Thoughts?? Start a conversation. After watching the "How to Live to be 100" TED talk by Dan Buettner, what are your thoughts. Think about how this applies to you now and how this might apply to you in a future career in Medicine.
I get the privilege to still have a relationship with two of my great grandparents. My step great grandfather is 104 and my grandma is 97. I have no doubt that they will live another year. Although my great grandfather prays to be “sent home”, he is miserable and does not like living anymore. He has been alive through many different tragedies. I think a lot of what it comes down to is taking care of yourself all throughout your age and having a purpose in your life. There are people in other countries who live a lot longer than Americans; they know why they wake up in the morning. Many of these countries and even here in the US, the people who live a lot longer they focus on their religion and grab their diet right from the bible. They don’t stress their body like Americans do. They do the same thing each and every day and find purpose in their life every hour of every day. Buettner says this in his tedTalk, “Diets don't work. No diet in the history of the world has ever worked for more than two percent of the population. Exercise programs usually start in January; they're usually done by October. When it comes to longevity there is no short term fix in a pill or anything else. But when you think about it, your friends are long-term adventures, and therefore, perhaps the most significant thing you can do to add more years to your life, and life to your years.” I think that works and will apply to my career because if people start living longer it’s going to be because of this not because we exercise everyday. People will be changing by the time I get into medicine and perhaps start living longer.
I was lucky enough to spend time and know my great grandparents which lived to 94 and 93 and counting. It is hard to see them at this age because of the impact that life throws at them. They now live in a senior community, has alzheimer, difficulty walking, and out lived all of their friends. The struggle of living to 100 or even 90 is many peoples bodies do not live to that age and they die. In medicine, there is nothing to stop the aging process and in the video there was a heart surgeon who was 94 and still did 20 heart surgeries a month. To some people, age does not play a role in their lives. The heart surgeon was one of those people. But that is medicine, you train for years on how to be perfect in a specialty and use it until you can not anymore or you have to retire.
I had the privilege of getting to know my great grandmother, who lived to be 96 and getting her view on life and a possible explanation for why she lived to be as old as she was. She said one of the biggest reasons for her longevity is that she simply wanted to stay. She felt that she still had things to do on this Earth, and when she finished she would be on to the next life. I think Buettner made a good point when he said one of the reasons for longevity is that every centurian had a reason to get up in the morning. When people can't find a reason to live, they have a more difficult time figuring out why they want to be alive. This can apply to my life now because, with this new information, I can better work towards figuring out what my reason to wake up in the morning is, and better prepare for my future. As for how this would affect my future career in medicine, putting this claim into action by helping some of my patients figure out what their reason to wake up in the morning would be yet another reason for me to enter a field of medicine.
I think it is cool how there are 5 different spots all over the world that people have a long life expectancy. Most of the places that they mentioned did not really surprise me but there was one that was in California that really did surprise me because it is just California and I was not expecting the United States to have a community that lives past the age of 100. This applies to me because it shows a healthy lifestyle and maybe some way that I can live my life if I want to live to be 100. It is also kind of mind opening because you do not really expect that many people from around the world or even in the same community to live over 100 years. I feel like this does not apply to me as much right now because I live in the united states and not in one of these communities that gives me a chance to live to 100 or even past that. This may affect me in my future medical career because I could start to see patients that are older and may have to learn some new things in order to take care of these patients but most of them seem to be pretty healthy. I also live in the United States so I think that I have a better chance to see more obese patients in my future than seeing patients that have exceeded 100 years. I hope that the united states has a growth in life expectancy and not more of a growth in obesity.
I believe that in America, in order to live to be 100, we need to hold on to friends that live a healthy lifestyle and therefore influence us in a more positive environment. In the TED talk, Dan Buettner explained that there is no short term fix, but longevity is found in lifestyle.. In my future career in medicine, I will advise people to naturally exercise, focus on a more plant-based and paleolithic type eating habits (avoiding diets that only last a short while), and to value community. In our society, the ideal body type requires rigorous exercise that long-term harms the body and causes wear and tear to our joints, muscles, and cartilage, taking years off of our life. But, if people exercise naturally with nature walks, swimming, simple light-labor tasks that are not as heavy impact, then the body will last longer, increasing longevity. Furthermore, overeating and processed foods are the main cause of obesity in the United States. Avoiding overeating by controlling less calorie intake will greatly help the metabolism. Our body was never meant to process foods that are not natural and earth grown, which is why in order to increase longevity, a paleolithic and plant based eating style is the most effective method. Short term diets never work and the weight is always gained back, the key to eating is lifestyle, therefore, constantly being aware of what you are eating and if it is processed or not. Finally, none of this can be maintained if the community people surround themselves with is living an unhealthy lifestyle. People need friends who support them and their lifestyle choices, which will make those choices easier. Humans were intended to have community and rely on it, so finding friends that you can keep for a lifetime will add years and happiness onto the average human’s life. As a doctor, I will be recommending all of the above for patients who are struggling with weight loss or just want to know how they can live to see their great-grandchildren.
The factors that increase longevity and lead to a long life in the "blue zones" aren't necessarily surprising but they aren't always easy to live by either. Living to be 100 is a goal for many but people fall short because of small changes in their daily lifestyle. Many people believe that diabetes, cancer, chronic illness, trauma, or various other diagnosed illnesses are what cause death at earlier-than-expected stages of life, however it's more often the small daily habits that lead to long term health. While there's no one specific diet, exercise, or lifestyle to live by, it's important to realize that moving frequently, eating controlled and healthy portions, and connecting with others promotes long term health and is found in every “blue zone” community. As a medical professional, I would apply these factors when diagnosing patients. Before looking for extremes, I would examine their lifestyle and habits. Little things can make a big difference in the long term.
Obviously lifestyle plays a crucial role in longevity, but how can one change their lifestyle for the better? Eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep are crucial, but the ways of life in this video are almost impossible to obtain. The daily life of Americans are split into distinct parts; work, exercise, sleep, There is no way to produce the same amount of work and change daily life to live longer. There is just not enough hours in a day to have a 9-5 desk job and have the constant “exercise” the people in this ted talk have. Modernization would have to regress in order for the nation as a whole to adapt to this new lifestyle. I really like the idea of spending the day working for food and life, but that is not the picture of success anymore in modern America.
Overall, a lot of the information given during the TED Talk didn’t surprise me. It makes sense why so many Americans don’t live over 80 years old. Many Americans work so incredibly hard and are very driven for success; this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the sacrifices they make for success have been proven to be very detrimental. At the end of the video, Dan Buettner showed a pyramid of what components are needed for people to have a longer life. At the base of the pyramid were close relationships. We need to surround ourselves with people that support us and that we know we can always count on. Although this component didn’t surprise me, it makes sense that many people aren’t very mindful that this is needed to live longer. In order to be successful, many people spend much more time on their work. As a result, they have less time to focus on relationships in their life, and they are much more tired from pushing themselves to be successful that they often don’t put a lot of effort into their relationships either. Above relationships was eating well. In order to live longer, it is important to put plant based foods in our body most of the time and avoid overeating. Americans are notorious for their overeating, especially since many eat a lot of fast food because they are stress eating and/or have no time to make meals because of their rigorous jobs. Above eating well was having the right outlook which means having a purpose for your life. Many Americans do have a purpose, but for many of them it is only to make money and be successful. Although this isn’t a bad goal to have, many sacrifice their true passions in life because they won’t help them make as much money as they hope. Many hate their jobs and get depressed because they are doing something that they don’t enjoy for 8+ hours a day. Finally, at the top of the pyramid is putting physical activity into our daily lives. Most Americans work desk jobs so they are sitting for many hours every day, doing no physical exercise. Also, by the time they are off of work, they are so exhausted from their jobs that they don’t work out after their jobs either. Overall, in order to live longer, Americans need to stop focusing so much on being successful and making money, but rather on what they actually enjoy doing. If not, it sets off a ripple effect and hurts many aspects of their life.
This applies to me now because there are steps and habits I can build to live longer. One of the main take aways that I got from the video is that it is important to be involved in routine exercise; it is less about intensity and more about consistency. Even a walk every day can help add years to your life. While there is no specific diet that can make you live longer, eating healthy can help. The video recommended a plant based diet. In addition to having a good balance of exercise and diet, a good social life will also help add years to your life. I am going to continue to be involved socially and plan to be involved in my future working career. In all, having a balanced diet, regular exercise, and social involvement, can help contribute to living a long happy life. -Steven S.
Living to be 100 has always been a goal of mine and I guess I never put thought into how to accomplish this. I find it really interesting that these people who live to be 100 are concentrated into specific zones and there are factors that contribute to their longevity. These people aren't living long because they have medicine or a specific diet. They live long because they live a wholesome life with a healthy diet, plenty of exercise in their daily life, and a support system that somehow helps them live longer. This makes me think about the ways I could be cleaning up my eating, doing more physical activities, and interacting with my family. It’s fascinating that there isn’t some miracle drug or something that helps these people live, they just incorporate good habits into their days and it’s reflected in every blue zone. (Chloe Reinhardt)
I do believe that lifestyle and who we are hanging around and what we are eating effects what will happen later in our lives. These people are not living to 100 because they are living happy and getting the basic needs of nature and a healthy diet as well as being surrounded by others with the same positivity and lifestyle causing them to be even more happy and feel fulfilled. It is crazy to me that there are so many people that are living past 100 when the generation now thinks that living to 100 is the biggest milestone. Living past 100 now is not just a thought but is now a reality. No need to have a strict diet and exercise plan when you have family, nature walks, and a healthy diet to keep you going and feeling young.
One aspect that Dan Buettner made clear was that these life habits start now. Even as I am only 17 years old, it is equally as important to begin taking care of myself, rather than begin to develop these habits as I age. To move naturally, eat wisely, have strong connections, and have the right outlook on life are the aspects that were most important in the TED Talk. Though it is clear that I have more energy and flexibility now, as long as I continue my daily physical activity, I can improve my life expectancy. Even if this just means that I actively go for walks, cook by hand, move around the house, not even going to the gym for an hour long workout, like I would do now. Following, eating a plant based diet full of organic and colorful fruits provide the nutrition needed not only for daily physical and mental health, but further on the inside, with cells in our bodies that are continuously reproducing and bettering themselves. Something that was evident among the areas that were studied to be commonly associated with longer life, was that tofu was eaten significantly more than meat. Another thing that Buettner raised to importance was creating relationships among family, friends, and possibly a cultural tribe. Always having someone that “has your back” develops a reassurance between the two in the relationship that greatly improves mental health. Lastly, having a passion that one can have a reason to wake up every morning assists in developing longevity. For example, not retiring at such a young age will greatly increase life expectancy, because one has more of a reason to keep living. For my future career in medicine, this might not only mean more patients that are older, but mainly a change in enforcing habits that will increase life expectancy. As time passes it is a possibility to create more of these habits and result in a happier, healthier population!
I wasn't very surprised that lifestyle played an important role of living to an old age, but I was surprised that it was much more important than genetic factors. It's interesting how certain geographies and connections among people allow people to live for such a long time. I would have never thought that something such as simply having connections and respect among the elderly allows for one to have a better chance of living to their hundreds without many complications. It's also interesting to note that while these people didn't necessarily exercise they constantly found a way to fit movement into their daily routine and also made sure to eat a healthy plant based diet. The fact that 2 of these blue zones occur on islands, likely that don't have the same medical care that a huge city may have, still are able to live to one hundred and function well at this age. This leads me to believe that as a future medical professional it's important to remember that simple lifestyle changes can often be the best medicine. This fact is overlooked a lot as many people believe that doctor's have all the answers, but the ability to become a centenarian's is much more related to lifestyle than medicine. I think especially in America if people chose to look at their work as the reason they wake up in the morning and choose to integrate exercise and a natural plant based diet into their life, people will start to see an increased life expectancy.
In “How to Live to be 100”, Dan Buettner talks about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Living longer is a mental science. A healthy lifestyle could be dependent on the culture and environment you live in. Beuttner explains that surrounding yourself with good habited people can help you maintain your health. Influences of surrounding individuals such as eating habits and weights, physical activity, and quality of emotions/ mood all have a huge impact on the way you may decide to live your own life. I agree with these ideas and think this could be very important in the future of medicine. This thought that your life is dependent on others should be discussed more. People should live on their own terms with their own beliefs, but also surround themselves with others who have similar mindsets. Good relationships is one of the strongest impacts to health and I think medicine should preach this fact more to patients who are struggling with these different parts of their life.
I think that this will impact me if I pursue a career in medicine because doctors could start leaning towards a more naturalistic and not drug focused treatment, especially for older patients. In the video it talks about living a healthy lifestyle and doing things such as living in a tightly knit community or going out and doing light activity as a workout. It’s interesting to me how these areas are so concentrated too. Eventually, if these communities spread and there are longer life spans, doctors will have to think longer term for more patients instead of thinking shorter term for people in their 70s and 80s.
I believe that the key to long life is based off of day to day lifestyle. Over time the small things add up and by not paying attention to them they can become detrimental to your health. The common ways of life shown in each blue spot are great ways to live, but can be far out of reach for some people. I chose to look at the main ideas given in the video like staying connected to friends and family while also regulating a healthy diet. Not hard or a major life changes, these two things can make major improvements on health and longevity of our lives. In the future, as a medical professional I would take the lifestyle my patient is living into consideration when I am providing care. Proscribing not only medicine, but small lifestyle changes can make a huge change.
After listening to Dan Buettner, I believe that it is important to study and understand other cultures so we can learn from them and grow in our knowledge. I personally don’t have any relatives that have lived past 100 years but it’s interesting to see how our geography and surroundings affect the way we live. When you enter into the medical field you work with a wide range of individuals and if you work in a long term care facility you are around the elderly the most. Learning about other cultures and their health care may help providers with new ideas. It’s important to look at our state and nation because of the obesity epidemic; other countries are very focused on their lifestyle which aids in their life span. Americans eat whenever and whatever without thinking of the consequences of it which is why we aren’t as healthy as we should be. We don’t take the time to care for our bodies and neglect to put the right fuel into them. We need to be more considerate in what we are eating and how we are living. We all could live to be 100 or older but it’s about the changes that happen now that will make the change occur. Realizing that other countries have people out living us should push us to make healthier choices and change. (Izze Gregan)
After watching the ted talk, How to live to be over 100, I wasn't very surprised by what this answer is. Physical activity, diet, relationships, and being in the right tribe is the "big secret". Hearing that by just being mindful with your everyday activities is inspiring. While watching this, we heard a story that a 104 year old woman incorporated physical activity by simply choosing to sit on the ground no matter what just so she would have to stand up on her own. THis seems so simple, but then again, being mindful goes into all the "secrets". Hearing that relationships and diet also goes into living past 100 can inspire many because it's such a simple task. knowing all of this information can be used today for health to inspire and show people it is possible to live over 100.
I have been lucky enough to be able to have a relationship with both of my great grandmothers, one of them lived to be 96 and the other one to 98. It was really difficult to see how much life had changed each of them. My great grandmother who lived to be 96 had a really difficult time doing things and was in a nursing home where she got help 24/7. My other great grandmother who lived to be 98 was still fairly independent, she did live in a nursing home but it was one which focused more on independence so she still did most things on her own. I think it is really amazing to see what some are still capable of doing at such an old age, but at the same time I think that there are some people who are living into their 90s that what nothing more than to move on to their next life. My great grandmother was one of those people. Everytime we went to visit her, she just seemed so miserable, it was like she had just given up. I think it is interesting that there were 5 different spots where people lived the longest. I didn't think that there would be specific spots, I thought it would be scattered all around the world. I think the reason I thought this was because I believed it was independent factors which contributed to how long you live, like eating healthy, exercising on a regular basis, etc. But instead it seems it is mostly our geography and surroundings.
After watching this ted talk, I wasn't very surprised by what Dan said. I wasn't shocked by the fact that Americans don't live past 80. I believe this to be true because Americans work themselves too hard. Americans care more fro success and achievement than actually relaxing. There is nothing wrong with wanting to work hard, but you need to be able to take a break. Dan Buettner said the number 1 thing keeping theses people alive is close relationships. Americans could achieve this if they weren't so focused on work. I think close relationships are very important and being able to surround yourself with people you love. Another thing Dan Buettner said was eating healthy. I think being able to take care of yourself is key to your survival especially with things you're putting into your body like food. When I become a medical professional I'll make sure to keep in mind my patients eating patterns and they're social life. Because it is very important to know if you're patient is taking care of themselves. ] Emilie Kirke
How is life expectancy so much higher in other countries with less efficient health care? The Sardilians in Italy have a healthy lifestyle, required to be very active and they also eat very healthy foods with a plant based diet. Seniors are also very well respected. Okinawans also live very long, and have a plant based diet, and eat less by eating off of smaller plates and stopping eating when their stomach is 20% full. Here, they also don’t believe in retirement, but instead have a word that means why do you wake up in the morning. Some common factors are that all of these people set up their lives around physical activity, they have good outlook, they eat wiseley, and they connect well with other healthy people. Before watching this video, I thought that while I want to live as long as possible, the quality of life when you are that old would not be worth it because you cannot do everything that you would like to get the most out of life. However, after seeing this, it seems that these people who are so healthy have such great habits that they are able to do a lot of meaningful things, and all have a sense of purpose. I think in order to live this long healthy and happily, one must be very active in their daily lives by setting up their life so they have required physical activities that they automatically take part in. Also, a healthy diet is very important, and plant based diets seem to be the most efficient. Another important thing is community; if your life is centered around good healthy people who you relate to and who give you a purpose, then you’re quality of life and general lifestyle will be improved and will to live can result in longer lifespan. I think that future medicine will be studying what factors relate to better health and longer lives, and configuring these factors into better healthcare that will do this as well whether it be with better eating patterns or actual medicinal help.
During this TedTalk my main focus was seeing the impact of social influence on your bodies health. The idea that connection between others can result in a longer lifespan can be life changing. I grew up knowing my Aunt Ida who just recently died at 97. Thinking about her and how aspects of the video were present in her life a noticed that she was always at every family reunion and every Sunday lunch after church with her grandkids. Her connection with family and her hometown community was the one that stuck out to me the most. As I hopefully move into Medical Sales, I wish to see a continuous human presence in the field. I think that even with all the technology surrounding this field, the actual human connection and visual is vital for recovery and health. All the studies show that isolation is not good for a person. Even when surrounded by machines and computers, I will try my best to keep a relationship aspect inside the medical fields, as it shows to help many live past the average age.
I found this Ted talk very interesting, because many of the places that have high percentages of people living to 100 were not the kinds of places you would expect. We would probably expect these places to be very healthy first world countries with the most sophisticated health care technology. This was shown to not be necessarily true though. I think it is very interesting that the most important key to living long is simply how you live your day-to-day life, and the habits you form. The people living to 100 are people who don't necessarily workout, but exercise is incorporated into everything they do every day. In fact, first world countries often have a lower average lifespan, because people living in those places take the comfort they live in for granted.
I have always thought that diets weren’t ever going to happen in a good way for most of the public. I completely agree with what Dan Buettner is saying because of evidence he says. If we do keep elders in the family and take care of them then we wouldn’t have that disconnection from them and the payment of nursing homes and we would live longer. This way we all stay connected, but what if people don’t have time to take care of the elders and that's what leads to nursing homes? I believe that we all have too stressful lives in America and taking care of our elders helps slow us down, and could lead to us all live longer too. This also could lead to us doing less straining things like Dan said. Instead of running all the time take walks sporadically all the time. This leads to constantly doing something instead of just a burst of strain every once in a while. Another topic Dan discussed was eating less. I think this is where the idea of Dieting came into play honestly. In a diet you would eat certain foods and then only certain amounts of them, and this is what all of Dan’s blue zones came from, which is why diets work for certain people. I like Dan’s information for all of his presentation but I believe that how society is highly different because we do have high extensive jobs that require a lot of our time. We do try to eat natural foods, but coming from a country that was built on a high involving economy and industrialism we came out with fast food for those time consuming jobs. I also think that we as a society is changing and have so many different religions that changes how our society works. This is why we may not be welcomed into our elderlie’s hearts and homes. They may have different views than us and may change the view of some people taking care of their endlers. I think that what Dan is saying works for some people in their countries, but not this one.
I always thought the mystery of old age was getting the genetic lottery, and eating correctly. Based on this Ted Talk I was correct, though eating healthy was a bit different than I had envisioned. When we think eating healthy our minds automatically think about going on a diet or only eating from a restrictive group of foods. During the Ted Talk, the speaker was talking about how most men and women in their 100’s ate mostly vegetables, which makes sense but I was also thrown off by that. Our body does need nutrition from meats, but not as much as we thought. Most of our problems in America is overeating, which makes sense due to a ton of our population being obese. If we were to make our food portions smaller I believe that our life expectancy would increase.
It's interesting to see in this video that the people who live into their 100s live very natural hours. They eat primarily plant based diets and a relatively active lifestyle with plenty of family and friends. However, in todays society we base our health on the amount of medication and drugs we take to maintain "homeostasis". I think this shows that if people were to live more natural lifestyles like we were supposed to. If people focused on living an active happy lifestyle they could be healthier but also live longer.
The TED talk by Dan Buettner was interesting because it would make sense that the blue zones exist because different communities could potentially be a big factor on the way people “live longer”. The video also talked about diets and what not which is a no brainer when wanting to live longer. Your social life has a big impact on your age and health. It is shocking that there are not very many blue zones but it makes sense. Although, I was not surprised by this because it makes sense with different lifestyles. This could apply to a future career in medicine because you could make lifestyle recommendations to people about where to live and how they live their lives. It is inspiring because knowing now I could live longer based on where I live and how I live my life on a daily basis.
The video made a lot of sense, especially regarding the food we eat and the amount of food we eat. A more advanced health care system is not going to increase the longevity of life when the lifestyles being lived are doing more harm to begin with. Especially in America, we’ve seen in movies such as Super Size Me, that show the damage of processed foods in the high quantities that we eat them. The piece that surprised me however, was the treatment of elders. It makes sense after having it explained, but it would not have been something I would have considered. As for how this will apply to my potential, future medical career, it will be important to inform patients on how to take care of themselves before they have no choice but to go to the doctor’s. Ideally, we can lessen the use of drugs and surgeries in the medical world.
I think it’s interesting how in our society “health” or living a good lifestyle is thought of as extreme workouts all the time, taking medication or supplements, or being on some sort of strict diet. While in these blue zones a healthy life is lived in more moderation. So this is doing this like calm physical exercise, a plant based diet, and not having high levels of stress or pressure. I wonder what causes us to think of health as we do and what caused these blue zones to think the way they do. I think that in my future career in medicine I will advise my patients to live a life based on what is being done in the blue zones. I don’t believe that the human body was meant for rigorous workout and overworking it. Today people are forced to deal with a lot of stress and pressure and I think that the best way to deal with that is living a life in moderation.
It makes a lot of sense how people in these areas live to be a hundred years or older. People rely a lot of connection which ties into the family and community aspect of these areas. As far as health, these people eat a lot healthier because most of their food comes straight from the source and is prepared with their loved ones. I think that this video was interesting because it showed all of the common denominators of these blue areas. This could apply to medicine in the future by watching the trends that Americans will follow and if life expectancy will increase as well. This could be a great source for research.
For me, the information in the TED talk was really telling about certain areas. But, I don’t believe that healthcare has the largest impact on the elderly and how you live past expectations, but instead how the culture is formed. In the areas that Dan Beuttner mentioned, the elderly are more honored in their culture. For example, in Italy and Japan, there is more respect focused on the older generations. People ask for advice, make time for them and are known for how they can support their communities. In other places around the world, for example the United States, generally, older generations that are considered our parents parents are not truly well respected. People can be rude, pretend that they “don’t have life experience” and do not value the elderly and how they can better the community. Within a healthy lifestyle, being respected and feeling like you have a purpose can allow you to want to live as long as you can. This video poses an interesting question in showing that it is not just the food you eat and the amount of exercise you do but also about how you are treated. In the healthcare system when I am older, I think making sure people are surrounding people you are “healthy’ to them will not just help their mental health but also physical health.
After watching “How to Live to be 100”, I thought about the simple stuff, or at least what I thought were the simple things in my life compared to the people in the video. My life compared to theirs would mean I would need to give up a lot in my life but also how overworked we are in this country, or how stressed we become in this country. The older Italian man is still working but has a light job compared to many in this country who have to work in the food industry or customer service which brings on a lot of stress, not including schooling being stressful, or money situations being overly stressful. I look at my life now and question if I could actually give up many of my habits and food lovings and working. I could apply this to my medical life to offer as advice to patients in case they need to limit themselves on certain things.
This TED talk was very interesting to me, mainly because it introduced many lively human beings that seemed to enjoy life. While they are 100 years or older, they still get around and some of them even worked. It was cool to see that people that age can still be active and live life as if they're young. I think that feeling involved and wanted could be a factor in how these men and women are able to live so long. The diet is always important but mental heath and feeling needed is just as good! When I become a healthcare professional, I want to be able to make elderly feel like they have a place and aren't just taking up space. I think even younger people need a sense of belonging and I want to be able to provide that for everyone.
Dan Buettner states that mammals such as elephants, rats and humans are programmed for procreative success rather than longevity. This means that our main purpose is to live to reproduce and have fertile offspring. Those who live within the Blue Zones have a great deal of things in common. They partake in physical activity daily, give their body’s time to relax, have a purpose,eat the right things, and have a strong foundation. One key myth of extending your life expectancy is dieting. There is no diet or exercise that will extend the length of your life. Mr. Buettner says that the best thing you can do to add more years to your life, and life to your years. This has already had an impact on my life since watching the Ted talk in class. I have made friends and family a greater part of my day. I have started engaginging in more conversations and less on the world of technology. If I choose to have a career in medicine I would try to incorporate this into not only my life but my patients and peers. I think Dan Buettner no only debunked popular myths about living a longer life but gave advice on how to live a better life.
Julia Lawrence: I believe that the way of living in these “blue zones” is very important. This way of living can be split up into 4 categories; moving naturally, having the right outlook, eating wisely, and connecting with others. If everyone was able to apply these four categories to their life, life expectancy would not only increase but so would quality of life. One person who I look at to following these 4 ways of living is my Grandma. My grandma is 92 years old and still is able to go to the gym every single day. She taps into all of these four ways of living and she has her whole life. She always tries to move naturally; whether it be her going to the grocery store or taking a walk with her friends, she finds a way to be active throughout the day. She also eats very healthy and almost always cooks home cooked meals. Since she has always been involved in her church she has very close relationships with many people. My grandma and the blue zones prove that if people move naturally, have the right outlook, eat wisely, and connect with others, life expectancy and quality of life increases. This might apply to a future career in medicine, if my patient is having medical issues that may be solved by a change in lifestyle, I would recommend this blue zone way of living to improve their medical problems and future medical problems down the line. I believe that if all doctors recommend this way of living to their patients many health problems could go away in the future.
I thought that it was really interesting that all of the centenarians that they showed in the TED talk were still very active despite their old age. Many people see their older age as an excuse to slow down and take it easy, however, that could possibly end up being detrimental to one's health and aging. I also thought it was interesting that they described all of these people belonging to a tight knit community that they regularly meet with and I wouldn't have expected this to be a determining factor in a person's longevity. From a medical perspective, these discoveries about the characteristics of people who live long lives could be very useful in diagnosing and treating patients with symptoms that are evident of aging. If doctors could prescribe lifestyle to people who are aging, our population could possibly live longer and happier lives without the need for prescription drugs that may have negative side affects.
I found a few interesting things in the TED talk. I find it interesting that societies that are kind of secluded from the rest of the world. They are just their own community and do whatever they think is the best life style. I also found it weird how all of their diets were all plant based. Even though people in today's society have the same diet as they still don’t live to be 100. I am lucky enough to still have my grandparents with me and got to know my great grandma. Even though they don’t do the same thing as these societies do they are still in great health and are doing great in life. But I do see people who are late 90s and early 100s who are so miserable no matter how life is for them. Living to 100 isn’t going to always be the best option. Also, even if you do all these things doesn’t mean something isn’t going to happen and you aren’t going to die before over something that you can’t control. I don’t think there is one correct answer to live a long time.
With so few “blue zones” in the world, there is so much to learn from them. Living to be 100 years old isn’t just about the way your diet is set up, how much you exercise, how much you work. What really intrigued me was that these people had an amazing mindset and outlook on life, they surround themselves with their families and friends and having a meaningful/wholesome connection. By this point it’s not only about how long you can live for, it’s about the quality of life that you give yourself. The biggest stigma within our lives right now is our self-esteem and deteriorating mental health and the way they live their lives there we can incorporate into our own lives by including a more colorful diet of fruits, doing more healthy exercising just by taking a simple walk into nature, and spending time with our loved ones without constantly being on our toxic phones. We need to be more in control and considerate of how we treat our bodies and our minds in our everyday lives, even just a simple little positive thought can go a long way.
I have been lucky enough to watch and have a relationship with my grandmother who is 94 years old and still alive. Even though she has had an amazing life, and now still lives very comfortably, it has been hard having to watch aging take effect on her. As of right now, she lives with one of my aunts. One reason for this is because of her memory. Before, she was living in a lovely retirement community. They gave the residents their lots of free time and with her age, she started to lose her memory and wander off away from the community home. This was hard for everyone in my family because no one knew exactly what to do. That is why she lives with my aunt now so that someone can watch her constantly, making she does not get hurt. The struggle of living to 90 or 100 is that many people's bodies start to disintegrate, like my grandmother’s memory for example. There is nothing we can do to medically stop aging. But I believe that there are steps that we can take to make life better at that age. As the TED talk stated, taking small walks to be active is a good start. I think that we need to keep our bodies active so that at that age, there is a smaller risk of getting hurt.
After watching the “How to Live to be 100” TED talk, I have a little better understanding of longevity of life and quality of life. I knew that a big factor in living to one hundred was lifestyle, yet I was not aware of how much of a factor it was. What surprised me the most was the lack of genetic advantage that went into play. Buettner mentioned the blue zones where the most amount of centenarians lived, were mainly caused by the lifestyles that existed there. Diet, social connections, and natural movements all went into living past one hundred. A major part of the video was also describing the quality of life of the centenarians. Not only did they live past one hundred but they also did it with ease and happiness. They all were still able to do many physical activities and their mental state was very good. I think that the way the people in the blue zones live is an excellent way for everyone to live, although not realistic for everyone to completely change to this lifestyle, certain aspects of it are great to implement into all of our lives. Physicians should make an effort to promote lifestyle aspects as well as treatments or medications.
In the TED talk, I thought it was very interesting to learn about the ¨Blue Zones¨. I think it's unique to see how long people live in different countries. How theyŕe still active even if they are 100 years old. They can do more things that sometimes we don't want to do. The important factor in that was their diet. They had a healthy and stable diet by that razing their chances to live longer and being able to still stay active. To my knowledge now, I believe doctors should start telling patients more about being healthier and being able to live longer. A lot of these people today are scared of aging but what they don't know it not about aging its by the fact of how you're living it. If doctors could tell their patients that more often, then we will be able to see more the result and maybe our grandkids or our children will be able to live longer then we will.
I thought it was really interesting that there are actually certain parts of the world that have a significantly longer life expectancy average. It's crazy that lifestyle and environment truly do affect how long we live. As we live in the moment we truly don't realize how our lifestyle now will affect us in the future. We take relationships we have with our surroundings for granted. We are often told how long we live is based on what we eat, consume, and how often we exercise, but we are never told how important happiness is to a long life. We are never told that our friendships and social lives can actually affect the length of our life. Sure we are told to surround ourselves with people that makes us happy but were not told to do that to live a longer life. In the ted talk How to live to be 100 +, Dann Buettner tells us “Think about it your friends are long term adventures and therefore perhaps the most significant thing you can do to add more years to your life and life to your years,” he truly emphasizes on the fact that an enjoyable life, surrounding yourself with people you truly love and care about can lead to a longer life. It’s crazy to think that you can be the reason someone lives longer. People often lose interest or purpose as they grow old but having that social positive surrounding can help them find purpose. With that purpose they can find happiness and live a longer joyful life. This is the Idea Buettner brought up about purpose “ikigai” which he saw in a small town in Japan which is also very fascinating. Several stories and facts Buettner brought up where inspiring and interesting. But lastly, Buettner stated that those living the longest didn't intentionally due diets or exercise excessively. Instead it was built into their culture and lifestyle and they were able to get physical exercise and good eating habits, leading them to a longer life. Often doctors are fast to skipping to medication when sometimes a little change in their surrounding could be the easiest, best fix to the problem. I think social life and happiness are key components that should be measured when determining someone's health and life expectancy. Doctors should encourage changes in lifestyle and or surrounding environment before prescribing any sort of medication. If I pursue a career in medicine I would do my best to tell patients the importance of their social surroundings and lifestyle because that could be a critical part of their health.
To be honest, the Blue Zones found in the world are not extremely miraculous, as the people found in these lead a healthy lifestyle. The small, yet mighty attributes mentioned that helped these people live to be one hundred included diet, exercise, mindset, and relationships. They have considered all of these factors over a long, long period of time, thinking in the long term. Those who do not live to be one hundred only think in the short term. They don't consider how greatly impactful a better diet would be, or even taking the stairs instead of the escalator/elevator. Centenarians also manage their minds. Unsurprisingly, they find ways to relax and also enjoy life (especially if that life lasts 100 years) while coping with stress. In American, so many people clock out at 80 because Americans lead a life that constantly puts a great deal of stress on their nervous systems, wearing it down. It even starts at a young age. All of these would help me as a doctor because starting early, I would encourage long-term thinking. Of course, short fixes can not completely go away. But to avoid later chronic acute diseases or conditions, I truly would encourage the small habits in everyday life that matter. People always debate whether or not there is a "right" way. Life is complex- religions, values, environment, class, wealth and age make it so. But there should be an established universal agreements that there are a few "right" things to do, regardless of where someone is from. As a doctor, I would educate people on these "right" things and the payoffs.
We live in a world today where it seems as though almost everyone could live to 100 because of the advancements that we have with medicine. However, these so called blue zones in the world where people live to 100 is not because of the medicine but because of a lifestyle. These people are active, they eat well, but what I took away the most was their enjoyment for life. It seemed as though no matter what they were doing they were happy doing it. In my opinion that is one of the biggest keys of living to 100. When we are happy living our lives we flush out all negative thoughts and stress and live. By worrying less we are simply increasing our abilities to live longer. So while I do believe that medicine could allow us all to live to 100. I think that our enjoyment of the life we live is what will give us the ultimate boost to living a long and healthy life.
I think after seeing my great grandparents live to 97, I really considered the fact that some people choose healthier habits, which in turn can help them live longer. They consistently ate healthy, surrounded themselves by good people, exercises, and stayed positive. When they were younger I don't think they were necessarily perfect and fulfilled these values all the time. It's possible to change your habits, but it's not necessary to be completely pure and healthy all the time. The little moments throughout your life you choose, like to go on a walk, or eat a healthy lunch,or have a conversation with someone out of your normal social circle, will help motivate you to eventually adapt your lifestyle as a whole. I think as a society we need to start to spread how these simple changes can truly transform someone's life, especially through the media so people can see proof of how being healthy and sustainable has a direct effect to living longer. -Kathleen Wortman (computer broke)
When I was little I got to get to know my great grandma who lived to become 100 years old. She was very active throughout her whole life, she always walked around with us when we visited her. She loved to get outside of the nursing home and go adventure to the beach with us. She was very into birds and went bird watching a lot during her free time. Also, she had a lot of people around her to keep her company. She had all of her friends in the nursing home. She also had her kids and her grandkids living about 10-30min away and they would visit her every week maybe more. So she never felt alone at the nursing home which sometimes people living there do she always have people to walk with her and talk with her. But I don't think she did a lot of things to live to 100 she just lived an average life but she did live a happy life and she became older.
After watching “How to Live to be 100”, my eyes were opened to the contrasting lifestyles of American’s living in America, versus other ethnicities living in their small, tribe like towns, cities, and countries. For islands/territories like Sardania, traditions and lifestyles are wildly different. Sardinians live in a society of tight-knitted family and friends, never leaving one alone or lost. Exercise wise, Sardanian’s base their physical activity off of what they already require; Walking up and down hills and stairs, and necessary actions like moving their bodies to feed and work. Living to be 100 in towns like Sardania is not abnormal, and those who do live to be 100, have a decent quality of life. Although there is no “tactic” to living to be 100, Sardanian’s have the right culture and genes for it. Most American’s do not live in a society where living to be 100 is a pleasant life, unlike the Sardinians. Based on personal experience, !00 year olds in America tend to develop diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, and have very little motor strong motor skills. The key to our future is finding a way to improve American’s lives early on, such as diets, movement, and relationships. If our future medicine can find a way to improve the lives of both the young and the 100 year olds, our society will evolve.
I honestly would love to live a super long life to 100. The people we saw had developed certain habits in their life to live to be 100. They live a lifestyle that would seem rather luxurious having little to no stress, time to relax and focus on their minds, and eat in a healthy way. Although they have dealt with stress and temptation of unhealthy food, they were able to get into a healthy living habit. By developing a habit, it’s easier to have consistent living with a habit because it becomes a routine. It would be nice to start a habit and routine of healthy living now, but with so many distractions in this day and age, it's difficult to. Aging is inevitable, but it's never too early to make that aging healthier and better than it can be.
While watching the Ted Talk, I was very interested in how lifestyle had an affect how living longer. My Aunt Celena lived till she was 98, and it made me notice certain things about her lifestyle that made her make it to 98. Celena loved life and was always laughing and seeing people. I noticed that Celena embodied all of the qualities that the Ted Talk was mentioning and it made me see the results in real life. Her enjoyment of life was something I thought everyone had, but it turns out she had the best I’ve ever seen. I do believe lifestyle has a lot to do with how long you live. If you are constantly stressing and worrying, it was have an affect on your body. Eating habits, exercise, and emotions all play a critical role. Taking care of your body will help it from getting tired and breaking down easy. Close relationships also play a role because if you surround yourself with people you love and who love you, then you will always have something to live for. Its bring more willpower to stay alive and keep going for the people you love.
It’s truly shocking to me that in the US- a country with outstanding medical care and significant money funneled into research and scientific advancement- the national average lifespan is still 12 years under our bodies' natural capacity. This, if anything, completely proves Buettner's point on how the importance of a healthy lifestyle trumps any lucky gene combination you may have received. The most interesting point of the TED Talk, to me, were the similarities between Blue Zone diets. All food was locally sourced and low in meat and sugar. Being pescatarian (vegetarian diet, excluding fish) for about 5 years now, I understand how much energy and health a lean-proteins diet encourages. Americans have so many heart issues, and some blame can be put on our national diet of heavy red meat consumption. I understand that going fully vegetarian or vegan can be difficult, or even harmful, for some individuals, so that is not what I would promote if I become a doctor. Instead, I would advocate for a diet rich in plant based proteins, and keeping red/fatty meat consumption to a minimum. I also found it interesting how direct the relation is between strong community and longevity of life. I had always know that community and mental health go hand in hand, but it made sense to learn that physical health does as well. All of the elderly people in my life still have a strong circle of friends whom they visit with often. My grandparents still throw block parties every year, and they regularly attend dinner parties and play pickleball with their close friends. The elderly portion of my neighborhood is also very tight knit. I couldn't tell you the average lifespan of my family members, or my neighborhood- but I could tell you that I know lots of people over the age of 78. I think we could learn a lot from Blue Zone areas- their balance of diet, routine, and social life. They show that a longevity of life is not from freak gene mutations or taking pills every day, but more from paying attention to yourself and what you need.
The thing that surprised me most from the TED talk was the quality of life of these people in the blue zones. Not only are they living longer they’re living better, for several reasons. Working in an assisted living home has shed light into many of the effects that age can have on the human body and mental state. As stated in the video, the people who seem the happiest and healthiest have good relationships with the people around them and stay active. However a key part in longevity that is not as common is a plant based diet. I think an important part of medicine relating to this TED talk is taking care of yourself. In the U.S. there are many problems in the healthcare system, especially with poor health relating to poor diet and not enough exercise. Many diseases or medical issues could be prevented with good health especially in old age. Better health will also improve the quality of life as you get older. The most important thing we can do to live to be 100 is maintaining healthy relationships, diet, and exercise.
Even though America has some of the most advanced technologies and most successful doctors, Americans still do not rank high in life span. This is not because we don’t receive adequate care, but because of our lifestyle choices. One big lifestyle choice is our diet, people who live in places with the longest lifespan eat mainly plant-based diets and have ways to stop themselves from eating more once they are 80% full, this is very different than the average Americans diet, as we consume lots of meat and often overeat by a significant amount. The social aspect of lifespan, I find very interesting as well. People with who live longer generally have people they are close to and communities that they can turn to. If I do end up becoming a doctor, this video has taught me that in order to help someone survive longer, I can’t just focus on the physical aspect, and fixing that, I should encourage healthy lifestyle choices, in order to increase lifespan and avoid future health issues.
Seeing my great grandma live to 101, I have noticed similarities between the Ted Talk and her own lifestyle choices to live longer. I think the most important aspect to living long is having a reason to live for. My grandma would go see her daughter - my grandma - every day, giving her a reason to live for. Another aspect to living to be 100 is staying active, not necessarily by working out. My great grandma lived on her own until she was 100. Therefore, she was walking up stairs , cleaning the house, and more all by herself. Therefore, it gave her the opportunity to stay active.
Generally, the information given in the TED Talk was fairly unsurprising. When you account the amount of time, effort, and stress Americans put into building their careers and a quality lifestyle. Detrimental sacrifices to time and health leads a vast majority of Americans to make poor eating and lifestyle choices. In order for longevity to be applicable to Americans, most of us need to learn to adopt a healthier lifestyle, incorporating more plant based foods and less fatty foods such as fast food. With the busy lives that the majority of Americans live, it can be easy to turn to fast food as an easy resource for food. Even then, it would be extremely beneficial to substitute your meal from Chick Fil A for a meal from mad greens or some other restaurants with healthier options. Even eating one less fast food meal per week could drastically increase your chance of living a longer, healthier life. The healthier you are, the better you feel. Diet is not the only factor in longevity. There are many other factors that play into your well being such as mental health and relationships. It is extremely important for each individual to be conscious about their mental health. In order to live a fairly healthy life, there has to be a balance of reflection with your daily routine. Additionally, relationships play a crucial role in a person’s well being. Maintaining good relationships with those around you influences your mental health and in turn can influence your overall health. Overall, it is not realistic to live a perfect life filled with all of the things that you should be doing but as long as people put in the effort to improve their lives, longevity is possible.
Watching “How to live to be 100” opened my eyes to the factors that play into how long a person lives for. Before I thought that genetics and nutrition were the main factors of being able to make it to old age. Now I know that it is moving naturally, having a good outlook on life, eating wisely, and having connections with family and or faith. I think living to be an old age is both a blessing and a curse. Being able to live for a century there are lots of changes in society and an individual’s life that would be amazing to experience. However the older that an individual grows in age the more isolated they can become. Personally I don’t know if I would want to change my lifestyle to live longer because of the loneliness that would be experienced towards the end. However, if I want to have a long career and future in medicine, following a lifestyle much like those who live to 100 would be beneficial.
"How to live to be 100" was such an eye opener, because for most of my life I have believed that physical health is the most important thing, but this ted talk explained the huge significance of emotional health and happiness as well. In the Ted Talk it talked about a woman who woke up every day for her great great great granddaughter. If I think about the reasons I get up in the morning, it's usually that I have to take a test or I have an assignment due or I have to talk to a teacher. While these are all important things, there are things that make my life much happier than school. For example, instead of thinking, I'm going to get out of bed to take my statistics test, I could think, I'm going to get out of bed to see my friends at school. Of course my test is important, but thinking about seeing my friends would probably make it a better day. As the Ted Talk said, this can lead to a longer life. So happiness and the length of someone's life are usually correlated, which I find interesting. Physical health is important. Genes play a role too. But, happiness and emotional health are equally as important. The Ted Talk also made me realize that old age doesn't have to be miserable if you have the right outlook. The people featured in the video seemed truly happy- despite age and things they had experienced in their life. Not only can a happy and healthy lifestyle lead to a longer life, but it can also lead to a more enjoyable life. I think it's easy to get caught up in the things that go wrong and the hard times, but looking beyond that and focusing on the positive things like many of the people in the Ted Talk, can lead to a longer, happier life.
This video was really interesting to watch because I never realized how many factors go into living a longer life. Not only is physical health important, but so is emotional health. Solid belief systems and a purpose for waking up each morning were also big points discussed. I love that “How to live to be 100” touched on many aspects of life, and not just having physical health be the focus. This helped me realize that I need to work on being more positive in my own life so that I value emotional health as much as physical health. If I become a doctor, I will use these principles to help patients understand that being healthy doesn’t necessarily just include diets and working out. There are other factors that play into living a long life. Maintaining relationships, staying active, and keeping up with a positive outlook on life can all play into helping people live longer lives.
The holistic idea of health has always intrigued me. With both my parents being psychological/therapy professionals, I have always been taught how mental health seriously impacts physical health. In terms of the TED Talk, it makes sense how, in addition to a good diet and consistent exercise, these centenarians also have a robust social support network from their childhood through their old age. The idea of “having something to wake up for” really struck me as well. It seems like so many people in our day in age simply go through the motions of living without any clear purpose. I believe it would strengthen us all to be cognisant of that one thing that drives us to live, and to pursue it with everything we have. I have always believed that relationships with other people are vital to our well being, and as a Doctor I would have that in mind when treating my patients as well; I’ve even toyed with the idea of going into a psychology or therapy profession. Regardless, as a physician that would be one of my primary focuses for my patients. I would want to make sure that they had a strong support network to help them through whatever medical issues they face, or if they don’t, that I could push them to build a network. Additionally, I can see how an added focus on proper nutrition could have a significant impact on a patients progress towards better health. I think the centenarians provide a wonderful example for how to live successfully and happily.
Healthy habits are built early. Whether that be through a healthy diet or straying away from unhealthy patterns. It used to be thought that genetics played a more prominent part in life expectancy, but in reality, only 10% of it is determined by genetics. So it is important to build long lives for ourselves. In the regions of the world where it is quite common to surpass the average age, they practice healthy habits from a young age. I would like it to incorporate a heartier lifestyle into my own life. Staying away from drugs, alcohol, and nicotine are all important in my life for living closer to 100. In the future in a career in medicine, I would make patients aware of how important it is to practice these habits and surround yourself with good examples. Surrounding yourself with good people who have the same views as you will help your outlook on life to be healthier, longer, and more enjoyable.- Lauren Little
This TED Talk discusses the key to a longevity. The TED talker believes the most imortant factor to living to be 100 is having good emotional health and being in a positive social enviorment. My great grandma lived to be 105 and according to her, the key to longevity is maraschino cherrys which she ate everyday, but I think it probaly had more to do with her staying active, finding hobbies and surrounding herself with other people. All these things, and who knows maybe even the maraschino cherries, contributed to her good mental health. In my life today I try to follow in my great grandmas foot steps by finding things to live for, like good friends, good fun and family. Living beyond 100 is something we all hope forand the first step to achieving that is making life worth living.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the “Blue Zones” was the quality of life the people in them were living. When I picture people over 100 I picture my 102 year old great grandmother who lived in a care facility and was imobile for the last few years of her life. Yet the people in the video who were the same age were going about nearly normal lives with working, mild exercise, and lots of family time. I never before considered the effect that one’s family could have on their physical health as I often forget how closely correlated mental health is to physical health. It makes sense though, people surrounded by other people are happier and have secure support systems that improve their quality of life. The mantra of a non profit I support is “people need other people” and the TED talk only solidified the legitimacy of that statement in my mind. Other people, in the form of both friends and family, offer moral/emotional support as well as services that can make everyday life easier. The people in the blue zones often named their family as one of the main reasons they had lived so long because it honestly just makes more sense for someone to want to live longer when they’re surrounded by the people they love. Living with and around other people not only makes living easier but it also gives people a reason to live and to live longer.
Mental health and physical health are directly related. Things like stress, depression, and loneliness have many physical side effects, like headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite, etc. This TED talk did a great job at explaining this in more depth. When I think of older people, I picture people that are unable to care for themselves, walk, or even hold a conversation with others. My grandmother is only 70, and she is already in the process of being placed in an old folks home because she is too weak to perform necessary everyday tasks. This is in part due to her habits, diet, and lack of exercise, however, I do think that she was starting to lose motivation to take good care of herself because she felt lonely and we weren’t able to visit her as often as we should have. I believe that community and family is something of major importance for the maintenance of good health. Good mental health and happiness leads to healthier lifestyles and longer lives.
I think that really interested me was the blue zones that the TED talk discussed. I think it shows just how much of a difference that eating healthy and having an active lifestyle will help in life. I think that the way to apply this to my life and if I go into a career in medicine, is to just focus on the small changes to lead an overall healthier lifestyle. Simple changes in how you eat and exercising as little as 30 minutes a day can significantly change the health of a person and ultimately help them live longer. I think that this concept needs to be shared and pushed with more people to help make the overall population a lot healthier.
The most interesting part of How to Live to be 100 to me was the fact that many of the “blue zones” were in areas of the world considered more impoverished than America. I was surprised that a lot of the strategies involved were not about nutrition and exercise, but culture and religion. Mental and physical health showed a strong correlation in how long a person may live. I think that this adds a new perspective to modern medicine and the longevity of people. My grandmother is 77, and still can beat anyone at tennis. She constantly talks about how she will never retire, and she lives her life as well as any middle aged person would be, and is very happy. A lot of times more elderly people are pictured to be living in a retirement home taking pills every day, but I like the concept that there are people who can live to be extremely old and still have a large sense of independence.
The biggest take way I had from the Ted Talk was not that excersise and a good diet contribute to the longevity of life. It seemed obvious to me that people in these blue zones would display habits encompassing these two ideas. What did shock me was not only the idea of community affecting life, but also how it was the most important contributing factor. When j thought about it more, the less extreme of an idea it was to me. Humans are social creatures, and while we do have introverts and extroverts, each side craves deep personal connections to other people. I value the relationships in my life as they have been incredibly helpful to my mental health and quality of life. If I were to practice medicine in a Field where I'd be responsible for the well bring of a patient's long term health, I would stress a good diet and exercise routine. But I would also encourage them to surround themselves which close genuine people to improve their quality of life.
I think this video is especially relevant to younger people like me because the habits people live to 100 off of are best started as early in life as possible. However, I don’t even know for sure if I would want to live to be 100 years old yet if it means I would be extremely frail and incapable. I would rather live a full life to 80, but I would have no problem being healthy and happy all the way to 100. Many people can watch this video and take note that living to an old age does not have everything to do with good healthcare or medicine, but is mostly predicated off of lifestyle. How people eat, socialize, and exercise are all taken seriously in the cultures in the video where longevity is the most prevalent.
I think that its interesting how simple good life choices can lead to a longer age.The most interesting thing that I found about these lifechoices is how the majority of people who live to be 100 have social connections throughout their life.I feel like over time humanity has strayed away from their primal instincts of being a social creature and that's why we have less and less people who live to be 100. obviously there are other factors that contribute to that but over time as humanity has adapted and changes from their instincts there's been a steady decrease in the amount of people who live to be 100. I think that this is an important thing to note especially for our future doctors. If more doctors tell their patients about life choice changes as simple as these ones in the video the world would be a better place.
The change in overall health also leads to a life extension. Those that are able to take advantage of the time they already have in life are able to extend their lives by a number of years, given that nutrition, exercise, mental health, and early action on injuries and ailments are all major contributing factors that can lead to a longer and happier life. I thought it was definitely interesting that all of the factors that are included in having a longer life are all associated with easy choices that aren’t strenuous to make. Thus, it seems that people are choosing not to live until 100; solely due to the fact that they are unwilling to make the necessary lifestyle changes to life until 100. After watching this TED talk, I can’t help but wonder that if people knew that simple lifestyle changes have this drastic lifestyle change, if they would make the necessary changes to induce a longer lifespan.d
It is interesting seeing the patterns that can be found in different places where more people live to be over 100. Today, many preach that the way to live longer is to exercise regularly and eat healthy. The video instead suggests that yes, eating healthy with lots of vegetables helps, but there are other factors that can increase a person’s lifespan. Like incorporating moderate exercise into someone’s daily life (taking a walk to a store), maintaining friendships with others, and knowing why they wake up each day to work. Seeing the benefits from doing this motivates me to work towards this type of lifestyle, and incorporating these ideas to help maintain my health. And in a future career for medicine this could help to suggest ways to improve patients health and lifestyle. So I could mention these ways to live healthier, including moderate exercise that happens naturally or eating more plant based foods.
I get the privilege to still have a relationship with two of my great grandparents. My step great grandfather is 104 and my grandma is 97. I have no doubt that they will live another year. Although my great grandfather prays to be “sent home”, he is miserable and does not like living anymore. He has been alive through many different tragedies. I think a lot of what it comes down to is taking care of yourself all throughout your age and having a purpose in your life. There are people in other countries who live a lot longer than Americans; they know why they wake up in the morning. Many of these countries and even here in the US, the people who live a lot longer they focus on their religion and grab their diet right from the bible. They don’t stress their body like Americans do. They do the same thing each and every day and find purpose in their life every hour of every day. Buettner says this in his tedTalk, “Diets don't work. No diet in the history of the world has ever worked for more than two percent of the population. Exercise programs usually start in January; they're usually done by October. When it comes to longevity there is no short term fix in a pill or anything else. But when you think about it, your friends are long-term adventures, and therefore, perhaps the most significant thing you can do to add more years to your life, and life to your years.” I think that works and will apply to my career because if people start living longer it’s going to be because of this not because we exercise everyday. People will be changing by the time I get into medicine and perhaps start living longer.
ReplyDeleteI was lucky enough to spend time and know my great grandparents which lived to 94 and 93 and counting. It is hard to see them at this age because of the impact that life throws at them. They now live in a senior community, has alzheimer, difficulty walking, and out lived all of their friends. The struggle of living to 100 or even 90 is many peoples bodies do not live to that age and they die. In medicine, there is nothing to stop the aging process and in the video there was a heart surgeon who was 94 and still did 20 heart surgeries a month. To some people, age does not play a role in their lives. The heart surgeon was one of those people. But that is medicine, you train for years on how to be perfect in a specialty and use it until you can not anymore or you have to retire.
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ReplyDeleteI had the privilege of getting to know my great grandmother, who lived to be 96 and getting her view on life and a possible explanation for why she lived to be as old as she was. She said one of the biggest reasons for her longevity is that she simply wanted to stay. She felt that she still had things to do on this Earth, and when she finished she would be on to the next life. I think Buettner made a good point when he said one of the reasons for longevity is that every centurian had a reason to get up in the morning. When people can't find a reason to live, they have a more difficult time figuring out why they want to be alive. This can apply to my life now because, with this new information, I can better work towards figuring out what my reason to wake up in the morning is, and better prepare for my future. As for how this would affect my future career in medicine, putting this claim into action by helping some of my patients figure out what their reason to wake up in the morning would be yet another reason for me to enter a field of medicine.
ReplyDeleteI think it is cool how there are 5 different spots all over the world that people have a long life expectancy. Most of the places that they mentioned did not really surprise me but there was one that was in California that really did surprise me because it is just California and I was not expecting the United States to have a community that lives past the age of 100. This applies to me because it shows a healthy lifestyle and maybe some way that I can live my life if I want to live to be 100. It is also kind of mind opening because you do not really expect that many people from around the world or even in the same community to live over 100 years. I feel like this does not apply to me as much right now because I live in the united states and not in one of these communities that gives me a chance to live to 100 or even past that. This may affect me in my future medical career because I could start to see patients that are older and may have to learn some new things in order to take care of these patients but most of them seem to be pretty healthy. I also live in the United States so I think that I have a better chance to see more obese patients in my future than seeing patients that have exceeded 100 years. I hope that the united states has a growth in life expectancy and not more of a growth in obesity.
ReplyDeleteI believe that in America, in order to live to be 100, we need to hold on to friends that live a healthy lifestyle and therefore influence us in a more positive environment. In the TED talk, Dan Buettner explained that there is no short term fix, but longevity is found in lifestyle.. In my future career in medicine, I will advise people to naturally exercise, focus on a more plant-based and paleolithic type eating habits (avoiding diets that only last a short while), and to value community. In our society, the ideal body type requires rigorous exercise that long-term harms the body and causes wear and tear to our joints, muscles, and cartilage, taking years off of our life. But, if people exercise naturally with nature walks, swimming, simple light-labor tasks that are not as heavy impact, then the body will last longer, increasing longevity. Furthermore, overeating and processed foods are the main cause of obesity in the United States. Avoiding overeating by controlling less calorie intake will greatly help the metabolism. Our body was never meant to process foods that are not natural and earth grown, which is why in order to increase longevity, a paleolithic and plant based eating style is the most effective method. Short term diets never work and the weight is always gained back, the key to eating is lifestyle, therefore, constantly being aware of what you are eating and if it is processed or not. Finally, none of this can be maintained if the community people surround themselves with is living an unhealthy lifestyle. People need friends who support them and their lifestyle choices, which will make those choices easier. Humans were intended to have community and rely on it, so finding friends that you can keep for a lifetime will add years and happiness onto the average human’s life. As a doctor, I will be recommending all of the above for patients who are struggling with weight loss or just want to know how they can live to see their great-grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteThe factors that increase longevity and lead to a long life in the "blue zones" aren't necessarily surprising but they aren't always easy to live by either. Living to be 100 is a goal for many but people fall short because of small changes in their daily lifestyle. Many people believe that diabetes, cancer, chronic illness, trauma, or various other diagnosed illnesses are what cause death at earlier-than-expected stages of life, however it's more often the small daily habits that lead to long term health. While there's no one specific diet, exercise, or lifestyle to live by, it's important to realize that moving frequently, eating controlled and healthy portions, and connecting with others promotes long term health and is found in every “blue zone” community. As a medical professional, I would apply these factors when diagnosing patients. Before looking for extremes, I would examine their lifestyle and habits. Little things can make a big difference in the long term.
ReplyDeleteObviously lifestyle plays a crucial role in longevity, but how can one change their lifestyle for the better? Eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep are crucial, but the ways of life in this video are almost impossible to obtain. The daily life of Americans are split into distinct parts; work, exercise, sleep, There is no way to produce the same amount of work and change daily life to live longer. There is just not enough hours in a day to have a 9-5 desk job and have the constant “exercise” the people in this ted talk have. Modernization would have to regress in order for the nation as a whole to adapt to this new lifestyle. I really like the idea of spending the day working for food and life, but that is not the picture of success anymore in modern America.
ReplyDeleteOverall, a lot of the information given during the TED Talk didn’t surprise me. It makes sense why so many Americans don’t live over 80 years old. Many Americans work so incredibly hard and are very driven for success; this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the sacrifices they make for success have been proven to be very detrimental. At the end of the video, Dan Buettner showed a pyramid of what components are needed for people to have a longer life. At the base of the pyramid were close relationships. We need to surround ourselves with people that support us and that we know we can always count on. Although this component didn’t surprise me, it makes sense that many people aren’t very mindful that this is needed to live longer. In order to be successful, many people spend much more time on their work. As a result, they have less time to focus on relationships in their life, and they are much more tired from pushing themselves to be successful that they often don’t put a lot of effort into their relationships either. Above relationships was eating well. In order to live longer, it is important to put plant based foods in our body most of the time and avoid overeating. Americans are notorious for their overeating, especially since many eat a lot of fast food because they are stress eating and/or have no time to make meals because of their rigorous jobs. Above eating well was having the right outlook which means having a purpose for your life. Many Americans do have a purpose, but for many of them it is only to make money and be successful. Although this isn’t a bad goal to have, many sacrifice their true passions in life because they won’t help them make as much money as they hope. Many hate their jobs and get depressed because they are doing something that they don’t enjoy for 8+ hours a day. Finally, at the top of the pyramid is putting physical activity into our daily lives. Most Americans work desk jobs so they are sitting for many hours every day, doing no physical exercise. Also, by the time they are off of work, they are so exhausted from their jobs that they don’t work out after their jobs either. Overall, in order to live longer, Americans need to stop focusing so much on being successful and making money, but rather on what they actually enjoy doing. If not, it sets off a ripple effect and hurts many aspects of their life.
ReplyDeleteThis applies to me now because there are steps and habits I can build to live longer. One of the main take aways that I got from the video is that it is important to be involved in routine exercise; it is less about intensity and more about consistency. Even a walk every day can help add years to your life. While there is no specific diet that can make you live longer, eating healthy can help. The video recommended a plant based diet. In addition to having a good balance of exercise and diet, a good social life will also help add years to your life. I am going to continue to be involved socially and plan to be involved in my future working career. In all, having a balanced diet, regular exercise, and social involvement, can help contribute to living a long happy life.
ReplyDelete-Steven S.
Living to be 100 has always been a goal of mine and I guess I never put thought into how to accomplish this. I find it really interesting that these people who live to be 100 are concentrated into specific zones and there are factors that contribute to their longevity. These people aren't living long because they have medicine or a specific diet. They live long because they live a wholesome life with a healthy diet, plenty of exercise in their daily life, and a support system that somehow helps them live longer. This makes me think about the ways I could be cleaning up my eating, doing more physical activities, and interacting with my family. It’s fascinating that there isn’t some miracle drug or something that helps these people live, they just incorporate good habits into their days and it’s reflected in every blue zone. (Chloe Reinhardt)
ReplyDeleteI do believe that lifestyle and who we are hanging around and what we are eating effects what will happen later in our lives. These people are not living to 100 because they are living happy and getting the basic needs of nature and a healthy diet as well as being surrounded by others with the same positivity and lifestyle causing them to be even more happy and feel fulfilled. It is crazy to me that there are so many people that are living past 100 when the generation now thinks that living to 100 is the biggest milestone. Living past 100 now is not just a thought but is now a reality. No need to have a strict diet and exercise plan when you have family, nature walks, and a healthy diet to keep you going and feeling young.
ReplyDeleteOne aspect that Dan Buettner made clear was that these life habits start now. Even as I am only 17 years old, it is equally as important to begin taking care of myself, rather than begin to develop these habits as I age. To move naturally, eat wisely, have strong connections, and have the right outlook on life are the aspects that were most important in the TED Talk. Though it is clear that I have more energy and flexibility now, as long as I continue my daily physical activity, I can improve my life expectancy. Even if this just means that I actively go for walks, cook by hand, move around the house, not even going to the gym for an hour long workout, like I would do now. Following, eating a plant based diet full of organic and colorful fruits provide the nutrition needed not only for daily physical and mental health, but further on the inside, with cells in our bodies that are continuously reproducing and bettering themselves. Something that was evident among the areas that were studied to be commonly associated with longer life, was that tofu was eaten significantly more than meat. Another thing that Buettner raised to importance was creating relationships among family, friends, and possibly a cultural tribe. Always having someone that “has your back” develops a reassurance between the two in the relationship that greatly improves mental health. Lastly, having a passion that one can have a reason to wake up every morning assists in developing longevity. For example, not retiring at such a young age will greatly increase life expectancy, because one has more of a reason to keep living. For my future career in medicine, this might not only mean more patients that are older, but mainly a change in enforcing habits that will increase life expectancy. As time passes it is a possibility to create more of these habits and result in a happier, healthier population!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't very surprised that lifestyle played an important role of living to an old age, but I was surprised that it was much more important than genetic factors. It's interesting how certain geographies and connections among people allow people to live for such a long time. I would have never thought that something such as simply having connections and respect among the elderly allows for one to have a better chance of living to their hundreds without many complications. It's also interesting to note that while these people didn't necessarily exercise they constantly found a way to fit movement into their daily routine and also made sure to eat a healthy plant based diet. The fact that 2 of these blue zones occur on islands, likely that don't have the same medical care that a huge city may have, still are able to live to one hundred and function well at this age. This leads me to believe that as a future medical professional it's important to remember that simple lifestyle changes can often be the best medicine. This fact is overlooked a lot as many people believe that doctor's have all the answers, but the ability to become a centenarian's is much more related to lifestyle than medicine. I think especially in America if people chose to look at their work as the reason they wake up in the morning and choose to integrate exercise and a natural plant based diet into their life, people will start to see an increased life expectancy.
ReplyDeleteIn “How to Live to be 100”, Dan Buettner talks about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Living longer is a mental science. A healthy lifestyle could be dependent on the culture and environment you live in. Beuttner explains that surrounding yourself with good habited people can help you maintain your health. Influences of surrounding individuals such as eating habits and weights, physical activity, and quality of emotions/ mood all have a huge impact on the way you may decide to live your own life. I agree with these ideas and think this could be very important in the future of medicine. This thought that your life is dependent on others should be discussed more. People should live on their own terms with their own beliefs, but also surround themselves with others who have similar mindsets. Good relationships is one of the strongest impacts to health and I think medicine should preach this fact more to patients who are struggling with these different parts of their life.
ReplyDeleteI think that this will impact me if I pursue a career in medicine because doctors could start leaning towards a more naturalistic and not drug focused treatment, especially for older patients. In the video it talks about living a healthy lifestyle and doing things such as living in a tightly knit community or going out and doing light activity as a workout. It’s interesting to me how these areas are so concentrated too. Eventually, if these communities spread and there are longer life spans, doctors will have to think longer term for more patients instead of thinking shorter term for people in their 70s and 80s.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the key to long life is based off of day to day lifestyle. Over time the small things add up and by not paying attention to them they can become detrimental to your health. The common ways of life shown in each blue spot are great ways to live, but can be far out of reach for some people. I chose to look at the main ideas given in the video like staying connected to friends and family while also regulating a healthy diet. Not hard or a major life changes, these two things can make major improvements on health and longevity of our lives. In the future, as a medical professional I would take the lifestyle my patient is living into consideration when I am providing care. Proscribing not only medicine, but small lifestyle changes can make a huge change.
ReplyDeleteAfter listening to Dan Buettner, I believe that it is important to study and understand other cultures so we can learn from them and grow in our knowledge. I personally don’t have any relatives that have lived past 100 years but it’s interesting to see how our geography and surroundings affect the way we live. When you enter into the medical field you work with a wide range of individuals and if you work in a long term care facility you are around the elderly the most. Learning about other cultures and their health care may help providers with new ideas. It’s important to look at our state and nation because of the obesity epidemic; other countries are very focused on their lifestyle which aids in their life span. Americans eat whenever and whatever without thinking of the consequences of it which is why we aren’t as healthy as we should be. We don’t take the time to care for our bodies and neglect to put the right fuel into them. We need to be more considerate in what we are eating and how we are living. We all could live to be 100 or older but it’s about the changes that happen now that will make the change occur. Realizing that other countries have people out living us should push us to make healthier choices and change. (Izze Gregan)
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the ted talk, How to live to be over 100, I wasn't very surprised by what this answer is. Physical activity, diet, relationships, and being in the right tribe is the "big secret". Hearing that by just being mindful with your everyday activities is inspiring. While watching this, we heard a story that a 104 year old woman incorporated physical activity by simply choosing to sit on the ground no matter what just so she would have to stand up on her own. THis seems so simple, but then again, being mindful goes into all the "secrets". Hearing that relationships and diet also goes into living past 100 can inspire many because it's such a simple task. knowing all of this information can be used today for health to inspire and show people it is possible to live over 100.
ReplyDeleteI have been lucky enough to be able to have a relationship with both of my great grandmothers, one of them lived to be 96 and the other one to 98. It was really difficult to see how much life had changed each of them. My great grandmother who lived to be 96 had a really difficult time doing things and was in a nursing home where she got help 24/7. My other great grandmother who lived to be 98 was still fairly independent, she did live in a nursing home but it was one which focused more on independence so she still did most things on her own. I think it is really amazing to see what some are still capable of doing at such an old age, but at the same time I think that there are some people who are living into their 90s that what nothing more than to move on to their next life. My great grandmother was one of those people. Everytime we went to visit her, she just seemed so miserable, it was like she had just given up. I think it is interesting that there were 5 different spots where people lived the longest. I didn't think that there would be specific spots, I thought it would be scattered all around the world. I think the reason I thought this was because I believed it was independent factors which contributed to how long you live, like eating healthy, exercising on a regular basis, etc. But instead it seems it is mostly our geography and surroundings.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching this ted talk, I wasn't very surprised by what Dan said. I wasn't shocked by the fact that Americans don't live past 80. I believe this to be true because Americans work themselves too hard. Americans care more fro success and achievement than actually relaxing. There is nothing wrong with wanting to work hard, but you need to be able to take a break. Dan Buettner said the number 1 thing keeping theses people alive is close relationships. Americans could achieve this if they weren't so focused on work. I think close relationships are very important and being able to surround yourself with people you love. Another thing Dan Buettner said was eating healthy. I think being able to take care of yourself is key to your survival especially with things you're putting into your body like food. When I become a medical professional I'll make sure to keep in mind my patients eating patterns and they're social life. Because it is very important to know if you're patient is taking care of themselves. ]
ReplyDeleteEmilie Kirke
How is life expectancy so much higher in other countries with less efficient health care? The Sardilians in Italy have a healthy lifestyle, required to be very active and they also eat very healthy foods with a plant based diet. Seniors are also very well respected. Okinawans also live very long, and have a plant based diet, and eat less by eating off of smaller plates and stopping eating when their stomach is 20% full. Here, they also don’t believe in retirement, but instead have a word that means why do you wake up in the morning. Some common factors are that all of these people set up their lives around physical activity, they have good outlook, they eat wiseley, and they connect well with other healthy people. Before watching this video, I thought that while I want to live as long as possible, the quality of life when you are that old would not be worth it because you cannot do everything that you would like to get the most out of life. However, after seeing this, it seems that these people who are so healthy have such great habits that they are able to do a lot of meaningful things, and all have a sense of purpose. I think in order to live this long healthy and happily, one must be very active in their daily lives by setting up their life so they have required physical activities that they automatically take part in. Also, a healthy diet is very important, and plant based diets seem to be the most efficient. Another important thing is community; if your life is centered around good healthy people who you relate to and who give you a purpose, then you’re quality of life and general lifestyle will be improved and will to live can result in longer lifespan. I think that future medicine will be studying what factors relate to better health and longer lives, and configuring these factors into better healthcare that will do this as well whether it be with better eating patterns or actual medicinal help.
ReplyDeleteDuring this TedTalk my main focus was seeing the impact of social influence on your bodies health. The idea that connection between others can result in a longer lifespan can be life changing. I grew up knowing my Aunt Ida who just recently died at 97. Thinking about her and how aspects of the video were present in her life a noticed that she was always at every family reunion and every Sunday lunch after church with her grandkids. Her connection with family and her hometown community was the one that stuck out to me the most. As I hopefully move into Medical Sales, I wish to see a continuous human presence in the field. I think that even with all the technology surrounding this field, the actual human connection and visual is vital for recovery and health. All the studies show that isolation is not good for a person. Even when surrounded by machines and computers, I will try my best to keep a relationship aspect inside the medical fields, as it shows to help many live past the average age.
ReplyDeleteI found this Ted talk very interesting, because many of the places that have high percentages of people living to 100 were not the kinds of places you would expect. We would probably expect these places to be very healthy first world countries with the most sophisticated health care technology. This was shown to not be necessarily true though. I think it is very interesting that the most important key to living long is simply how you live your day-to-day life, and the habits you form. The people living to 100 are people who don't necessarily workout, but exercise is incorporated into everything they do every day. In fact, first world countries often have a lower average lifespan, because people living in those places take the comfort they live in for granted.
ReplyDeleteI have always thought that diets weren’t ever going to happen in a good way for most of the public. I completely agree with what Dan Buettner is saying because of evidence he says. If we do keep elders in the family and take care of them then we wouldn’t have that disconnection from them and the payment of nursing homes and we would live longer. This way we all stay connected, but what if people don’t have time to take care of the elders and that's what leads to nursing homes? I believe that we all have too stressful lives in America and taking care of our elders helps slow us down, and could lead to us all live longer too. This also could lead to us doing less straining things like Dan said. Instead of running all the time take walks sporadically all the time. This leads to constantly doing something instead of just a burst of strain every once in a while. Another topic Dan discussed was eating less. I think this is where the idea of Dieting came into play honestly. In a diet you would eat certain foods and then only certain amounts of them, and this is what all of Dan’s blue zones came from, which is why diets work for certain people. I like Dan’s information for all of his presentation but I believe that how society is highly different because we do have high extensive jobs that require a lot of our time. We do try to eat natural foods, but coming from a country that was built on a high involving economy and industrialism we came out with fast food for those time consuming jobs. I also think that we as a society is changing and have so many different religions that changes how our society works. This is why we may not be welcomed into our elderlie’s hearts and homes. They may have different views than us and may change the view of some people taking care of their endlers. I think that what Dan is saying works for some people in their countries, but not this one.
ReplyDeleteI always thought the mystery of old age was getting the genetic lottery, and eating correctly. Based on this Ted Talk I was correct, though eating healthy was a bit different than I had envisioned. When we think eating healthy our minds automatically think about going on a diet or only eating from a restrictive group of foods. During the Ted Talk, the speaker was talking about how most men and women in their 100’s ate mostly vegetables, which makes sense but I was also thrown off by that. Our body does need nutrition from meats, but not as much as we thought. Most of our problems in America is overeating, which makes sense due to a ton of our population being obese. If we were to make our food portions smaller I believe that our life expectancy would increase.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see in this video that the people who live into their 100s live very natural hours. They eat primarily plant based diets and a relatively active lifestyle with plenty of family and friends. However, in todays society we base our health on the amount of medication and drugs we take to maintain "homeostasis". I think this shows that if people were to live more natural lifestyles like we were supposed to. If people focused on living an active happy lifestyle they could be healthier but also live longer.
ReplyDeleteThe TED talk by Dan Buettner was interesting because it would make sense that the blue zones exist because different communities could potentially be a big factor on the way people “live longer”. The video also talked about diets and what not which is a no brainer when wanting to live longer. Your social life has a big impact on your age and health. It is shocking that there are not very many blue zones but it makes sense. Although, I was not surprised by this because it makes sense with different lifestyles. This could apply to a future career in medicine because you could make lifestyle recommendations to people about where to live and how they live their lives. It is inspiring because knowing now I could live longer based on where I live and how I live my life on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteThe video made a lot of sense, especially regarding the food we eat and the amount of food we eat. A more advanced health care system is not going to increase the longevity of life when the lifestyles being lived are doing more harm to begin with. Especially in America, we’ve seen in movies such as Super Size Me, that show the damage of processed foods in the high quantities that we eat them. The piece that surprised me however, was the treatment of elders. It makes sense after having it explained, but it would not have been something I would have considered. As for how this will apply to my potential, future medical career, it will be important to inform patients on how to take care of themselves before they have no choice but to go to the doctor’s. Ideally, we can lessen the use of drugs and surgeries in the medical world.
ReplyDeleteI think it’s interesting how in our society “health” or living a good lifestyle is thought of as extreme workouts all the time, taking medication or supplements, or being on some sort of strict diet. While in these blue zones a healthy life is lived in more moderation. So this is doing this like calm physical exercise, a plant based diet, and not having high levels of stress or pressure. I wonder what causes us to think of health as we do and what caused these blue zones to think the way they do. I think that in my future career in medicine I will advise my patients to live a life based on what is being done in the blue zones. I don’t believe that the human body was meant for rigorous workout and overworking it. Today people are forced to deal with a lot of stress and pressure and I think that the best way to deal with that is living a life in moderation.
ReplyDeleteIt makes a lot of sense how people in these areas live to be a hundred years or older. People rely a lot of connection which ties into the family and community aspect of these areas. As far as health, these people eat a lot healthier because most of their food comes straight from the source and is prepared with their loved ones. I think that this video was interesting because it showed all of the common denominators of these blue areas. This could apply to medicine in the future by watching the trends that Americans will follow and if life expectancy will increase as well. This could be a great source for research.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the information in the TED talk was really telling about certain areas. But, I don’t believe that healthcare has the largest impact on the elderly and how you live past expectations, but instead how the culture is formed. In the areas that Dan Beuttner mentioned, the elderly are more honored in their culture. For example, in Italy and Japan, there is more respect focused on the older generations. People ask for advice, make time for them and are known for how they can support their communities. In other places around the world, for example the United States, generally, older generations that are considered our parents parents are not truly well respected. People can be rude, pretend that they “don’t have life experience” and do not value the elderly and how they can better the community. Within a healthy lifestyle, being respected and feeling like you have a purpose can allow you to want to live as long as you can. This video poses an interesting question in showing that it is not just the food you eat and the amount of exercise you do but also about how you are treated. In the healthcare system when I am older, I think making sure people are surrounding people you are “healthy’ to them will not just help their mental health but also physical health.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching “How to Live to be 100”, I thought about the simple stuff, or at least what I thought were the simple things in my life compared to the people in the video. My life compared to theirs would mean I would need to give up a lot in my life but also how overworked we are in this country, or how stressed we become in this country. The older Italian man is still working but has a light job compared to many in this country who have to work in the food industry or customer service which brings on a lot of stress, not including schooling being stressful, or money situations being overly stressful. I look at my life now and question if I could actually give up many of my habits and food lovings and working. I could apply this to my medical life to offer as advice to patients in case they need to limit themselves on certain things.
ReplyDeleteThis TED talk was very interesting to me, mainly because it introduced many lively human beings that seemed to enjoy life. While they are 100 years or older, they still get around and some of them even worked. It was cool to see that people that age can still be active and live life as if they're young.
ReplyDeleteI think that feeling involved and wanted could be a factor in how these men and women are able to live so long. The diet is always important but mental heath and feeling needed is just as good! When I become a healthcare professional, I want to be able to make elderly feel like they have a place and aren't just taking up space. I think even younger people need a sense of belonging and I want to be able to provide that for everyone.
Dan Buettner states that mammals such as elephants, rats and humans are programmed for procreative success rather than longevity. This means that our main purpose is to live to reproduce and have fertile offspring. Those who live within the Blue Zones have a great deal of things in common. They partake in physical activity daily, give their body’s time to relax, have a purpose,eat the right things, and have a strong foundation. One key myth of extending your life expectancy is dieting. There is no diet or exercise that will extend the length of your life. Mr. Buettner says that the best thing you can do to add more years to your life, and life to your years. This has already had an impact on my life since watching the Ted talk in class. I have made friends and family a greater part of my day. I have started engaginging in more conversations and less on the world of technology. If I choose to have a career in medicine I would try to incorporate this into not only my life but my patients and peers. I think Dan Buettner no only debunked popular myths about living a longer life but gave advice on how to live a better life.
ReplyDeleteJulia Lawrence:
ReplyDeleteI believe that the way of living in these “blue zones” is very important. This way of living can be split up into 4 categories; moving naturally, having the right outlook, eating wisely, and connecting with others. If everyone was able to apply these four categories to their life, life expectancy would not only increase but so would quality of life. One person who I look at to following these 4 ways of living is my Grandma. My grandma is 92 years old and still is able to go to the gym every single day. She taps into all of these four ways of living and she has her whole life. She always tries to move naturally; whether it be her going to the grocery store or taking a walk with her friends, she finds a way to be active throughout the day. She also eats very healthy and almost always cooks home cooked meals. Since she has always been involved in her church she has very close relationships with many people. My grandma and the blue zones prove that if people move naturally, have the right outlook, eat wisely, and connect with others, life expectancy and quality of life increases. This might apply to a future career in medicine, if my patient is having medical issues that may be solved by a change in lifestyle, I would recommend this blue zone way of living to improve their medical problems and future medical problems down the line. I believe that if all doctors recommend this way of living to their patients many health problems could go away in the future.
I thought that it was really interesting that all of the centenarians that they showed in the TED talk were still very active despite their old age. Many people see their older age as an excuse to slow down and take it easy, however, that could possibly end up being detrimental to one's health and aging. I also thought it was interesting that they described all of these people belonging to a tight knit community that they regularly meet with and I wouldn't have expected this to be a determining factor in a person's longevity. From a medical perspective, these discoveries about the characteristics of people who live long lives could be very useful in diagnosing and treating patients with symptoms that are evident of aging. If doctors could prescribe lifestyle to people who are aging, our population could possibly live longer and happier lives without the need for prescription drugs that may have negative side affects.
ReplyDeleteI found a few interesting things in the TED talk. I find it interesting that societies that are kind of secluded from the rest of the world. They are just their own community and do whatever they think is the best life style. I also found it weird how all of their diets were all plant based. Even though people in today's society have the same diet as they still don’t live to be 100. I am lucky enough to still have my grandparents with me and got to know my great grandma. Even though they don’t do the same thing as these societies do they are still in great health and are doing great in life. But I do see people who are late 90s and early 100s who are so miserable no matter how life is for them. Living to 100 isn’t going to always be the best option. Also, even if you do all these things doesn’t mean something isn’t going to happen and you aren’t going to die before over something that you can’t control. I don’t think there is one correct answer to live a long time.
ReplyDeleteWith so few “blue zones” in the world, there is so much to learn from them. Living to be 100 years old isn’t just about the way your diet is set up, how much you exercise, how much you work. What really intrigued me was that these people had an amazing mindset and outlook on life, they surround themselves with their families and friends and having a meaningful/wholesome connection. By this point it’s not only about how long you can live for, it’s about the quality of life that you give yourself. The biggest stigma within our lives right now is our self-esteem and deteriorating mental health and the way they live their lives there we can incorporate into our own lives by including a more colorful diet of fruits, doing more healthy exercising just by taking a simple walk into nature, and spending time with our loved ones without constantly being on our toxic phones. We need to be more in control and considerate of how we treat our bodies and our minds in our everyday lives, even just a simple little positive thought can go a long way.
ReplyDeleteI have been lucky enough to watch and have a relationship with my grandmother who is 94 years old and still alive. Even though she has had an amazing life, and now still lives very comfortably, it has been hard having to watch aging take effect on her. As of right now, she lives with one of my aunts. One reason for this is because of her memory. Before, she was living in a lovely retirement community. They gave the residents their lots of free time and with her age, she started to lose her memory and wander off away from the community home. This was hard for everyone in my family because no one knew exactly what to do. That is why she lives with my aunt now so that someone can watch her constantly, making she does not get hurt. The struggle of living to 90 or 100 is that many people's bodies start to disintegrate, like my grandmother’s memory for example. There is nothing we can do to medically stop aging. But I believe that there are steps that we can take to make life better at that age. As the TED talk stated, taking small walks to be active is a good start. I think that we need to keep our bodies active so that at that age, there is a smaller risk of getting hurt.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the “How to Live to be 100” TED talk, I have a little better understanding of longevity of life and quality of life. I knew that a big factor in living to one hundred was lifestyle, yet I was not aware of how much of a factor it was. What surprised me the most was the lack of genetic advantage that went into play. Buettner mentioned the blue zones where the most amount of centenarians lived, were mainly caused by the lifestyles that existed there. Diet, social connections, and natural movements all went into living past one hundred. A major part of the video was also describing the quality of life of the centenarians. Not only did they live past one hundred but they also did it with ease and happiness. They all were still able to do many physical activities and their mental state was very good. I think that the way the people in the blue zones live is an excellent way for everyone to live, although not realistic for everyone to completely change to this lifestyle, certain aspects of it are great to implement into all of our lives. Physicians should make an effort to promote lifestyle aspects as well as treatments or medications.
ReplyDeleteIn the TED talk, I thought it was very interesting to learn about the ¨Blue Zones¨. I think it's unique to see how long people live in different countries. How theyŕe still active even if they are 100 years old. They can do more things that sometimes we don't want to do. The important factor in that was their diet. They had a healthy and stable diet by that razing their chances to live longer and being able to still stay active. To my knowledge now, I believe doctors should start telling patients more about being healthier and being able to live longer. A lot of these people today are scared of aging but what they don't know it not about aging its by the fact of how you're living it. If doctors could tell their patients that more often, then we will be able to see more the result and maybe our grandkids or our children will be able to live longer then we will.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was really interesting that there are actually certain parts of the world that have a significantly longer life expectancy average. It's crazy that lifestyle and environment truly do affect how long we live. As we live in the moment we truly don't realize how our lifestyle now will affect us in the future. We take relationships we have with our surroundings for granted. We are often told how long we live is based on what we eat, consume, and how often we exercise, but we are never told how important happiness is to a long life. We are never told that our friendships and social lives can actually affect the length of our life. Sure we are told to surround ourselves with people that makes us happy but were not told to do that to live a longer life. In the ted talk How to live to be 100 +, Dann Buettner tells us “Think about it your friends are long term adventures and therefore perhaps the most significant thing you can do to add more years to your life and life to your years,” he truly emphasizes on the fact that an enjoyable life, surrounding yourself with people you truly love and care about can lead to a longer life. It’s crazy to think that you can be the reason someone lives longer. People often lose interest or purpose as they grow old but having that social positive surrounding can help them find purpose. With that purpose they can find happiness and live a longer joyful life. This is the Idea Buettner brought up about purpose “ikigai” which he saw in a small town in Japan which is also very fascinating. Several stories and facts Buettner brought up where inspiring and interesting. But lastly, Buettner stated that those living the longest didn't intentionally due diets or exercise excessively. Instead it was built into their culture and lifestyle and they were able to get physical exercise and good eating habits, leading them to a longer life. Often doctors are fast to skipping to medication when sometimes a little change in their surrounding could be the easiest, best fix to the problem. I think social life and happiness are key components that should be measured when determining someone's health and life expectancy. Doctors should encourage changes in lifestyle and or surrounding environment before prescribing any sort of medication. If I pursue a career in medicine I would do my best to tell patients the importance of their social surroundings and lifestyle because that could be a critical part of their health.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, the Blue Zones found in the world are not extremely miraculous, as the people found in these lead a healthy lifestyle. The small, yet mighty attributes mentioned that helped these people live to be one hundred included diet, exercise, mindset, and relationships. They have considered all of these factors over a long, long period of time, thinking in the long term. Those who do not live to be one hundred only think in the short term. They don't consider how greatly impactful a better diet would be, or even taking the stairs instead of the escalator/elevator. Centenarians also manage their minds. Unsurprisingly, they find ways to relax and also enjoy life (especially if that life lasts 100 years) while coping with stress. In American, so many people clock out at 80 because Americans lead a life that constantly puts a great deal of stress on their nervous systems, wearing it down. It even starts at a young age. All of these would help me as a doctor because starting early, I would encourage long-term thinking. Of course, short fixes can not completely go away. But to avoid later chronic acute diseases or conditions, I truly would encourage the small habits in everyday life that matter. People always debate whether or not there is a "right" way. Life is complex- religions, values, environment, class, wealth and age make it so. But there should be an established universal agreements that there are a few "right" things to do, regardless of where someone is from. As a doctor, I would educate people on these "right" things and the payoffs.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a world today where it seems as though almost everyone could live to 100 because of the advancements that we have with medicine. However, these so called blue zones in the world where people live to 100 is not because of the medicine but because of a lifestyle. These people are active, they eat well, but what I took away the most was their enjoyment for life. It seemed as though no matter what they were doing they were happy doing it. In my opinion that is one of the biggest keys of living to 100. When we are happy living our lives we flush out all negative thoughts and stress and live. By worrying less we are simply increasing our abilities to live longer. So while I do believe that medicine could allow us all to live to 100. I think that our enjoyment of the life we live is what will give us the ultimate boost to living a long and healthy life.
ReplyDeleteI think after seeing my great grandparents live to 97, I really considered the fact that some people choose healthier habits, which in turn can help them live longer. They consistently ate healthy, surrounded themselves by good people, exercises, and stayed positive. When they were younger I don't think they were necessarily perfect and fulfilled these values all the time. It's possible to change your habits, but it's not necessary to be completely pure and healthy all the time. The little moments throughout your life you choose, like to go on a walk, or eat a healthy lunch,or have a conversation with someone out of your normal social circle, will help motivate you to eventually adapt your lifestyle as a whole. I think as a society we need to start to spread how these simple changes can truly transform someone's life, especially through the media so people can see proof of how being healthy and sustainable has a direct effect to living longer. -Kathleen Wortman (computer broke)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was little I got to get to know my great grandma who lived to become 100 years old. She was very active throughout her whole life, she always walked around with us when we visited her. She loved to get outside of the nursing home and go adventure to the beach with us. She was very into birds and went bird watching a lot during her free time. Also, she had a lot of people around her to keep her company. She had all of her friends in the nursing home. She also had her kids and her grandkids living about 10-30min away and they would visit her every week maybe more. So she never felt alone at the nursing home which sometimes people living there do she always have people to walk with her and talk with her. But I don't think she did a lot of things to live to 100 she just lived an average life but she did live a happy life and she became older.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching “How to Live to be 100”, my eyes were opened to the contrasting lifestyles of American’s living in America, versus other ethnicities living in their small, tribe like towns, cities, and countries. For islands/territories like Sardania, traditions and lifestyles are wildly different. Sardinians live in a society of tight-knitted family and friends, never leaving one alone or lost. Exercise wise, Sardanian’s base their physical activity off of what they already require; Walking up and down hills and stairs, and necessary actions like moving their bodies to feed and work. Living to be 100 in towns like Sardania is not abnormal, and those who do live to be 100, have a decent quality of life. Although there is no “tactic” to living to be 100, Sardanian’s have the right culture and genes for it. Most American’s do not live in a society where living to be 100 is a pleasant life, unlike the Sardinians. Based on personal experience, !00 year olds in America tend to develop diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, and have very little motor strong motor skills. The key to our future is finding a way to improve American’s lives early on, such as diets, movement, and relationships. If our future medicine can find a way to improve the lives of both the young and the 100 year olds, our society will evolve.
ReplyDeleteI honestly would love to live a super long life to 100. The people we saw had developed certain habits in their life to live to be 100. They live a lifestyle that would seem rather luxurious having little to no stress, time to relax and focus on their minds, and eat in a healthy way. Although they have dealt with stress and temptation of unhealthy food, they were able to get into a healthy living habit. By developing a habit, it’s easier to have consistent living with a habit because it becomes a routine. It would be nice to start a habit and routine of healthy living now, but with so many distractions in this day and age, it's difficult to. Aging is inevitable, but it's never too early to make that aging healthier and better than it can be.
ReplyDeleteWhile watching the Ted Talk, I was very interested in how lifestyle had an affect how living longer. My Aunt Celena lived till she was 98, and it made me notice certain things about her lifestyle that made her make it to 98. Celena loved life and was always laughing and seeing people. I noticed that Celena embodied all of the qualities that the Ted Talk was mentioning and it made me see the results in real life. Her enjoyment of life was something I thought everyone had, but it turns out she had the best I’ve ever seen. I do believe lifestyle has a lot to do with how long you live. If you are constantly stressing and worrying, it was have an affect on your body. Eating habits, exercise, and emotions all play a critical role. Taking care of your body will help it from getting tired and breaking down easy. Close relationships also play a role because if you surround yourself with people you love and who love you, then you will always have something to live for. Its bring more willpower to stay alive and keep going for the people you love.
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ReplyDeleteIt’s truly shocking to me that in the US- a country with outstanding medical care and significant money funneled into research and scientific advancement- the national average lifespan is still 12 years under our bodies' natural capacity. This, if anything, completely proves Buettner's point on how the importance of a healthy lifestyle trumps any lucky gene combination you may have received. The most interesting point of the TED Talk, to me, were the similarities between Blue Zone diets. All food was locally sourced and low in meat and sugar. Being pescatarian (vegetarian diet, excluding fish) for about 5 years now, I understand how much energy and health a lean-proteins diet encourages. Americans have so many heart issues, and some blame can be put on our national diet of heavy red meat consumption. I understand that going fully vegetarian or vegan can be difficult, or even harmful, for some individuals, so that is not what I would promote if I become a doctor. Instead, I would advocate for a diet rich in plant based proteins, and keeping red/fatty meat consumption to a minimum. I also found it interesting how direct the relation is between strong community and longevity of life. I had always know that community and mental health go hand in hand, but it made sense to learn that physical health does as well. All of the elderly people in my life still have a strong circle of friends whom they visit with often. My grandparents still throw block parties every year, and they regularly attend dinner parties and play pickleball with their close friends. The elderly portion of my neighborhood is also very tight knit. I couldn't tell you the average lifespan of my family members, or my neighborhood- but I could tell you that I know lots of people over the age of 78. I think we could learn a lot from Blue Zone areas- their balance of diet, routine, and social life. They show that a longevity of life is not from freak gene mutations or taking pills every day, but more from paying attention to yourself and what you need.
The thing that surprised me most from the TED talk was the quality of life of these people in the blue zones. Not only are they living longer they’re living better, for several reasons. Working in an assisted living home has shed light into many of the effects that age can have on the human body and mental state. As stated in the video, the people who seem the happiest and healthiest have good relationships with the people around them and stay active. However a key part in longevity that is not as common is a plant based diet. I think an important part of medicine relating to this TED talk is taking care of yourself. In the U.S. there are many problems in the healthcare system, especially with poor health relating to poor diet and not enough exercise. Many diseases or medical issues could be prevented with good health especially in old age. Better health will also improve the quality of life as you get older. The most important thing we can do to live to be 100 is maintaining healthy relationships, diet, and exercise.
ReplyDeleteEven though America has some of the most advanced technologies and most successful doctors, Americans still do not rank high in life span. This is not because we don’t receive adequate care, but because of our lifestyle choices. One big lifestyle choice is our diet, people who live in places with the longest lifespan eat mainly plant-based diets and have ways to stop themselves from eating more once they are 80% full, this is very different than the average Americans diet, as we consume lots of meat and often overeat by a significant amount. The social aspect of lifespan, I find very interesting as well. People with who live longer generally have people they are close to and communities that they can turn to. If I do end up becoming a doctor, this video has taught me that in order to help someone survive longer, I can’t just focus on the physical aspect, and fixing that, I should encourage healthy lifestyle choices, in order to increase lifespan and avoid future health issues.
ReplyDeleteSeeing my great grandma live to 101, I have noticed similarities between the Ted Talk and her own lifestyle choices to live longer. I think the most important aspect to living long is having a reason to live for. My grandma would go see her daughter - my grandma - every day, giving her a reason to live for. Another aspect to living to be 100 is staying active, not necessarily by working out. My great grandma lived on her own until she was 100. Therefore, she was walking up stairs , cleaning the house, and more all by herself. Therefore, it gave her the opportunity to stay active.
ReplyDeleteGenerally, the information given in the TED Talk was fairly unsurprising. When you account the amount of time, effort, and stress Americans put into building their careers and a quality lifestyle. Detrimental sacrifices to time and health leads a vast majority of Americans to make poor eating and lifestyle choices. In order for longevity to be applicable to Americans, most of us need to learn to adopt a healthier lifestyle, incorporating more plant based foods and less fatty foods such as fast food. With the busy lives that the majority of Americans live, it can be easy to turn to fast food as an easy resource for food. Even then, it would be extremely beneficial to substitute your meal from Chick Fil A for a meal from mad greens or some other restaurants with healthier options. Even eating one less fast food meal per week could drastically increase your chance of living a longer, healthier life. The healthier you are, the better you feel. Diet is not the only factor in longevity. There are many other factors that play into your well being such as mental health and relationships. It is extremely important for each individual to be conscious about their mental health. In order to live a fairly healthy life, there has to be a balance of reflection with your daily routine. Additionally, relationships play a crucial role in a person’s well being. Maintaining good relationships with those around you influences your mental health and in turn can influence your overall health. Overall, it is not realistic to live a perfect life filled with all of the things that you should be doing but as long as people put in the effort to improve their lives, longevity is possible.
ReplyDeleteWatching “How to live to be 100” opened my eyes to the factors that play into how long a person lives for. Before I thought that genetics and nutrition were the main factors of being able to make it to old age. Now I know that it is moving naturally, having a good outlook on life, eating wisely, and having connections with family and or faith. I think living to be an old age is both a blessing and a curse. Being able to live for a century there are lots of changes in society and an individual’s life that would be amazing to experience. However the older that an individual grows in age the more isolated they can become. Personally I don’t know if I would want to change my lifestyle to live longer because of the loneliness that would be experienced towards the end. However, if I want to have a long career and future in medicine, following a lifestyle much like those who live to 100 would be beneficial.
ReplyDelete"How to live to be 100" was such an eye opener, because for most of my life I have believed that physical health is the most important thing, but this ted talk explained the huge significance of emotional health and happiness as well. In the Ted Talk it talked about a woman who woke up every day for her great great great granddaughter. If I think about the reasons I get up in the morning, it's usually that I have to take a test or I have an assignment due or I have to talk to a teacher. While these are all important things, there are things that make my life much happier than school. For example, instead of thinking, I'm going to get out of bed to take my statistics test, I could think, I'm going to get out of bed to see my friends at school. Of course my test is important, but thinking about seeing my friends would probably make it a better day. As the Ted Talk said, this can lead to a longer life. So happiness and the length of someone's life are usually correlated, which I find interesting. Physical health is important. Genes play a role too. But, happiness and emotional health are equally as important. The Ted Talk also made me realize that old age doesn't have to be miserable if you have the right outlook. The people featured in the video seemed truly happy- despite age and things they had experienced in their life. Not only can a happy and healthy lifestyle lead to a longer life, but it can also lead to a more enjoyable life. I think it's easy to get caught up in the things that go wrong and the hard times, but looking beyond that and focusing on the positive things like many of the people in the Ted Talk, can lead to a longer, happier life.
ReplyDeleteThis video was really interesting to watch because I never realized how many factors go into living a longer life. Not only is physical health important, but so is emotional health. Solid belief systems and a purpose for waking up each morning were also big points discussed. I love that “How to live to be 100” touched on many aspects of life, and not just having physical health be the focus. This helped me realize that I need to work on being more positive in my own life so that I value emotional health as much as physical health. If I become a doctor, I will use these principles to help patients understand that being healthy doesn’t necessarily just include diets and working out. There are other factors that play into living a long life. Maintaining relationships, staying active, and keeping up with a positive outlook on life can all play into helping people live longer lives.
ReplyDeleteThe holistic idea of health has always intrigued me. With both my parents being psychological/therapy professionals, I have always been taught how mental health seriously impacts physical health. In terms of the TED Talk, it makes sense how, in addition to a good diet and consistent exercise, these centenarians also have a robust social support network from their childhood through their old age. The idea of “having something to wake up for” really struck me as well. It seems like so many people in our day in age simply go through the motions of living without any clear purpose. I believe it would strengthen us all to be cognisant of that one thing that drives us to live, and to pursue it with everything we have. I have always believed that relationships with other people are vital to our well being, and as a Doctor I would have that in mind when treating my patients as well; I’ve even toyed with the idea of going into a psychology or therapy profession.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, as a physician that would be one of my primary focuses for my patients. I would want to make sure that they had a strong support network to help them through whatever medical issues they face, or if they don’t, that I could push them to build a network. Additionally, I can see how an added focus on proper nutrition could have a significant impact on a patients progress towards better health. I think the centenarians provide a wonderful example for how to live successfully and happily.
Healthy habits are built early. Whether that be through a healthy diet or straying away from unhealthy patterns. It used to be thought that genetics played a more prominent part in life expectancy, but in reality, only 10% of it is determined by genetics. So it is important to build long lives for ourselves. In the regions of the world where it is quite common to surpass the average age, they practice healthy habits from a young age. I would like it to incorporate a heartier lifestyle into my own life. Staying away from drugs, alcohol, and nicotine are all important in my life for living closer to 100. In the future in a career in medicine, I would make patients aware of how important it is to practice these habits and surround yourself with good examples. Surrounding yourself with good people who have the same views as you will help your outlook on life to be healthier, longer, and more enjoyable.- Lauren Little
ReplyDeleteThis TED Talk discusses the key to a longevity. The TED talker believes the most imortant factor to living to be 100 is having good emotional health and being in a positive social enviorment. My great grandma lived to be 105 and according to her, the key to longevity is maraschino cherrys which she ate everyday, but I think it probaly had more to do with her staying active, finding hobbies and surrounding herself with other people. All these things, and who knows maybe even the maraschino cherries, contributed to her good mental health. In my life today I try to follow in my great grandmas foot steps by finding things to live for, like good friends, good fun and family. Living beyond 100 is something we all hope forand the first step to achieving that is making life worth living.
ReplyDelete-elena aukamp
DeleteOne of the most fascinating aspects of the “Blue Zones” was the quality of life the people in them were living. When I picture people over 100 I picture my 102 year old great grandmother who lived in a care facility and was imobile for the last few years of her life. Yet the people in the video who were the same age were going about nearly normal lives with working, mild exercise, and lots of family time. I never before considered the effect that one’s family could have on their physical health as I often forget how closely correlated mental health is to physical health. It makes sense though, people surrounded by other people are happier and have secure support systems that improve their quality of life. The mantra of a non profit I support is “people need other people” and the TED talk only solidified the legitimacy of that statement in my mind. Other people, in the form of both friends and family, offer moral/emotional support as well as services that can make everyday life easier. The people in the blue zones often named their family as one of the main reasons they had lived so long because it honestly just makes more sense for someone to want to live longer when they’re surrounded by the people they love. Living with and around other people not only makes living easier but it also gives people a reason to live and to live longer.
ReplyDelete- sophia patrick
DeleteMental health and physical health are directly related. Things like stress, depression, and loneliness have many physical side effects, like headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite, etc. This TED talk did a great job at explaining this in more depth. When I think of older people, I picture people that are unable to care for themselves, walk, or even hold a conversation with others. My grandmother is only 70, and she is already in the process of being placed in an old folks home because she is too weak to perform necessary everyday tasks. This is in part due to her habits, diet, and lack of exercise, however, I do think that she was starting to lose motivation to take good care of herself because she felt lonely and we weren’t able to visit her as often as we should have. I believe that community and family is something of major importance for the maintenance of good health. Good mental health and happiness leads to healthier lifestyles and longer lives.
ReplyDeleteI think that really interested me was the blue zones that the TED talk discussed. I think it shows just how much of a difference that eating healthy and having an active lifestyle will help in life. I think that the way to apply this to my life and if I go into a career in medicine, is to just focus on the small changes to lead an overall healthier lifestyle. Simple changes in how you eat and exercising as little as 30 minutes a day can significantly change the health of a person and ultimately help them live longer. I think that this concept needs to be shared and pushed with more people to help make the overall population a lot healthier.
ReplyDelete- Danielle Ashton
DeleteThe most interesting part of How to Live to be 100 to me was the fact that many of the “blue zones” were in areas of the world considered more impoverished than America. I was surprised that a lot of the strategies involved were not about nutrition and exercise, but culture and religion. Mental and physical health showed a strong correlation in how long a person may live. I think that this adds a new perspective to modern medicine and the longevity of people. My grandmother is 77, and still can beat anyone at tennis. She constantly talks about how she will never retire, and she lives her life as well as any middle aged person would be, and is very happy. A lot of times more elderly people are pictured to be living in a retirement home taking pills every day, but I like the concept that there are people who can live to be extremely old and still have a large sense of independence.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest take way I had from the Ted Talk was not that excersise and a good diet contribute to the longevity of life. It seemed obvious to me that people in these blue zones would display habits encompassing these two ideas. What did shock me was not only the idea of community affecting life, but also how it was the most important contributing factor. When j thought about it more, the less extreme of an idea it was to me. Humans are social creatures, and while we do have introverts and extroverts, each side craves deep personal connections to other people. I value the relationships in my life as they have been incredibly helpful to my mental health and quality of life. If I were to practice medicine in a Field where I'd be responsible for the well bring of a patient's long term health, I would stress a good diet and exercise routine. But I would also encourage them to surround themselves which close genuine people to improve their quality of life.
ReplyDeleteI think this video is especially relevant to younger people like me because the habits people live to 100 off of are best started as early in life as possible. However, I don’t even know for sure if I would want to live to be 100 years old yet if it means I would be extremely frail and incapable. I would rather live a full life to 80, but I would have no problem being healthy and happy all the way to 100. Many people can watch this video and take note that living to an old age does not have everything to do with good healthcare or medicine, but is mostly predicated off of lifestyle. How people eat, socialize, and exercise are all taken seriously in the cultures in the video where longevity is the most prevalent.
ReplyDeleteI think that its interesting how simple good life choices can lead to a longer age.The most interesting thing that I found about these lifechoices is how the majority of people who live to be 100 have social connections throughout their life.I feel like over time humanity has strayed away from their primal instincts of being a social creature and that's why we have less and less people who live to be 100. obviously there are other factors that contribute to that but over time as humanity has adapted and changes from their instincts there's been a steady decrease in the amount of people who live to be 100. I think that this is an important thing to note especially for our future doctors. If more doctors tell their patients about life choice changes as simple as these ones in the video the world would be a better place.
ReplyDeleteThe change in overall health also leads to a life extension. Those that are able to take advantage of the time they already have in life are able to extend their lives by a number of years, given that nutrition, exercise, mental health, and early action on injuries and ailments are all major contributing factors that can lead to a longer and happier life. I thought it was definitely interesting that all of the factors that are included in having a longer life are all associated with easy choices that aren’t strenuous to make. Thus, it seems that people are choosing not to live until 100; solely due to the fact that they are unwilling to make the necessary lifestyle changes to life until 100. After watching this TED talk, I can’t help but wonder that if people knew that simple lifestyle changes have this drastic lifestyle change, if they would make the necessary changes to induce a longer lifespan.d
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting seeing the patterns that can be found in different places where more people live to be over 100. Today, many preach that the way to live longer is to exercise regularly and eat healthy. The video instead suggests that yes, eating healthy with lots of vegetables helps, but there are other factors that can increase a person’s lifespan. Like incorporating moderate exercise into someone’s daily life (taking a walk to a store), maintaining friendships with others, and knowing why they wake up each day to work. Seeing the benefits from doing this motivates me to work towards this type of lifestyle, and incorporating these ideas to help maintain my health. And in a future career for medicine this could help to suggest ways to improve patients health and lifestyle. So I could mention these ways to live healthier, including moderate exercise that happens naturally or eating more plant based foods.
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