la dolce vita
Had I lived a century ago, when the average life expectancy was below fifty, I’d already be on borrowed time. So, it’s not unreasonable that, as a veritable modern-day spring chicken, and with my best squash still ahead of me, I start to consider how to extend my tenure on this planet and seek to unlock the secrets of a long and fulfilled life.
Statistics show the current average global life expectancy is a smidgen over 71, and here in the UK it’s 81. The oldest are enjoying sushi in Japan and the earliest to peg-it live in war-torn Sierra Leone. Local factors on both a global and on a national level obviously come into play, as do gender and race issues: you’re not going to move to Blackpool if becoming a centenarian is your goal, and, whilst the fairer sex always have the edge in the longevity stakes, gender reassignment surgery ain’t gonna improve the odds anytime soon.
Unsurprisingly, initial life expectancy increases came about as a direct result of more babies surviving. More babies meant more children, more children meant more adults, and more adults meant more adults living longer. This sequence of events were brought about by major public health initiatives which targeted the big killers of polio, smallpox, measles and TB. Clean water and a better diet complemented the process. With the exception of Malaria in developing countries, we’re all now far more likely to die from the degenerative conditions of heart-disease, diabetes and dementia than we are of infectious or parasitic diseases.
However, as longevity has rocketed, global fertility rates have plummeted. Currently, over 65s account for 8% of the world’s seven billion people but it’s set to double over the next thirty years. In real terms, this means there are less of the young to support those of the old, and the impact this has on taxation revenue and the delivery of public services is being felt globally. Notwithstanding this message of impending Armageddon, I’m still keen to do what I have to do and, hope that by doing so, I’ll actually be less of a burden on future generations of taxpayers. And relatives!
I’m confident we’re all aware of the supposed benefits of a Mediterranean diet with its onus upon the fresh produce of fish, olive oil, vegetables, fruit and seeds, and is this the best place to start? Well, the fact that the original commentator, Ancel Keys, subsequently moved from the US to Southern Italy and lived a further fifty years, to the grand age of 100 would certainly give the impression that yes, this is the case. Sadly, we can’t all follow in his footsteps to sunny Naples, but what are the common denominators between the inhabitants of Okinawa, Sardinia & Corfu that we can all carry through into our dotage?
Eat less. Eat more green and less red. Cut back on meat and animal fat and look for alternate sources of protein such as nuts or beans, provided they’re neither dry-roasted nor Heinz. Sell the car and buy a bike or run for the bus. Avoid the elevator like the plague and delete Uber. Walk. Get some sun. Get down & dirty more often as you’ll ‘use it or lose it’. Go see your pals and laugh. Talk. Drink water and enjoy a glass or two of wine. Or three. Sweat. Smile. Furthermore, a kind heart, a generous nature, an open-mind and a sunny disposition go a long-way, and even if you kick-the-bucket too early, at least your funeral will be a well-attended and joyous affair. It’s just a shame you won’t be there to enjoy it!
