Non-control factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and genetics can all influence a person’s lifespan.
However, there are also some factors that can be controlled to affect longevity. Developing healthy lifestyle habits is important, according to a 91-year-old man who ‘beats old age’. For example, he doesn’t consume ultra-processed foods such as potato chips or chips.
Robert Edison – also known as Edison Wordplay – took to TikTok in the ’90s to share how fit and healthy he is.
The longevity enthusiast (who goes by @roberteddisonofficial on Tiktok) revealed that while good genes are a factor, “lifestyle also plays a big role.”
A healthy lifestyle helped Robert stay healthy at 91
Tiktok / @roberteddisonofficial
Robert told viewers he is staying away from “ultra-processed” foods. The British Heart Foundation said:
“They also tend to contain many additives and ingredients not typically used in home cooking, such as preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, and artificial colors and flavors. These foods generally have a long shelf life. .”
Examples of ultra-processed foods include ice cream, ham, sausages, crisps, mass-produced bread, breakfast cereals, biscuits, carbonated drinks, fruit-flavored yoghurts, instant soups, and alcoholic beverages such as whisky, gin, and rum. there is.
“Most of my food is natural and raw,” Robert told viewers. The 91-year-old admitted that he enjoys ice cream.
An article published by Harvard Medical School titled “Eating ultra-processed foods may shorten lifespan among older adults” suggests that limiting your intake of these types of foods is I suggested that it might be wise.
Experts say: “A diet of large amounts of ultra-highly processed foods is widely known to be unhealthy and may even shorten lifespan,” according to a study presented at the American Nutrition Association’s annual meeting in July 2024. Maybe.”
This study utilized data from the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. It looked at the diet and health of more than 500,000 adults aged 50 to 71 over almost 23 years.
“Those who consumed significant amounts of ultra-highly processed foods were 10% more likely to die from heart disease and diabetes, specifically, during the study’s two-year follow-up period than those who did not. was found to be 10% higher.
People who ate a lot of ultra-processed foods were more likely to have a “poor-quality diet” and a “greater body mass index” than those who ate ultra-high-quality foods.
Besides sticking to a mostly natural and raw diet, Robert revealed that he maintains the same healthy weight and manages his diet accordingly. He has also been training daily since his 30s.
In an article published by The Lancet titled “Key Factors Affecting Lifespan”, experts emphasized that making positive lifestyle changes can be very helpful.
They say: “Consumption of alcohol, drugs and tobacco are some of the lifestyle variables known to have toxic consequences for the organism and significantly increase the risk of serious disease.
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“I don’t eat potato chips or fries or coke.”
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“Attention is being paid to dietary intake, which may be an important driver of disease, in the context of excessive assumptions about unhealthy fats, refined sugars and artificial food additives.
“Another important point to emphasize is the concept of an active lifestyle, which is a common concept in high-income countries, meaning that a healthy lifestyle requires a sufficient amount of physical activity. is.”
The Lancet Health Longevity defines an active lifestyle as “involving physical, mental, and social activity,” which speaks to the importance of maintaining social connections for brain function.
For those looking to boost longevity, GP shares food swaps to make now to live longer.
If you have concerns about longevity or other health issues, it’s always best to talk to your GP.
