakistan, Vilcabamba in Ecuador, the island of Sardinia off Italy, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, and Ikaria, an island off Greece, have in common?

Their residents have long lives, many living into their hundreds. This has been well documented, and we can learn a lot from these people.

For eons, human beings have sought ways to live as long as possible. Growing up in India, I learned that the most powerful deity in the Hindu religion, Lord Shiva, known as the God of Destruction, bestowed health and longevity to human beings. The legendary Hindu yogi Trailanga Swami, who had mystical powers, lived in Varanasi, and was said to have aged 280 years. His followers therefore saw him as the human incarnation of Shiva.

Whole Grains and Spirituality

So, what’s the key to the longevity of people living in some of these far-reaching corners of the world? As in India, where many follow a vegetarian diet, they subsist on whole foods, including grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans. They rarely eat meat. Plus, they naturally get lots of exercise through constant motion in their daily routines.

The residents of the long-living outliers listed above also co-exist in close-knit communities, and many maintain a spiritual focus. For example, Kudaka Island, just south of the island of Okinawa, has been called the “Island of God” for generations. It is said to be a power spot, providing healing energy to visitors.

The city of Na in Ikaria, Greece, had a well-known sanctuary dedicated to Artemis of Taurus. It is remote, so its very isolation may also have helped to distinguish its inhabitants from those on the busier mainland.

Cancer rates are 23% lower in the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica when compared to the rest of the country. Residents are also said to have incredible heart and bone health. The land is micro-nutrient rich and people eat mostly unprocessed foods. It seems to be a confluence of nature and a casual way of life that have brought longevity to Nicoyans. The main thing locals stress when trying to explain their vitality and long lives is the close family bonds they maintain, which include respect and care for their elders. Everyone on the peninsula feels loved, they say.

What’s in Your?Genes?

We have all read that the secret to a long life lies in the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. However, following years of research, scientists tell us that our genes may also have something to do with it.

Dr. Nir Barzilai, a professor in the Department of Endocrinology Medicine and the Department of Genetics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the Bronx, New York, has examined chronological age (literal years) vs. biological age (the body’s relative health) and found that aging could one day become known as “a treatable condition.”

Significantly, Dr. Nir studied a family of quadruplets, the Kahns, who lived long lives in the U.S., thriving in Manhattan. The youngest Kahn passed away in 2005 at the age of 101. Dr. Nir discovered that they all had what he called “a longevity gene,” which helped them resist typical aging. Specifically, two age-slowing factors were found: the siblings were of above-average height and had a lower occurrence of IGF — the insulin-like growth factor molecule.

Epigenetics Research Provides Insights into Longevity

The study of how human behavior and the environment affect the way our genes work is called epigenetics. It’s cutting- edge science and still somewhat obscure, but basically, as distinguished from genetic changes, scientists have found that epigenetic changes can be reversible and don’t change your DNA sequence. Instead, they can change how your body reads a DNA sequence. It’s a way for genes to adjust themselves to respond better to an ever-changing environment. The possibilities behind this premise are enormous for future generations.

Less is?More

Science has shown that calorie reduction can buy us time. For example, there has been testing on caloric reduction for species ranging from yeast to nematodes, spiders, and chimpanzees, as well as humans — proving that this can improve health and extend life by 30 to 40%.

From the perspective of Wholistic Wellbeing, I encourage you to do your own research on the benefits of living more like an Okinawan, a Nicoyan or a Sardinian, rejecting stress in your life whenever you can, doing work you enjoy, and showing empathy and love to your fellow humans. A long life is not worth more than a shorter one, if not lived in peace, good health, and with a focus on providing a valued service to others. Wholistic Longevity: now that’s something worth aspiring to.