How to Live to 102

Forbes: Health Secrets Of The World's Oldest People

Doctors say that healthy habits will help get you to age 85, but how to live beyond that remains a medical mystery. Forbes interviewed people in their 100s to find out how they did it. (Pictured here: Daisy McFadden, 101.)

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How to Live to 1... Doctors say that healthy habits will help get you to age 85, but how to live beyond that remains a medical mystery. Forbes interviewed people in their 100s to find out how they did it. (Pictured here: Daisy McFadden, 101.)

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Eat Grains, Vegg... The largest concentration of healthy 100-year-olds is in Okinawa, Japan. The people there eat a diet high in grains, vegetables and fish, and low in eggs, meat and dairy. In the U.S., Daisy McFadden, who is 101, follows suit. She regularly eats oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, a salad with chicken or fish for lunch, and steamed vegetables and lean meat for dinner.

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Avoid Soda—Even ... Medical professionals warn against sodas, even diet sodas, and suggest you drink water or juice. McFadden, 101, rarely drank soda throughout her life and doesn't touch it today, she says. Instead, she drinks water, cranberry juice, milk or iced tea. Coffee and alcoholic beverages are also healthy when not consumed in excess. David Prince, M.D., says drinking two to three alcoholic drinks per week will keep you healthy longer.

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Indulge, a Littl... Doctors do not only tolerate a treat here and there, they encourage it. McFadden, 101, eats chocolate chip cookies and likes red wine and Bloody Marys. Viola Crowson, 101, sometimes bakes brownies or grabs a hamburger from Hardee's. David Prince, M.D., says sugar and red meat should be limited to once or twice a week but can be eaten if portions are small.

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Get Up and Get G... Watching TV in your pajamas will lead you to an early grave, most 100-year-olds say. Pictured here, 101-year-old Crowson has gotten up and dressed almost every day during her 41-year retirement. She keeps busy by going to church, getting her hair and nails done, cooking three meals a day and cleaning her house and yard. She also does stretching exercises daily to keep her arms, legs and back strong.

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Take a Walk Doctors say exercise doesn't have to involve high-octane workouts or expensive gym memberships. Walking more, taking the stairs and making an effort to carry your groceries, laundry or garbage will keep you strong. Elmer Easton, who will be 102 in December, has taken a walk every day of his retirement, weather permitting. In a recent survey of centenarians by health-care provider Evercare, 41% said they still take walks to keep up their stamina.

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Do Puzzles Eric Rackow, M.D., says staying physically and mentally fit will help you live to be 100. Puzzles are an easy way to activate the brain, and if you start doing one weekly when you're young, you'll be in a much better position when you're older. Crossword puzzles, trivia shows like Jeopardy and math games like Sudoku are all good brainteasers, experts say. Studies also show that playing a musical instrument will help preserve mental processing.

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Get Outside After retirement or loss of some physical function, many older people spend most of their days indoors. That means they're not getting Vitamin D, and studies have linked Vitamin D deficiency to a number of serious health problems, including heart disease, several types of cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and some autoimmune disorders. Moreover, elder-care specialist Claudia Fine says a little bit of sunlight goes a long way towards improving mood and a positive outlook.

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Stay Married, an... Studies show that married people live longer, perhaps because spouses insist on doctor's visits and keep your spirits up. Opal Prater, 100, last year celebrated her 75th wedding anniversary. She's still living life to the fullest, and loves to play Wii with her friends. According to a study by Evercare, close friendships are just as important as romantic relationships. It found that 82% of centenarians talk to friends and family every day, and 79% believe an active social life is good for your health.

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Maintain Spiritu... Crowson, 101, has gone to church every week for most of her life; Easton, 102, took up fishing so that he could "stand still and contemplate;" and Mary Malecha, 104, has prayed every day and night for as long as she can remember. The Evercare survey found that 62% of the 100-plus crowd prays, meditates or engages in a spiritual activity every day. Doctors believe that taking restful time for yourself will help you live longer.

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Love Your Work Now that we're spending a third of our time at work, it's especially important to love what you do. Geriatric psychiatrist Gary Kennedy says seeking novel pursuits and being engaged in your life will keep you healthier for longer. Easton, 102, taught at Harvard University before becoming the dean of engineering at Rutgers in 1948. He spent 25 years growing the program from 200 students to over 2,000, and says today that his work was "deeply satisfying."

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
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