You can actually live 12 years longer (and not be “half dead”)!

The average Malaysian longevity is 70years old.

As a Health Educator, one question I often pose on people is; “if given a choice, would you actually want to live a long life?” You would be surprised, more often than not the response I get would normally be bordering between a silence and a downright “No!” Seldom would I get a resounding “Yes!”

One person was brave enough to follow up her answer with a raison d'être; “if I live more than 80, my EPF may not be enough to sustain my retirement!” Fair enough.

However, I am not sure if you would agree with me but I guess this “Malaysian” fear is more than a fear of not being able to sustain one’s self economically – c’mon, we are Asians, I mean we take care of each other, don’t we?

Anyway, I believe that most people do not want to live more than they should for fear of being ravaged by one or 2 of the looming chronic diseases around – Cancer, Stroke, Heart Disease and Diabetes – being alive but half-dead at the same time – being a burden to the family and to society. Somehow we made ourselves believe that old age = being bed ridden or being stuck on a wheelchair. How sad. This is not supposed to be the case.

Case in point:
Marge Jetton will be turning 105 this year and she is not stopping. She was featured in “National Geographic” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show” as an example of a person who can still do the same thing she has been doing for most of her life – driving, volunteering in an old folks’ home, doing grocery, exercising 30 minutes every day, etc.

Marge Jetton doing her daily exercise routine

Dr. Frank Shearer – will be turning 103 this year. He still does water skiing and does heart surgery at least once a week.

Oh, they are Americans – they normally have longer lifespan.

Ok, let me introduce to you someone close to home:
Mrs. Viola Kanagasabay – 87 years old this y ear, lives in O.U.G, KL with her sister Nancy who will be turning 89 this year. They are my neighbours and live in front of each other.

Every day I would see them walking up and about the grounds of our condominium; Aunty Viola (as we normally call her) hosts a regular ladies fellowship meeting at her place, she goes to Central Market (by bus) once a week, buys her sundries at the market with her sister who still drives!

Sister Nancy (on the right) enjoying a nice vegetarian meal

They are not super humans but if you asked them, they have always followed and chosen a healthy lifestyle – sleeping at least 7-8 hours, choosing more fruits and vegetables in their diet (Aunty Viola is a vegetarian), having regular exercise, being involved in community projects, never a smoker and never a drinker (they were both teachers in their younger years :-) )

In a recent study done by the University of Oslo in Norway, which tracked down 5,000 British adults for almost 20 years showed that there are 4 common habits that can age an individual by 12 years – smoking, drinking too much, no exercise and poor diet.

On the other hand, the following habits can help you live 12 years longer (sans illness) according to a research conducted by Dr Breslow and Dr. Belloc in the United States: No Smoking, No alcohol, Sleeping at least 7-8 hours, Maintaining normal weight, Eating Breakfast, No eating in between meals and Having a regular exercise.

Wouldn’t it be nice to see your children grow up, get married, have children, see your grandchildren and able to play with them, at the same time enjoying your long life full of vigour and vitality as if you’ve never aged? This is actually the kind of life that God wants us to have...then again, the choice is ours to make.

Mrs. Ober spends most of her time doing community work
 

Me and Mrs. Ober