To think food choices aren't everything regarding longevity?

[ThePigandPear]

I see a lot of food threads here and on other websites where people clash over what constitutes healthy foods, upf, etc.
I have a good diet and would like to remain fit, but I get the feeling that a lot of people choose to obsess over food because it is something they think they can control in a very uncertain world.

One person will suggest obesity has risen in tow with ultra processed foods.
Another will say "no! it's seed oils, low fat, sugar and so on!".
But few people suggest increasing car use, or having become far more sedentary, since these are lifestyle factors that many don't feel they have control over.
It is simpler to blame food.

So a healthy diet is very important, but what about sleep quality, stress, social connection, mental health and activity? A lot of those are very complicated and can't be as easily fixed.
I recall thinking this after reading about the famous Blue Zones, that the elder population were out playing tennis and gardening with company most days. However, the Blue Zones centenarians have been more recently debunked...

Sadly I have known a few people with very healthy lifestyle's and diets become ill or disabled, and a few who have died young. And there are always examples of that chain smoking great uncle who lived to 104 on beer, bacon and lard.

Good, healthy food is one thing we can make an impact with, but it is only a small part of the story, for me. The healthiest older people I have known have been very active (a LOT of walking), from hiking to just getting around on foot. They have also kept a social life outside of their home, and oddly enough, been single!
This is only from my own experience of course.
My mum was the very image of yoga, healthy eating, mediation, yet still suffered some debilitating health issues that could not be controlled by lifestyle, and became somewhat reclusive and sedentary in her old age as she had lost her community links. Family members who have got out there and kept doing stuff did seem to live much longer lives, regardless some bad habits (luck permitting).

I just don't think some good bread with peanut butter for brekkie is going to make a massive difference, or the occasional jar of supermarket sauce, unless I am piping adulterated shit down my throat 24-7.

There are lots of seriously disturbed people in prominent positions

Genetics plays a big role. I've seen it in my own family. Living in to their 90s despite smoking roll ups etc. Smoking ends people's lives early of course, but some people have lucky genes that protect them. Eg. Cyril Smith living into his 80s despite being very obese.

I don’t really understand the point you’re making? The only point I’m making is this isn’t a man we should listen to, and him and his platform illustrate the OPs point perfectly

I think it’s mainly down to levels of physical activity, then food. Keeping muscles strong as you age is key to avoiding broken bones and other frailties. Eating well helps reduce the risks of cancer and dementia.

Growing up, we ate sugar sandwiches. Also sugar mice - mouse-sized sugar sweets.
Sugar cigarettes. Sugar was stirred into milk. Lettuce was was washed under the tap, shaken, granulated sugar was sprinkled over it, shaken again and served. Sugar was believed to be a very good thing for children in particular. So glad things are different now. Teeth are certainly better!

I know this thread is mostly about food but just to bring in something else because I think it's important and that is pollution, pesticides, plastic etc.

Since the mid 20th century, 350,000 new chemicals have been introduced into the world, they are in our bodies, our food, everywhere. Each of us has an individual reaction to what we take in and what is around us so it's hard to pin down but you can't ignore the likely effects.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/18/chemical-pollution-has-passed-safe-limit-for-humanity-say-scientists

We had sugar sandwiches, rhubarb dipped in sugar, sugar mice, sugar cigarettes, fizzy drinks - but the fizzy drinks were an occasional treat, the sweets were a friday treat until I hit sixth form and the school opened a tuck shop...my teeth aren't great. I was very skinny though as walked everywhere.

I have various health conditions that can definitely be improved by diet which is what I have done for the last 2 months . I won’t know if they have made a difference for a few months .. that said the advice is also exercise which is difficult due to another health condition ..

we have far more research into food - one of the problems with that is a lot of the research is done by the food industry who actually want us eating there ultra processed food .

There though is far more understanding of genetics and the role they play too .

Life was different years ago to now there is no point pretending it wasn’t and whilst anecdotal stories of people living to an old age are lovely life expectancy has risen .

Since the mid 20th century, 350,000 new chemicals have been introduced into the world, they are in our bodies, our food, everywhere. Each of us has an individual reaction to what we take in and what is around us so it's hard to pin down but you can't ignore the likely effects

^^ This. Chemicals, micro plastics, interacting with our genetic predispositions. It’s the elephant in the room. But this cannot really be marketed as something middle class people can control by never letting a squeeze of ‘UPF’ ketchup pass their lips, or a subscription to Zoe.

Obviously diet impacts. Excess of anything is bad for longevity and contributes to major conditions. But if you eat everything in moderation (not too much sugar, some fruit and veg, not too much trans fats, not excess alcohol or smoking), and are somewhat active, those bases are covered.

Everything interacts with our genes. To switch a disease you are genetically predisposed to on/off or switch it on faster than it otherwise would have been.

By and far the main thing is chemicals, microplastics in our bodies.

My take on it is (I think) common sense.

Eating well with a diet made up mainly of whole foods, plenty of colour coming from a variety of fruits, veg, nuts and seeds, unadulterated meats and fish, to me just makes sense rather than say eating a tube of Pringles and some Coco Pops. BUT, I'm not going to self-flaggelate when I do eat some of these foods - for me, balance is key (and I also recognise that I am lucky to be able to afford to make these choices).

Likewise exercise, doing anything extreme that makes me feel unwell feels counter-intuitive to me (eg the thought of doing a marathon fills me with horror), but walking regularly in the fresh air, especially with friends or family seems to make perfect sense (I also do more higher intensity stuff and weight-bearing stuff, as well as some yoga, as it just makes me feel better in myself).

Keeping my brain active makes sense to me - I guess I view it as another muscle, and when I retire, I plan to take up a musical instrument and improve my languages (did A Level French which I'd like to improve, and I'd like to elarn Italian - restricted to Duolingo at the moment).

Again, living a social existence is just enjoyable to me, I see friends a lot, and there is lots of talk about retirement and what we'll all do together. I've seen the differences in retirement between my parents (physically and mentally active, maintain a large house and garden by themselves with no help, lots of group activities) and my PIL (retired and basically waiting to die, MIL now with dementia, FIL her carer with some degree of mental impairment as well. Moved into a retirement flat, but have made no effort to get involved in the community, meet neighbours, eat in the restaurant, take part in the activities).

I don't kid myself that any of these things will ensure I live forever (although I do know genetics are on my side with longevity a factor in my family), but I hope that the life that I live is enjoyable, and the choices I make above help with that goal. Shit can happen at any time, so rather than welcome it or wait for it to happen, I'm going to make the most of my good health, good fortune and try to live life to its fullest and best. That may sound rather Pollyanna-ish, but to me, it all just makes sense.

It's easy to explain it. Likelihood of diseases like this is partly genetic and partly environmental/lifestyle. If you're lucky enough to have a very low genetic risk, you might be able to get away with less healthy habits. If you've got a high genetic risk, you may get the disease however healthily you live.

Of course food choices aren't everything but they are the ones that are within our control.

Genetics are outside our control, and to a lesser extent things like housing, stress, environment, etc.

A reasonable diet and exercise will prevent obesity, and help to prevent Type 2, immobility, general aches and pains.

We watched this, it was depressing, if there was a perfect tv show to put you off living forever this is it!

He basically lives in a gilded cage with such a rigid regime, there is no fun, no friends, no enjoyment, honestly I would rather die as per be.

It was utterly bleak.

He's on the spectrum more than likely and his element. He's a multi-millionaire and has no need of money, this purely fills him with fun and joy. It's not for everyone but try not to judge everyone by our own experience in life.

Well, yes, it's common sense to me. That doesn't mean other people will agree.

@SilvieBear

There is a lot of information out there about anti-inflammatory diets. It's the usual drill of 30+ plants per week, eat the rainbow, lots of salmon and omega 3 foods, lots of resistant starch, some liver or offal for the nutrients, i eat gressingham duck liver once per week, it's so cheap at just £2 a box and £1 if you're loyalty card holder. You can get the same amount of protein as a steak costing far more for so much less. Plenty of lean protein, bone broths, eggs etc. ginger, herbs etc also I use a lot of.

then things like magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin D, zinc, collagen, curcumin, kefir, sauerkraut/kimchi for the probioitics.

The Middletons follow a 'sirt' diet which is supposed to activate the sirt1 protein in our bodies and increase longevity. You can look that up if you like and see what foods are on there. I eat most of those foods anyway so its easy.

Zoe podcasts available on YouTube are quite good as are some of Steven Bartlett's stuff. It can all get a bit contradictory and as well as that, not all supplements are the same.

In the end also, your genetics and microbiome have a big part to play. I'm fut2 non secretor for instance so some things aren't so easy for me as for others...

anyway, if you've got the time and money it's an interesting journey seeing how you can improve things. There are lots of videos from others on YouTube. It's a bit of a rabbit hole to be honest but I feel like I'm doing the best I can.

Dr Attia is another, he's longevity expert to the celebs. Youtube.

Thank you @TrainGame- I really appreciate your time to put all that together

@SilvieBear you’re most welcome. I love this stuff as I like being alive and feeling good. Want to be here for as long as possible for my kids 🤞

One thing I forgot to mention are the benefits of regular sauna and if you like it, cold plunge pool after.

Extreme heat and cold activate heat and cold shock proteins.

It’s not diet related but both of these have good long term effects on health. Lots of good research on this. I swear by both for making a massive difference to my mental health.

Good luck with it all.

Does it fill him with joy?
He seemed utterly depressed when his son left for university, like he was craving meaningful human interaction but has ended up down this rabbit hole of such a strict regime that he is not living he is just a lab rat.

I didn't see fun and joy, I saw obsession for content and media exposure. Boredom even, a need to be noticed and influential perhaps, but joy and fun were most certainly lacking. He is surrounded by staff but that's not the same as people who love being with you without having to pay them.

Loneliness is a killer. We all know this.

With his resources being in America, he can afford the best of the best of healthcare in the world. He will live a long life but whether that is an enjoyable one is much more of a debate.

Good healthcare helps for a longer healthier life, if you have a good relationship with your GP they are more likely to notice things that are not your usual self. Not having to wait for healthcare obviously means some issues don't develop into further issues creating situations where following a more healthy lifestyle becomes harder.

Which in the UK, increasingly so, will come down to money.

All over the planet the richer of the population will, on the whole, live longer, healthier lives. If you can afford quick healthcare, have no stress over an unexpected bill, can provide a safety net for your loved ones so you don't see them suffer, have the funds to relax on holiday, join social clubs, put the heating on, buy whatever food you like, afford a pet and vet bills, have a house that has enough space for everyone.

Money, or more accurately, the services and choices money buys, helps an incredible amount.

The wellness industry can cause much damage, there is an underlying philosophy that if you become unwell it's because "you didn't try hard enough to not become unwell", patient blame.

Listen to your GP. Get regular check-ups and blood tests. Early detection and all that. Do what you can when you can and don't sweat too much about the rest.

Get a job with private healthcare! This has changed our healthy lives so much for the better, we have rarely used it but when we have it was because the options via the NHS were, well effectively non-existent. (We are now saving for an additional couple of years to be able to carry on with insurance after retirement as it's just another thing we financially have to consider nowadays).

I have a friend who is a food/ fitness/ wellness influencer. He reminds me of a mini Brian live forever.

my friend likely does have ND but also has a life long eating disorder and has been plauged by other addictions. His followers are watching him manage his eating disorder, not watching someone who has the answers to wellness.

its very common for people with eating disorders to become PTs/ yoga teachers etc and to get nutrition qualifications, it allows them to monitise and spend all their time on their obsession. Don’t mistake this for an educated, knowledgable person full of “common sense” their lives are dominated by their ED.

This is so, so true and I can’t believe we all missed it for 5 pages.

Have you watched any of his content on YouTube? Any of his videos at all? I have.

He comes across as a really kind, non judgemental and thoughtful person who receives so much hate on a daily basis.

Watch some of his videos. He’s not hurting anyone but himself. If people to choose to follow him, that’s on them. Freedom of choice. He also frequently says in his videos people shouldn’t attempt these things at home on themselves.

in the end he’s just another influencer in the health space.

He’s extremely vulnerable and open and shows a lot of stuff most people wouldn’t want to share.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6aQZ3e-tVJM

Content online, particularly in the wellness sphere, is heavily edited. So I don't watch it no. And as has been noted he has tons of cash, and is protected by his money, for example he can afford staff to manage his online content and keep a lot of the hate from him or at least edit it.

What happens when someone alone starts sharing content and has to read the hate online, if they are mentally fragile and have no buffers?

This is the poison that filters into normal, non-rich people's lives.

I watched his documentary and thought there was so much missing from his life, experimenting, and it is experimentation, with longevity theories in effective isolation is the current playground of the rich tech Californians it seems.

For us little people, we all live in an increasingly polluted society, the pollution from car tyres and wood burners, amongst other things, are turning back the tides on air pollution, and regardless of how many green smoothies you drink or downward dogs you do no one has come up with an alternative for breathing yet, although I suspect it's only a matter of time!

A moderately shorter, happier life is surely the goal? What is the point of having a body that keeps pumping blood when your brain is full of microplastics?