HOW TO BE 80 YEARS YOUNG!
There are more octogenarians in the world today than ever before. Here, superagers reveal their youthful secrets — without the need for medication
WE’RE living longer than ever, with Irish life expectancy now 79.7 for men and 83.4 for women. But those later years can be troubled by ill health — thousands of pensioners take five pills a day on average.
Yet it is possible to have a long, healthy life without medication — as the experiences of these extraordinary over-80s show.
Here, the super-agers reveal their tips, while GP Adam Simon explains what it is about their lifestyles that’s made such a difference . . .
GOOD POSTURE AND A GREAT MARRIAGE!
JESS CONRAD, 82, an actor and singer, lives with his wife, Renee, 75, a retired model. They have two daughters and two grandchildren. Jess is 6ft 2in and weighs 13st (Body Mass Index 23, ‘healthy’). WHEN I was a boy, I watched the film Bambi and I was bowled over by Bambi’s father, this majestic stag. I told myself: ‘That’s how you need to stand, with your chin up.’ And I always have. Posture is so important for looking good and feeling healthy.
I also try to have a smile on my face. If you seem positive, people view you more positively. You see people my age who, by the way they stand,
look old — I think it makes them feel old, too.
I come from a time when men didn’t work out the way they do now, but Americans did. I wanted to be able to open my shirt and look like Burt Lancaster in From Here To Eternity, so I started working with weights in my late teens, going to the gym and playing football three times a week until I was 75. Then it got a bit too tiring.
Now, I take my exercise playing in charity golf tournaments but, in my line of work, you expend a lot of energy — I still do concerts, sometimes twice a week.
Sunshine is really important: if the sun is out, I get outside as much as I can, even if it’s just going into the garden with a cup of tea.
Work is vital to staying young. The last time I was ill was a few years ago. I developed pneumonia, but I was doing panto so I struggled on — when my doctor found out, he said it could have killed me.
I’ve never been a big eater and I only drink around five glasses of white wine a week. I take a multivitamin and turmeric supplement every day, because it has powerful anti-inflammatory effects.
A good marriage also keeps you young. I married Renee, a Dutch model who became famous as Miss Camay, 55 years ago. We have a lovely life together — we go out and have lots of friends, all of which invigorates me.
EXPERT COMMENT: Jess is right to respect posture. Over time, the back curves forward, but standing straight is good for toning muscle groups, which means as an older person, you’ll be less likely to fall.
He’s also right about sunshine, which is needed for the body to make vitamin D — essential for healthy bones and a strong immune system. This could be key to why Jess has good energy levels.
Lots of older people are confined inside and don’t get enough sun.
WORKS FULL TIME AND DRINKS VEGGIE WATER
JAN HUNT, 80, a theatre producer, has a son and two grandchildren. She is 5ft 2in and weighs 9st 7lb (BMI 24, ‘healthy’). MY MUM, who died aged 92, used to wake up every day and say: ‘Thank you, Lord, for another day.’ It’s a marvellous mantra and it immediately makes you latch on to the positive, which is not always an easy thing to do.
I picked up other things from her, too. For example, if she was boiling spring greens, she would drink the cooled-down water afterwards, as it was full of vitamins that had leached from the vegetables. I’m rarely ill — I had pneumonia 30 years ago, but have never needed medicine since then, unlike many of my contemporaries, sadly.
I don’t follow a particular health regimen — I just spend my time rushing around and that seems to keep me fit.
I’m still working full-time and can be involved with two shows simultaneously, for up to six days a week, but I love to keep busy. I could do with losing about half a stone, but I want to enjoy life, too — which is just as important as keeping in shape. So if I want some chocolate or a gin and tonic after a long day, I’ll have it.
How you look affects how you feel on the inside, too: it just gives you a boost, makes you stand tall. So, even if I’m only nipping to the supermarket, I’ll brush my hair and apply lipstick and a splash of perfume.
I was at the tip getting rid of some rubbish recently and a lady came up to me and said: ‘You’re the smartest person I’ve ever seen here.’ That really makes you feel good, which can only help with your health and positivity.
I’m also very religious about taking my make-up off at night, which I’m sure has helped give me such good skin.
Taking on voluntary commitments also helps. Sadly, I lost my sister five years ago to breast cancer — I channelled my grief into doing something positive and, last year, I abseiled the 560ft tower for charity. It was absolutely terrifying, but I was determined to do it.
EXPERT COMMENT: A recent study by Harvard University identified key habits that could potentially add a decade to life expectancy, including a balanced diet, regular exercise and drinking only moderately. Jan does all of these, although she might want to introduce some formal exercise such as regular walks.
The social, intellectual and physical stimulation of working or volunteering contributes to a positivity that helps both mental and physical health.
And looking good can help, too: a study by the University of Denmark found that people who look young for their age enjoy a longer life. As for drinking vegetable water, keeping hydrated is very important for overall health.
BOVRIL AND A KICKABOUT WITH GRANDCHILDREN
DAVID HAMILTON, 80, is a radio presenter who lives with his wife, Dreena. They have five children and nine grandchildren. He is 5ft 6in and 12st (BMI 27, just ‘overweight’). I MUST be the luckiest person in the world, since I’ve never seen the inside of a hospital and have been blessed with good health.
However, I do help myself along where I can. First thing in the morning, I do the Irish Daily Mail Word Wheel, as well as a crossword — a great way to get the brain going.
I eat very simple food. I love Bovril and have it most days: a favourite meal is jacket potatoes with Bovril and butter. In terms of alcohol, I only drink white wine — no more than a couple of bottles over a week. And I make sure I go a couple of days without any alcohol at all.
I gave up smoking at 50 — I’d been on 40 a day, but I watched one of my oldest friends, a heavy smoker, die from lung cancer. The day he passed away, I threw my cigarette packet away.
I don’t take supplements, except for garlic tablets to avoid colds. And I’ve never had the flu jab.
I walk the dog a couple miles every day and, when I can, I swim. We have a pool at home and, during the summer, I swim in it all the time. I love to run around and play football with my grandchildren. On my 80th birthday, my neighbour, who is around 50, came for a celebratory drink and we ended up having a kickabout. He was the goalkeeper and I just hammered the balls at him! Working keeps you young and I still do some broadcasting — why would I retire when I’m doing a job that I love?
I’ve never been out of work since starting 60 years ago. (I’ve also written three books, including The Golden Days Of Radio One published last year.)
EXPERT COMMENT: Overall, David has a great lifestyle and it shows in his good health: keeping fit, working and eating sensibly.
Bovril is great, as it’s particularly rich in iron and B12, which are needed for healthy blood and nervous function — older people can miss out on B12, because the ageing body doesn’t absorb it so well, leading to anaemia and fatigue. But I’m concerned that David has never had the flu jab — a bad case at this life stage could be fatal. David is also having 20 units of alcohol a week — the guideline limit is 14, but it’s helpful that he has alcohol-free days.
Alcohol can be calorific and this may explain why his BMI is higher than it should be. That said, studies have shown that carrying 5lb to 10lb above normal weight when you are over 60 is linked to living longer and protecting older adults from osteoporosis.
Active ageing is as much about the mind as the body, so doing puzzles is good. Research suggests social interaction also has a direct impact on wellbeing — learning new skills, such as a language, in a group setting helps, too.
LOVES PILATES AND AVOIDS PAINKILLERS
THELMA WILLIAMS, 84, a retired therapist and trauma counsellor, lives with her husband, Paul, 80. She has one daughter and two grandchildren. Thelma is 5ft 4in and weighs 9st 6lb (BMI 23, ‘healthy’). I’VE never been a pill popper. I don’t even like taking painkillers — and I also kept this to a minimum when I had a knee replacement