Recipes for Longevity!

Fresh and inspired from a trip to two of the must see world destinations-The Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu! During our trip several fellow travelers mentioned these as being on their "bucket list," essentially places to visit before they die (for other examples see the movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman). Of course, the topic of creating a "bucket list" got me thinking about life expectancy. Typically diet, exercise and genetics are the focus when discussing longevity in our society. I wondered about the longevity of the species in both these "bucket list" places.

The Galapagos Archipelago contains a fascinating array of species, mostly studied and classified by Charles Darwin. Birds, reptiles, fish and mammals all coexist in an ecosystem that is magical to observe. The process of evolution is clear-everything from the mating techniques to the diet. Swimming with sharks, watching the sea lions play in the sand/water and observing the various birds (blue footed boobies, frigates,etc.) are experiences that I will always remember but it was the tortoises that were most intriguing for me based on their longevity.

A Galapagos tortoise has a life expectancy of over 100 years with some living for 170 years! Of course I questioned why tortoises outlive humans, even by a lot, when we humans have the benefit of extensive medical knowledge and resources. Our naturalist guide told us that tortoises can slow their metabolic rate when needed and their heart may only beat a few times over 10 minutes. They are herbivores that feed on primarily cactus, vegetation and berries. On wetter islands they are found in herds (good social support) and on the drier islands they can go up to 18 months without food and water by breaking down fat to create water. Interestingly studies of human centenarian hot spots, called Blue Zones, demonstrate that those that live the longest have a plant based diet, a strong investment in family, and consistent low-intensity activity-sounds similar to the tortoise existence. The message is clear, a focus on lifestyle can help prevent chronic disease (not always) and taking a multitude of medications may only be putting a band aid on the underlying issues (poor diet, stress, etc). The lessons for longevity from the animals of the Galapagos Islands were further confirmed as we traveled through the gorgeous landscape of Peru.

Everyone who has visited the mountains of Peru, specifically Machu Picchu, have similar comments about it being a spiritual and magical destination and I am in total agreement. After reaching the top of one of the Inca ruins (about 11,000 feet above sea level), our tour guide stated that Inca's usually lived over 100 years of age. The Inca civilization reached its apex in the mid-late 1400's so surely they didn't have access to the medical treatments we have today. Again, I wondered why these people outlive many humans today in the 21st century. While reviewing some of the characteristics of the centenarians in the blue zone areas it appears that purpose and hard work are important characteristics in longevity.

The Inca people lived, and live, an existence rich in symbolism. It is impossible to walk the streets and explore the ruins without identifying the main symbols of this culture. The main symbols are the lama, puma, snake and condor. The lama signifies an unconditional love of service-the Inca people use its wool, meat and milk to survive. The lesson of the puma is passion to be eternally present, essentially to live in the moment. The snake represents a love for wisdom and reminds the people to learn and teach something daily. The condor reminds the Inca people of a will of liberation and spiritual transformation as they glide through the air. These principles remain in the Inca descendants of today. The streets are filled with both men and women in their late 70's-80's (at least) who sell their fruits, vegetables and crafts in markets after usually walking miles to get there early in the morning. I was certainly impressed by the strength and passion of this population.

The lessons I took home from both of this places, and will attempt to practice, are too extensive to try and put into words. My main goals as I return to my reality is to embrace my sense of purpose in society, to work hard at my profession, spend valuable time with friends and families, live in the present (my biggest challenge) and continue to focus on a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables.

I hope this entry was valuable and will help us all add both quantity and quality to our lives.