Herald Sun, 25th September 2010

The secret to living a long life

MORE than a third of Victorians want to live until they are at least 100, but most are
kidding themselves that their health will let them last that long.

Most of us spend too little time exercising, do not eat enough fruit and vegetables and have
dwindling interest in faith or religion.

New results released from the Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing survey, which polled 1200
Australians to pit their aspirations for longevity against the healthy practices of residents in the
Blue Zones.

The Blue Zones are communities where people reach the age of 100 at rates 10 times greater
than most in the developed world and suffer only a fraction the rate of heart disease and cancer.

The zones include Sardinia in Italy, Okinawa in Japan, Seventh Day Adventists in California's
Loma Linda, Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rice and Icaria in Greece.

A team of researchers and scientists concluded there were nine common lifestyle similarities
between each of the five zones - having the right outlook, being active, eating less meat, drinking
wine and surrounding yourself with the right people.

The survey showed that of the 53 per cent of Australians who were overweight or obese, 37 per
cent wanted to live beyond 100. And 40 per cent of people who did not eat the recommended
daily amount of fruit and vegetables, and 23 per cent of couch potatoes, also wanted to hit the
centenary mark. The survey also revealed 19 per cent of people never exercised vigorously,
while 22 per cent said they were "fanatics" about keeping fit.

St Kilda's Herman Stern, who turned 100 in July, has many lifestyle traits in common with the
Blue Zones.

His daughter, Judi Yarrow, said her father - a Holocaust survivor who lost his first wife and son
in World War II - had always cared about his health.

Mr Stern never drove, he still plays lawn bowls and celebrated his birthday by playing table
tennis with his granddaughter.

"For as long as I can remember, every morning he would stand on his head doing yoga on the
bed," Ms Yarrow said.

"He also really got into vitamins and would sprinkle health powders on his cereal each day.
"But Mum and Dad never went out to eat a meal, it was always home-cooked food, which could
contribute to his health."

The Jewish faith also is important for Mr Stern, who prays every day and reads the Jewish
newspaper each morning.