103-year-old woman and the secret to longevity from her youth
Katharine Weber eats well, lives comfortably and simply, and still travels at the age of 103.
According toChatelaineKatharine Weber was born the same year an experimental plane with steel wings, silk, and electrical tape took off from the airport in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, Canada. She was a child survivor of the Spanish flu, as tanks rolled across the battlefields of France during World War I. By age 20, Katharine was working as a secretary for a shipping company during the Great Depression.
Katharine married at 38 and moved with her husband to the Colombian rainforest in South America. They lived there until Katharine became pregnant with their first son. After the children grew up and became independent, Katharine began traveling to Russia, Europe and Australia. At 82, she climbed the Great Wall of China. Now 103, Katharine Weber is still looking for new adventures.
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Katharine Weber has always loved to seek new adventures, whether young or old. |
When we think of seniors, we often think of them as frail, cranky, or old, as a losing battle. Katharine, however, is proof that these things can be improved. She lives happily in her own home, entertains herself weekly with activities, and does her taxes with a clear mind each year.
To achieve this, Katharine maintains many healthy habits. To date, she has no health problems that require medication and hardly ever needs to wear glasses.
“But aging is a complex process,” researchers say. After 40, many of the body’s genes begin to break down, but a healthy lifestyle can slow that down. So what is Katharine’s secret to enjoying her old age?
Never act your age
Katharine doesn't look or act her age. Her adventurous spirit keeps her young. Katharine never stops seeking new experiences.
This spirit is also present in the Japanese. In Okinawa, Japan, the land with the longest-living people in the world, people are considered children until they reach 55. The Kajimaya ceremony is a big holiday for Japanese women when they turn 97.
No stress
Katharine has always embraced a quiet, simple life. "I don't worry, I just try to live well," she says. "I try to have enough faith and confidence in myself to deal with whatever comes my way." According to scientists, a relaxed, stress-free state of mind has been shown to be key in reducing the risk of chronic inflammation and keeping cortisol levels low, slowing the aging process and reducing damage to areas of the brain involved in memory.
Katharine knits, sews, makes jam and eats cake. For her, the best way to combat stress is to spend time doing things she loves.
Eat nutritious food
She eats a diet rich in protein, essential vitamins and minerals, and cuts her daily calorie intake by 30%. Scientists say that people who consume fewer calories are healthier and younger. Calorie restriction is thought to extend life in two ways: First, cutting calories reduces the production of free radicals, forms of oxygen that are highly damaging to aging. Second, it also increases the cells' resistance to stress, helping them live longer.
Sleep and sex
Most North Americans live in a sleep-deprived state. Lack of sleep throws off the balance of important hormones, contributing to weight gain, depression, and heart disease. A good night’s sleep is essential to maintaining good health. So is sex. A study from Duke Medical Center in North Carolina found that a healthy, active sex life significantly increases longevity.
Practice every day
Exercise today pays off tomorrow. Yoga, dance, and exercises that improve balance will help you stay healthy as you age. “Make your home, community, and workplace a place to move, focusing on gardening, walking, and playing with your family,” says Katharine.
“Muscles weaken with age, and physical activity rejuvenates their stem cells and boosts circulation,” said Dafna Benayahu, a medical researcher at Tel Aviv University. People who exercise weekly look 10 years younger than those who don’t.
Communicate regularly
On Sundays, Katharine’s kitchen is filled with the aroma of food. Sunday dinners are a family tradition, with older people connecting with younger ones and chatting. One study found that lonely women are five times more likely to die from breast, ovarian and cervical cancer.
Faith
A survey of centenarians found that longevity is linked to faith. Katharine does not fear death, nor does she ever think about it. Instead, she finds peace in her faith, as a strength that keeps her going each day. Her father was a pastor who played an active role in his church. Even without a religious affiliation, people can still tap into the power of faith and find joy in simple things.
