A woman approaching her 101st birthday has shared the lifestyle habits she has followed over the years, including eating blueberries and dancing every day.
According to the U.S. media outlet TODAY, Natalie Groeger, 100, who lives in New Jersey, is approaching her 101st birthday. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1925 and was married to her husband for 68 years. She currently lives at a senior living facility in New Jersey.
When asked about the secret to her longevity, Groeger said, "I don't really know," adding, "It's important to live with an open mind, accept life as it is and enjoy it." Here are the lifestyle habits she has practiced in her daily life.
▶Healthy diet=The food Groeger makes sure to eat every morning is blueberries. She said, "I eat a lot of blueberries," adding, "I really like them." Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, including polyphenols, and studies have linked regular consumption to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as improved cognitive function. Groeger also enjoys apples and avocados. However, she does not insist on following a specific diet. She said, "Basically, I eat almost everything."
▶Enjoying favorite foods in moderation=Groeger likes dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is rich in plant compounds that have antioxidant effects. She also enjoys bacon, which is far from a health food. For breakfast, she sometimes eats two eggs, bacon and an English muffin. However, the fact that some people who live to an advanced age enjoy a food does not mean that processed meats such as bacon are healthy. Experts say that some people who live to be 100 or older may have genetic traits that lower their risk of age-related diseases, so it is not appropriate to copy their eating habits exactly.
▶Dancing consistently=Groeger has enjoyed dancing throughout her life. When she was young, she taught her husband how to dance, and every Sunday after breakfast, they would turn on music and dance together around the house. She still does chair dancing, moving her body to music while seated in a chair. Dancing is a form of physical activity that can provide both aerobic and weight-bearing exercise benefits. It helps maintain cardiovascular health, balance and physical coordination, and may also have positive effects on mood and cognitive health.
▶Continuing hobbies=Another characteristic is that she has continued doing things she has enjoyed for a long time. After learning to knit from her mother as a child, Groeger spent her life making blankets, hats and sweaters. Although she recently stopped knitting because of problems with her hands, she plays card games on a tablet PC and enjoys games with her friends. Handicraft activities such as knitting may help reduce stress and calm the mind. Activities that involve thinking and interacting with others, such as card and board games, may also have positive effects on maintaining cognitive function in old age.
▶Not dwelling on stress=Groeger said she tends not to dwell on difficult things for a long time, even when something challenging happens. She said, "I don't tend to talk much about problems, and life is easier that way," adding, "I am a happy person, and I like to laugh and joke." A study published in the international academic journal BMJ Open found that severe stress was associated with a shorter life expectancy. Another study found that cumulative stress was associated with accelerated biological aging, but suggested that psychological resilience, emotional regulation and self-control may help mitigate these effects.
▶An optimistic attitude=Groeger described herself as an optimistic person. She said, "There have been difficult times, but I think everything will work out in the end." In fact, some studies have found that an optimistic disposition is associated with exceptional longevity, living to the age of 85 or older. Optimistic people tend to maintain healthy lifestyle habits and accept and cope with difficult situations more positively, which may have positive effects on their health.
According to the U.S. media outlet TODAY, Natalie Groeger, 100, who lives in New Jersey, is approaching her 101st birthday. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1925 and was married to her husband for 68 years. She currently lives at a senior living facility in New Jersey.
When asked about the secret to her longevity, Groeger said, "I don't really know," adding, "It's important to live with an open mind, accept life as it is and enjoy it." Here are the lifestyle habits she has practiced in her daily life.
▶Healthy diet=The food Groeger makes sure to eat every morning is blueberries. She said, "I eat a lot of blueberries," adding, "I really like them." Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, including polyphenols, and studies have linked regular consumption to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as improved cognitive function. Groeger also enjoys apples and avocados. However, she does not insist on following a specific diet. She said, "Basically, I eat almost everything."
▶Enjoying favorite foods in moderation=Groeger likes dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is rich in plant compounds that have antioxidant effects. She also enjoys bacon, which is far from a health food. For breakfast, she sometimes eats two eggs, bacon and an English muffin. However, the fact that some people who live to an advanced age enjoy a food does not mean that processed meats such as bacon are healthy. Experts say that some people who live to be 100 or older may have genetic traits that lower their risk of age-related diseases, so it is not appropriate to copy their eating habits exactly.
▶Dancing consistently=Groeger has enjoyed dancing throughout her life. When she was young, she taught her husband how to dance, and every Sunday after breakfast, they would turn on music and dance together around the house. She still does chair dancing, moving her body to music while seated in a chair. Dancing is a form of physical activity that can provide both aerobic and weight-bearing exercise benefits. It helps maintain cardiovascular health, balance and physical coordination, and may also have positive effects on mood and cognitive health.
▶Continuing hobbies=Another characteristic is that she has continued doing things she has enjoyed for a long time. After learning to knit from her mother as a child, Groeger spent her life making blankets, hats and sweaters. Although she recently stopped knitting because of problems with her hands, she plays card games on a tablet PC and enjoys games with her friends. Handicraft activities such as knitting may help reduce stress and calm the mind. Activities that involve thinking and interacting with others, such as card and board games, may also have positive effects on maintaining cognitive function in old age.
▶Not dwelling on stress=Groeger said she tends not to dwell on difficult things for a long time, even when something challenging happens. She said, "I don't tend to talk much about problems, and life is easier that way," adding, "I am a happy person, and I like to laugh and joke." A study published in the international academic journal BMJ Open found that severe stress was associated with a shorter life expectancy. Another study found that cumulative stress was associated with accelerated biological aging, but suggested that psychological resilience, emotional regulation and self-control may help mitigate these effects.
▶An optimistic attitude=Groeger described herself as an optimistic person. She said, "There have been difficult times, but I think everything will work out in the end." In fact, some studies have found that an optimistic disposition is associated with exceptional longevity, living to the age of 85 or older. Optimistic people tend to maintain healthy lifestyle habits and accept and cope with difficult situations more positively, which may have positive effects on their health.