Essay 4

Tips to become a Centenarian

Kalila Gittens

          Longevity is the length or duration of life; it is also a synonym of life expectancy. According to the World Health Organization in 2011 life expectancy overall was 70 years, ranging from 60 years in low-income countries to 80 years in high-income countries. But since 1990, life expectancy at birth has increased globally by 6 years, but during the 1990s the value in Europe has showed stagnation, and in Africa it has even decreased. For Europe, the phenomenon is due principally to adverse mortality trends in the former Soviet Union countries. In Africa the decrease has been caused by HIV/AIDS, but since 2005 the increasing availability of antiretroviral therapy has reduced the spread of the epidemic, and the mortality rising life expectancy to 56 years in Africa. Aside of the information above I’m going to give you some advisees or tips to increase your longevity and become a centenarian.

          A centenarian is a person that lives 100 years or more. Basing on the videos shown in class is good to remained that Nicoya-Guanacaste is one of the longevity hot spots around the world. The interview shows some of the activities that centenarians in Nicoya do to be healthy. Several characteristics relate to 104 years old centenarian named Panchita is that she is work full lady that woke up at three o’clock in the morning for make tortillas also she chop’s wood and take care of the yard with her machete. In other words her strategies base in part on physical activity. 

            Another secrete for live longer is the socialization, the process by which humans learn to internalize norms and values of a given society and a specific culture. In this case the need of affective relations like staying close to family and friends is a very essential fact to feel loved and important for others. This will also help your self-esteem preventing the sense of loneliness and depression. In addition be independent can facilitate everyone life involved by having an ancient in the family. At the same time independence could be the key for make new friends. 

          Besides the previous recommendations we have the importance of the good nutrition. As we know it is not a new topic but it people hardly pays attention to it. Remembering all the good advisees I have heard, eat well is one of the most relevant in other to avoid fatness and diseases. A main tip is the regular consume of nuts, because they are rich fatty acid like Omega 3, they lower the serum LDL cholesterol and prevent coronary heart disease. In fact the science of eat well rely on the balance between proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, water, and roughage.

          In a broader context longevity is a complex combination aim between life experience, personal routine and cultural practices. Something that catches my attention is the cultural and individual lifestyle; it is very interesting how certain things that we do or don’t do benefit or affects others. A simple example is when a woman give birth for me as an afro descent woman there are some things I actually have to do like take a purge few days after having the baby, even though I don’t have one yet I know what I have to at that moment. Also I know a lot of things that my mother and people around have thought me about how to guide my life in a moral, spiritual and healthy way with natural medicine to become a strong and active centenarian. 

Bibliography

OMS (2013). Life expectancy. Recover from:

http://www.who.int/gho/mortality_burden_disease/life_tables/situation_trends_text/en/