Longevity Secrets: Diet and Lifestyle of a Centenarian Neurologist

Dr. Howard Tucker celebrated his 101st birthday last month. The neurologist, who was born on July 10, 1922, in Cleveland, Ohio, continues to work full-time and lives with his 66-year-old wife.

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Secrets to Longevity: Curiosity, Connections, and Conscious Choices

On a podcast with mindbodygreen, Tucker said that, while genetics are likely to contribute to his sharpness, he feels that keeping an interest in the world around you, whether through employment or meaningful volunteering, having loving relationships, and maintaining a youthful perspective are his keys to life. He also stays active by running two to three miles on a treadmill a couple of times a week, has an "everything-in-moderation" mindset, and does not smoke. He stated on the podcast that his diet consists primarily of fruits, vegetables, and seafood. Tucker also revealed his normal day's diet.

The relationship between healthy eating and living a longer life is well established. Getting the nutrition your body needs can help you avoid diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

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Seasonal Breakfast Choices for Longevity

Tucker and his wife eat fruit for breakfast, picking whatever is in season at the moment. He explained that they consume citrus fruits in the winter and melon in the summer.

Tucker said he makes breakfast for himself and his wife, usually cutting up bananas, strawberries, and blueberries and occasionally adding cereal.

He stated that they consume 2% reduced-fat milk and prefer tea to coffee. Green tea contains chemicals that are supposed to be beneficial to our health (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Consumption of green tea, but not black tea or coffee, is associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline

Go to source).

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Lunch Skips: Efficiency vs. Health Benefits of Intermittent Fasting

Tucker stated that he frequently misses lunch to feel more efficient and to avoid becoming drowsy at work. This is distinct from intermittent fasting (IF), in which food is restricted to a specific time frame, typically for weight loss or other supposed health benefits.

However, IF is not regarded as safe for everyone, such as pregnant or breastfeeding women or persons with a history of eating problems, and there is disagreement about whether skipping meals is beneficial or not, particularly for seniors.

However, there is emerging evidence that calorie restriction can reverse aging and lower the risk of a variety of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Human age reversal: Fact or fiction?

Go to source).

Healthy Dinner Options: Balance of Seafood a Veggies

Tucker said he frequently eats fish and vegetables for dinner, including a lot of broccoli, and just occasionally eats meat. He didn't identify any carbohydrate sources in his diet.

He and his wife prefer to have something sweet after dinner, sometimes fruit, sometimes ice cream, which Tucker claims isn't that bad for you. However, he claims that they rarely consume baked items such as cakes or pies.

Mediterranean Diet for a Healthier Life

Tucker's average meal is modeled after the Mediterranean diet, which has long been regarded as the gold standard for healthful eating. The diet emphasizes veggies, healthy fats like olive oil, lean protein, and complex carbs like whole grains. Research suggests that this eating plan can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and enhance brain health (3^✔ ✔Trusted Source
The Mediterranean diet, its components, and cardiovascular disease

Go to source).

References:

1. Consumption of green tea, but not black tea or coffee, is associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24828424/)
2. Human age reversal: Fact or fiction? - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35778957/)
3. The Mediterranean diet, its components, and cardiovascular disease - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25447615/)

Source-Medindia