When we were young, we all had enough energy and spirit to rush forward regardless. However, as we grew older, our bodies went downhill. We began to pay attention to health care year by year.
At this time, I remember what the older generation said "The old let out the leftover essence, and people will live a poor life" Many people have heard this sentence, but few people know the true truth behind it.
1、 The ancients said: What does the old man mean when he is old enough to let out the leftover spirit and when he is poor enough to live a long life?
In the ancient concept, the human body consists of three core elements: essence, qi and spirit. Even now, we are still used to using the word "spirit, spirit and spirit" to describe the overall mental state and temperament.
And "old people let go of their leftovers, and people live a poor life", This essence refers to "essence, qi and spirit", including Physical and mental Two levels.
From the beginning of life, our body and spirit began a delicate process of "discharging essence".
As the years go by, the organs of the body gradually become old. At this time, if the "essence" in the body is consumed excessively, the diet is ignored, the life is irregular, or overworked, It will accelerate aging, increase the risk of disease, and the body will be as fragile as falling apart.
There is actually another sentence after this sentence: "Eat less to strengthen the fire, and bring disaster on yourself", The reason is also profound.
The word "less" here refers to the young age. The ancients were telling young people not to take too much nourishment, or else they might bury "disasters" in the body. The word "disaster" here refers to potential health problems or diseases.
The key to health is to take steps step by step. Excess tonics can not restore health quickly, but may be counterproductive, which coincides with the theory of "deficiency is not compensated" in traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, for those who have just recovered from a serious illness, they should not blindly pursue the great tonic.
2、 Why do some old people think that longevity is not a good thing?
According to the results of the seventh population census, the elderly population over 60 years old in China has reached an astonishing 260 million, accounting for 18.7% of the total population.
For many elderly people, Living a long life may not be a good thing, but the important reason is The trouble of physical disease.
Wang Jianye, former president of Beijing Hospital It is pointed out that although China's life expectancy has reached 77 years during the 13th Five Year Plan period The average healthy life expectancy is only 68 years old, The difference between them is nearly 9 years.
This means that many elderly people, despite their longevity, are in an unhealthy state of living with diseases in their later years of life.
In addition to health problems, The mental health of the elderly should also not be ignored, And it is very vulnerable to the influence of physical state.
As mentioned above, Long term illness and chronic pain Will seriously reduce the happiness of the elderly, It is prone to despair, even mental disorder, and movement inconvenience caused by physical diseases, which will also restrict the social pace of the elderly and reduce their sense of social participation.
Coupled with the growth of age, life changes such as divorce, widowhood, separation of children, and death of relatives and friends will Lose the original interpersonal relationship, create a sense of loneliness, This sense of loneliness is the booster of depression and anxiety.
As for how old is enough to live, this is a wrong question in itself. With a negative attitude, everyone wants to live longer in good health, which means not only physical health, but also mental health.
How old are you? In Xiao Jiu's opinion, as long as it exceeds the average value, it is lucky.
Researchers of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences A study on the healthy life expectancy of the elderly population was conducted, in which Average life expectancy of people aged 60 and 80 The prediction is made.
In 2024, the average age of men aged 60 and 80 will be 23.43 and 9.58 respectively, that is to say The average male will live to 83.43 years old if he is 60 years old this year, and 89.58 years old if he is 80 years old this year.
Similarly, the average age of women aged 60 and 80 is 26.9 and 11.34 respectively, that is Women can live to 86.9 years old on average if they are 60 years old this year, and 91.34 years old if they are 80 years old this year.
3、 What's the secret of longevity? Firmly do 4 points
Howard Tucker, an American neurologist who has reached the age of 101, is the holder of the Guinness World Record for "the oldest medical practitioner".
When people asked him for the secret of longevity, he shared four key points that everyone can do but is not so easy to stick to:
1. Don't let the brain stop "moving forward"
Dr. Tucker stressed that if the physical condition allows and he loves his work, it is a wise choice to postpone retirement. He observed that many people's lives become monotonous and lack of vitality after retirement, which may lead to cognitive decline and even dementia.
He himself Keep your brain healthy by reading continuously, Whether it is the new progress of neurology or biography, detective stories, all keep his brain active. He firmly believes that constant exposure to new information is the key to keeping a sharp mind.
2. Don't let your body "fall" freely
Until his 80s, Dr. Tucker was still keen on swimming, jogging, mountain climbing and skiing, which made him Keep a strong physique.
Although he is old now, he still insists on running 4.8km on the treadmill every week, and even watches classic movies while running.
3. Don't over pursue food
Dr. Tucker opposes an overly disciplined diet. He believes that "Moderate but not excessive" lifestyle It can make people enjoy every moment of life and keep healthy at the same time.
His diet pattern is deeply influenced by the Mediterranean diet, which is dominated by vegetables, healthy fat, lean meat protein and whole grains, and has been widely regarded as a model of healthy diet.
4. Don't be too socially detached
Dr. Tucker is not only passionate about his work, He is also very happy to get along with his family and friends.
He has 4 children and 10 grandchildren and often enjoys skiing, watching sports and other activities with them. His philosophy of life is to "enjoy every day" and spend every day as the last day of his life.
No matter Dr. Tucker or other long-lived elderly people we know, we can find that they all have long-term health habits, positive attitude towards life and other commonalities. It can be seen that longevity is not far away. As long as we are willing to make efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle, we can also enjoy the happiness and satisfaction brought by longevity.
reference material:
[1] Wang Jianye, Director of the National Geriatrics Center: An Urgent Task to Extend the Healthy Life Expectancy of Chinese People. Beijing Aged. October 19, 2011
[2] Research on Healthy Life Expectancy of the Elderly in China, Journal of Sociological Research, 2012-06-30
[3] "101 Years Old! The World's Oldest Doctor Opened Five Secrets of Longevity and Anti aging, Many People Did Not!". Health Times. 2004-04-26
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