The secret to longevity: exercise, diet and a happy outlook on life
July 31, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CAN you do the splits? Usually that question draws more than a hearty "no," with a trace of incredulity at the mere thought of such a thing. But in the Gulong No.5 neighborhood, there is an older woman whose answer is in the affirmative. What's really astounding is that she is 88 years old. To find out more about this remarkable lady, let's pay a visit to Yuan Wenjuan.
Yuan's age would be hard to guess upon first meeting her. Her energy levels suggest someone much younger. Every day she does housework and some physical exercises before sitting down to read books and the newspaper.
"Rest breeds rust," she says jovially. That's her credo and who's to argue with living proof?
Every morning after Yuan gets up and drinks a cup of water, she begins "kungfu exercises, taichi, a sword dance, a fan dance, and, yes, even the splits. "It is a habit I picked up in my younger days and I've been doing it for more than 60 years," she said.
Yuan used to live in Hong Kong, where she practiced as a physician. She left to return to Shanghai several years ago, but she did not leave her exercise regime behind. She learned as a doctor that setting broken bones required strength. So even today she still arm wrestles and is known to win quite a few matches.
Nowadays, Yuan lives alone in an apartment of about 100 square meters. She is a tidy person and does all her own house-cleaning and cooking. Even chores are good ways to exercise the body, she said she believes.
She loves to keep on the move, but Yuan says sitting perfectly still is also an important daily function because it helps cleanse the heart.
Yuan is a vegetarian who chooses her menus by color. She eats foods of five colors: green, black, red, white and purple. Green means vegetables rich of vitamins. Black refers to black sesame, black beans and black fungus, which are good for the kidney and intestinal tract. White is white fungus, which is good for lungs. Red and purple vegetables, like eggplant, grapes, tomatoes and dates, are vital for healthy blood and circulation.
Yuan is pretty particular about the fruits she eats, too. She confines herself to fresh fruits in season. Walnuts and nuts are her favorite snacks. For some elderly people, crunching down on fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables might be a problem. Not for Yuan. She still has all her teeth and they are in tiptop shape.
Since the heart and digestion functions of old people usually decline with age, Yuan chooses to eat many small meals during the day. Consuming too much food at one time is a burden on the digestive tract. It's not healthy, she said, and it can lead to fat buildup.
Mental attitude also plays a part in overall health and well-being, Yuan said. Anger makes people old, while smiles make people young. The smiles that frequently cross her lips are genuine and heart-warming, casting an aura of happiness over her life. It's a bit deceptive to think that she has not lived through hard times.
Her mother died at a young age and she was raised by a grandmother. Years of suffering instilled in her a passion for charity. Still today, she often visits old people's homes and does some voluntary medical consultations. She always donates to worthy causes and charity sales.
"Life is short," she said. "Be kind because a wonder life should be meaningful." That's the credo she follows and that's the advice she gives to others who marvel at her longevity.
Yuan's age would be hard to guess upon first meeting her. Her energy levels suggest someone much younger. Every day she does housework and some physical exercises before sitting down to read books and the newspaper.
"Rest breeds rust," she says jovially. That's her credo and who's to argue with living proof?
Every morning after Yuan gets up and drinks a cup of water, she begins "kungfu exercises, taichi, a sword dance, a fan dance, and, yes, even the splits. "It is a habit I picked up in my younger days and I've been doing it for more than 60 years," she said.
Yuan used to live in Hong Kong, where she practiced as a physician. She left to return to Shanghai several years ago, but she did not leave her exercise regime behind. She learned as a doctor that setting broken bones required strength. So even today she still arm wrestles and is known to win quite a few matches.
Nowadays, Yuan lives alone in an apartment of about 100 square meters. She is a tidy person and does all her own house-cleaning and cooking. Even chores are good ways to exercise the body, she said she believes.
She loves to keep on the move, but Yuan says sitting perfectly still is also an important daily function because it helps cleanse the heart.
Yuan is a vegetarian who chooses her menus by color. She eats foods of five colors: green, black, red, white and purple. Green means vegetables rich of vitamins. Black refers to black sesame, black beans and black fungus, which are good for the kidney and intestinal tract. White is white fungus, which is good for lungs. Red and purple vegetables, like eggplant, grapes, tomatoes and dates, are vital for healthy blood and circulation.
Yuan is pretty particular about the fruits she eats, too. She confines herself to fresh fruits in season. Walnuts and nuts are her favorite snacks. For some elderly people, crunching down on fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables might be a problem. Not for Yuan. She still has all her teeth and they are in tiptop shape.
Since the heart and digestion functions of old people usually decline with age, Yuan chooses to eat many small meals during the day. Consuming too much food at one time is a burden on the digestive tract. It's not healthy, she said, and it can lead to fat buildup.
Mental attitude also plays a part in overall health and well-being, Yuan said. Anger makes people old, while smiles make people young. The smiles that frequently cross her lips are genuine and heart-warming, casting an aura of happiness over her life. It's a bit deceptive to think that she has not lived through hard times.
Her mother died at a young age and she was raised by a grandmother. Years of suffering instilled in her a passion for charity. Still today, she often visits old people's homes and does some voluntary medical consultations. She always donates to worthy causes and charity sales.
"Life is short," she said. "Be kind because a wonder life should be meaningful." That's the credo she follows and that's the advice she gives to others who marvel at her longevity.
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