90 May be the New 60 (4)
In his speech, he credited walking as his key to a long life. Legend has it he never used an elevator, always opting for the stairs even when he was CEO. And no taxis wither. His personal mandate was 10,000 steps a day.
Modern-day sedentary lifestyles are pretty harmful. Shitting all day slows down the metabolism, so fewer calories are being burned, and blood sugar and cholesterol levels can increase. Inactivity may be as bad as smoking.
This neighbor never smoked and drank only moderately. You know, one advantage of walking over running is that nearly the same health benefits can be obtained but with a much reduced risk of muscle and joint injury.
Did he have any hobbies or other secrets to his long, healthy life?
Yes, he said his hobby was singing and he enjoyed being part of a choir.
Singing can boost immune function, and the deep breaths singers take can improve the heart rate. If we sing with others, like in a choir, we get the added benefits of social connection.
Sounds like he was mentally alert too. What did he do in that respect?
He kept his brain active by learning a foreign language, French in his case. Learning a new language has been shown to delay the onset of dementia. Giving your brain a workout can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, as keeping the mind stimulated leads to improved cognitive functioning for longer.
To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life.
