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Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World's Healthiest and Longest-Lived Peoples
Why do some people age in failing health and sadness, while others grow old with vitality and joy? In this revolutionary book, bestselling author John Robbins presents us with a bold new paradigm of aging, showing us how we can increase not only our lifespan, but also our health span. Through the example of four very different cultures that have the distinction of producing some of the world's healthiest, oldest people, Robbins reveals the secrets for living an extended and fulfilling life in which our later years become a period of wisdom, vitality, and happiness. Bringing the traditions of these cultures together with the latest breakthroughs in medical science, Robbins reveals that, remarkably, they both point in the same direction.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
179 people are currently reading
2126 people want to read
About the author
John Robbins
23 books150 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Please see: John Robbins
John Robbins was an American author, who popularized the links among nutrition, environmentalism, and animal rights.
He was the author of the 1987 Diet for a New America, an exposé on connections between diet, physical health, animal cruelty, and environmentalism. Robbins founded the organization EarthSave in 1988 and co-founded the Food Revolution Network with his son, Ocean, in 2011. He was a leading voice in the plant-based movement.
Please see: John Robbins
John Robbins was an American author, who popularized the links among nutrition, environmentalism, and animal rights.
He was the author of the 1987 Diet for a New America, an exposé on connections between diet, physical health, animal cruelty, and environmentalism. Robbins founded the organization EarthSave in 1988 and co-founded the Food Revolution Network with his son, Ocean, in 2011. He was a leading voice in the plant-based movement.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
February 17, 2011
What sets this book apart from most books on health is that the last third of the book focuses on how strong interpersonal relationships are more of a determiner of health as we age than smoking or poor diets! Here's a favorite..
Four hugs a day are necessary for survival, eight a day for maintenance, twelve for growth!
In the four healthiest cultures, "Instead of going shopping, they go visit one another"
In a heart disease study it was found that men who used the first-person pronouns the most often (I, me, mine)...had the highest risk of heart trouble...
Read my full review on my blog....
http://hungrybookwormsunite.blogspot....
Four hugs a day are necessary for survival, eight a day for maintenance, twelve for growth!
In the four healthiest cultures, "Instead of going shopping, they go visit one another"
In a heart disease study it was found that men who used the first-person pronouns the most often (I, me, mine)...had the highest risk of heart trouble...
Read my full review on my blog....
http://hungrybookwormsunite.blogspot....
June 23, 2015
This was fine, but could have been more succinct. Basically do all the things that you probably already know are good for you. Live amongst your extended family. Preferably in a stress free environment. Laugh often. Walk lots. Eat less. Mainly a plant and grain based diet. Done.
February 5, 2012
This is one of the few books I come across that deserves 5 stars. I am happy that Robbins mentioned the village of Vilcabamba in Ecuador. I've known about the longevity of their people for a long time. The differences among cultures is astounding. With regards to stress, (and the fact that so many people in my industrialized culture are overfed, overmedicated, and overstressed) my favorite passage from the book is as follows:
Pages 34-35: ...a mystic from India who was introduced to New York City. His guide took him to the Times Square subway station at the peak of morning rush hour. The visitor was appalled at what he saw--people with briefcases pushing hard and driving madly. Not understanding what was causing people to behave so frantically, he asked, "Is there a wolf behind them?" "No," said the guide, "there's a dollar in front of them."
Taken from the book:
-Fat in food cause high cholesterol, especially saturated.
-Stay away from tuna! It has lots of mercury.
-Stay away from cheese!
-Eat more whole grains.
-Omega 3 is good
-Flax seed is good
-Wheat germ is good
I couldn't believe that Robbins is the son of the co-founder of the ice cream chain Baskin-Robbins! Robbins reminds me of Thom Hartmann, in both his political views and happiness with his wife and family.
Robbins mention of the increasing gap between the rich and poor was pretty intense and interesting. It's even more so that the book was written in 2006, shortly before the economic crash and Wall Street exposure.
Page 265: "And it's certainly true that worldwide today, those nations whose annual per capita income is below about $5,000 to $10,000 often suffer from poor sanitation and malnutrition and have the poorest health. But studies have consistently found that above that threshold, the health of nations is no longer a matter of absolute income, but is actually more a matter of the gap between the rich and the poor. Above that point, the larger the gap between rich and poor, the less health will prevail."
Pages 34-35: ...a mystic from India who was introduced to New York City. His guide took him to the Times Square subway station at the peak of morning rush hour. The visitor was appalled at what he saw--people with briefcases pushing hard and driving madly. Not understanding what was causing people to behave so frantically, he asked, "Is there a wolf behind them?" "No," said the guide, "there's a dollar in front of them."
Taken from the book:
-Fat in food cause high cholesterol, especially saturated.
-Stay away from tuna! It has lots of mercury.
-Stay away from cheese!
-Eat more whole grains.
-Omega 3 is good
-Flax seed is good
-Wheat germ is good
I couldn't believe that Robbins is the son of the co-founder of the ice cream chain Baskin-Robbins! Robbins reminds me of Thom Hartmann, in both his political views and happiness with his wife and family.
Robbins mention of the increasing gap between the rich and poor was pretty intense and interesting. It's even more so that the book was written in 2006, shortly before the economic crash and Wall Street exposure.
Page 265: "And it's certainly true that worldwide today, those nations whose annual per capita income is below about $5,000 to $10,000 often suffer from poor sanitation and malnutrition and have the poorest health. But studies have consistently found that above that threshold, the health of nations is no longer a matter of absolute income, but is actually more a matter of the gap between the rich and the poor. Above that point, the larger the gap between rich and poor, the less health will prevail."
May 6, 2008
Enjoyable reading, solid research, good end-notes, great book.
I like how he put Weston Price in perspective. Either people revere him or discredit him. Robbins acknowledges that he made great observations, but had rather limited exposure to the peoples he visited, so it's not completely solid "science." Dr Price's suggestions are great ideas, but should be balanced with other great ideas. Use what works for you.
The chapter that blew me away was "Breaking Free from the Cultural Trance, or the real news on this planet." The real news is that love makes all the difference. His information on wealth distribution, what that tells you about a culture's values, and the effects on health were staggering to me. Of course, it makes sense now.
"The larger the gap between rich and poor, the less health will prevail." p. 265
What that means is that in a culture where the rich are *much* richer than the poor, that means that having wealth is a more valued trait than sharing wealth. It also means that the rich hold onto their wealth (generally speaking, I mean we all know of at least one generous rich person), which means that the poor have to work all that harder for the very basics (or give up and try to subsist on welfare), which means they have very little time for relationships (and then all the evils that occur from fragile or falling apart families will follow), which means that health suffers greatly.
No matter how "wealthy" or "poor" a nation, the greater the gap between rich and poor, the poorer health is in general. The smaller the gap between rich and poor, the better the health generally: for rich and poor. Huge implications. (Do I sound like a socialist? I don't think government has the duty to "fix" this; after all, it's a reflection on the people and their values, so government's not gonna change that. It's what we teach and value in our homes that filters up to results like this.)
Bhutan, which admittedly has its problems, has actually instituted Gross National Happiness as a measure of national prosperity, rather than Gross Domestic Product. Revolutionary! It may sound fru-fru, idealistic and a little hippy-ish, but it means healthier people. Happiness and love really do make a considerable difference.
A funny image just came to mind. Once science begins to acknowledge the effects of love, can you image a roomful of scientists trying to decide how to "control" for "love" in a study on health? They'll try it, I'm sure.
I won't go on right now. Terrific book.
I like how he put Weston Price in perspective. Either people revere him or discredit him. Robbins acknowledges that he made great observations, but had rather limited exposure to the peoples he visited, so it's not completely solid "science." Dr Price's suggestions are great ideas, but should be balanced with other great ideas. Use what works for you.
The chapter that blew me away was "Breaking Free from the Cultural Trance, or the real news on this planet." The real news is that love makes all the difference. His information on wealth distribution, what that tells you about a culture's values, and the effects on health were staggering to me. Of course, it makes sense now.
"The larger the gap between rich and poor, the less health will prevail." p. 265
What that means is that in a culture where the rich are *much* richer than the poor, that means that having wealth is a more valued trait than sharing wealth. It also means that the rich hold onto their wealth (generally speaking, I mean we all know of at least one generous rich person), which means that the poor have to work all that harder for the very basics (or give up and try to subsist on welfare), which means they have very little time for relationships (and then all the evils that occur from fragile or falling apart families will follow), which means that health suffers greatly.
No matter how "wealthy" or "poor" a nation, the greater the gap between rich and poor, the poorer health is in general. The smaller the gap between rich and poor, the better the health generally: for rich and poor. Huge implications. (Do I sound like a socialist? I don't think government has the duty to "fix" this; after all, it's a reflection on the people and their values, so government's not gonna change that. It's what we teach and value in our homes that filters up to results like this.)
Bhutan, which admittedly has its problems, has actually instituted Gross National Happiness as a measure of national prosperity, rather than Gross Domestic Product. Revolutionary! It may sound fru-fru, idealistic and a little hippy-ish, but it means healthier people. Happiness and love really do make a considerable difference.
A funny image just came to mind. Once science begins to acknowledge the effects of love, can you image a roomful of scientists trying to decide how to "control" for "love" in a study on health? They'll try it, I'm sure.
I won't go on right now. Terrific book.
September 8, 2009
Nothing has inspired me to eat better and live better more than this book.
September 18, 2023
This is an excellent book. Recently I read and reviewed a similar book – The Blue Zones Solution by Dan Buettner – telling us of similar so-called primitive societies, where the people lived into their nineties or more while remaining super-healthy.
The regions described in the present book are : 1) Abkhasia in Soviet Georgia 2) Vilcabamba, a small town in the Andes, in Ecuador 3) Hunza, at the northernmost tip of Pakistan and 4) Okinawa, the southernmost Japanese prefecture (state). The region of Okinawa was also examined in the afore-mentioned book.
In Abkhasia sickness is not considered a normal or natural event even in very old age!
There is a tremendous respect for the aged – a person’s status increases with age. The Abkhasians do not even have a phrase meaning “old people”. Instead, those over 100 are called “long-living people”.
As regards their diet, they drink one or two glasses a day of a fermented beverage called matzoni, made from the milk of goats, cows, or sheep.
The traditional diet is essentially lacto-vegetarian with a rare serving of meat, the dairy component consisting primarily of the fermented matzoni.
They eat vegetables such as watercress, green onions, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers and cabbages. At all three meals they eat cornmeal porridge.
They eat large quantities of fresh fruit – cherries, apricots, pears, plums, peaches, figs, many kinds of berries, and apples.
Vegetables are generally eaten raw, because food that is not totally fresh is considered harmful.
Nuts are the primary source of fat – almonds, pecans, beechnuts, hazelnuts and chestnuts.
Most Abkhasians consume less than 2000 calories a day, while Americans eat twice as much.
Abkhasians are strong and slender with no excess fat on their bodies. They eat slowly and chew thoroughly and deeply enjoy each other’s company.
These people are friendly, long-living, happy and extraordinarily healthy. In Vilcabamba, in the Andes, degenerative diseases seldom if ever affect the population.There is no heart disease, no cancer, no diabetes, no strokes, no cirrhosis, no senility, no arteriosclerosis. Neither have they rheumatism, osteoporosis or Alzheimer’s. Physicians have declared their general standard of fitness to be “amazing”.
They die as the result of an accident, from a sicknesss introduced by visitors from the outside, but never from the major diseases that affect the rest of the world.
Their extraordinary cardiovascular health was linked to their leanness, diet, low cholesterol levels, and high levels of physical activity.
Some of the population did not actually know their ages. However, the very oldest people were remarkably fit for their age.
The viejos of Vilcabamba own no cars or bicycles. They have no horses. They simply walk everywhere.
There is always physical work to do in the household or garden, and both males and females are involved in it from earliest childhood.
There is a saying in Vilcabamba that each of us have two “doctors”, the left leg and the right leg.
They have no canned, packaged, or processed foods.
They eat vegetables picked fresh from the garden. Fruits are eaten the same day they are plucked. The diet is almost entirely vegetarian, made up primarily of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, seeds, beans and nuts. Very rarely do they consume milk or eggs. They eat almost no meat and never any butter.
Their protein comes from vegetables, whole grains and variety of beans. Their carbohydrates are always unrefined, and come primarily from whole-grain cereals such as corn, quinoa, wheat and barley and from tubers including potatoes, yucca and sweet potatoes. Their fat comes mostly from avocados, seeds and nuts.
The third region described is Hunza, in Pakistan.
Elderly people here have remarkable good cheer and vitality and are extraordinarily vigorous. They hike up and down the steep hillsides with amazing ease and agility.
A heart specialist, Dr White, visited the Hunzans and found they lived to exceedingly old ages without any heart disease. He could not verify the actual ages of the elderly Hunzans he studied but he examined a group of 5 Hunzans whom he believed to be between 90 and 110 years old. None had any single sign of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels.
There are no hospitals, no insane asylums, no drug stores, no saloons, no tobacco stores, no police, no jails, no murders or other crimes and no beggars.
They are the world’s best mountain climbers, as they can travel, fully laden, over Himalayan terrain, at a rate of more than 40 miles a day, They seem never to suffer from fatigue.
There are thousands of terraced fields in Hunza. These fields are flooded with the rich mineral waters that come down from the surrounding mountains and deposit “a thin film of precious minerals over the already fertile soil”.
In these terraces the Hunzans grow a wide variety of fruit, including apricots, peaches, pears, apples, plums, grapes, cherries, mulberries, figs and many types of melons.
Their diet includes a multitude of wild berries, both fresh and sun-dried.
A typical breakfast in Hunza in the winter is a porridge made from dried apricots and millet, with freshly ground flaxseeds sprinkled on top.
Like the Vilcabambans and Abkhasians, they eat very little meat. Meat and dairy products together constitute only1% of their total diet.
Vegetables play a prominent role in the Hunzan diet, particularly greens, including mustard greens, spinach, and lettuce, root vegetables, an assortment of beans, chickpeas, lentils, pumpkins and squashes. They cultivate many kinds of herbs and grow flaxseeds,
A large part of the diet is eaten uncooked.
When vegetables are cooked, they are typically lightly steamed, and the water used to cook them is always consumed along with the vegetables themselves.
The fourth and final culture described is that of Okinawa, Japan.
This prefecture consists of 161 beautiful islands inhabited by 1.4 million people.
Okinawa has been scientifically established to be the home of “the longest lived and healthiest people ever thoroughly studied”.
In Okinawa there has been meticulous keeping of birth and health records, so there is no doubt about the claims to longevity.
“Okinawa is home to the world’s healthiest documented elders, to the world’s longest recorded life expectancies, and to the highest concentration of verified centenarians in the world.”
“When it comes to authenticated supercenterians (those who have lived to 110 and beyond), Okinawa is in a class by itself. Okinawa today accounts for 15 percent of the world’s documented supercentenarians despite being the home of only 0.0002 percent of the world’s population.”
The word “retirement”” does not exist in the traditional Okinawan dialect.
Finally, to sum up, the diets of all four of the people in these four regions have much in common:
They are all low in overall calories.
They are all high in good carbohydrates.
They are all “whole-foods” - diets with very little, if any, processed or refined foods, sugar, corn syrup, preservatives, artificial flavours or other chemicals.
They all depend on fresh foods, eating primarily what is in season and locally grown.
They are all low, though not super-low, in fat, and the fats come from natural sources.
They all derive their protein primarily from plant sources.
The elder Okinawans say that they stop eating when they are 80 percent full. They say they “eat less in order to live longer”.
High fructose corn syrup can be found in almost every processed food. Some studies indicate that corn syrup is almost worse than cane sugar.
A single 12-ounce can of “soda pop” contains about 13 teaspoons of sugar in the form of high-fructose corn syrup.
Excess sugar consumption is linked not only to obesity but also to kidney stones, osteoporosis, heart disease and dental cavities.
Obesity now contributes more to chronic illness and healthcare costs than does smoking.
Obesity is an epidemic. Almost two-thirds of all Americans are overweight. Obesity is increasing in every country in the world.
In Mexico, the average family of five drinks six gallons of Coca-Cola a week and 65 percent of the population is overweight or obese.
As regards low-carb diets such as Atkins’, side effects experienced include constipation, headaches, bad breath, diarrhea, muscle weakness, and cramps.
Ornish’s low-fat, plant-based diet has been scientifically proven to reverse atherosclerosis, decrease angina (chest pains), bring about permanent weight loss and dramatically reduce cardiac events such as heart attacks.
Atkins’ diet was declared to be dangerous, “a nightmare diet”. It reputedly puts people at risk of heart disease and raises the bad cholesterol.
People may temporarily lose weight on the Atkins’ and the South Beach diet but their LDL cholesterol goes up if they remain on them.
While in the White House, Bill Clinton consulted with Dr Dean Ornish who advised him to stay away from high-fat animal products, but he loved burgers and chose to follow the South Beach diet. After Clinton underwent emergency quadruple coronary artery bypass surgery to relieve clogged arteries in 2004, he said he wished he had never gone on a low-carb regimen of steaks and cheeseburgers and had instead followed the advice of Dr Dean Ornish.
He would have been better off if he had. The healthy and long-lived people of Okinawa, Vilcabamba and Hunza eat a diet very much like the Ornish diet – a low-fat, wholefoods, plant-based diet; they are among the leanest people on Earth.
In Okinawa, due to mistaken government influence, younger Okinawans are today eaing a much more Western diet than their elders have ever eaten.
They are consuming far more calories, far more processed food, far more meat, sugar and corn syrup.
They eat many of their meals in American fast-food restaurants and are becoming less physically active.
Young Okinawans today have the highest level of obesity in Japan, the worst cardiovascular risk profile, the highest risk of coronary disease, and the highest risk of premature death.
The book contains many further absorbing chapters, including one on the healing power of relationships.
I can highly recommend that you read this book. I will now be reading some of the author’s other books, those that I can get hold of.
The regions described in the present book are : 1) Abkhasia in Soviet Georgia 2) Vilcabamba, a small town in the Andes, in Ecuador 3) Hunza, at the northernmost tip of Pakistan and 4) Okinawa, the southernmost Japanese prefecture (state). The region of Okinawa was also examined in the afore-mentioned book.
In Abkhasia sickness is not considered a normal or natural event even in very old age!
There is a tremendous respect for the aged – a person’s status increases with age. The Abkhasians do not even have a phrase meaning “old people”. Instead, those over 100 are called “long-living people”.
As regards their diet, they drink one or two glasses a day of a fermented beverage called matzoni, made from the milk of goats, cows, or sheep.
The traditional diet is essentially lacto-vegetarian with a rare serving of meat, the dairy component consisting primarily of the fermented matzoni.
They eat vegetables such as watercress, green onions, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers and cabbages. At all three meals they eat cornmeal porridge.
They eat large quantities of fresh fruit – cherries, apricots, pears, plums, peaches, figs, many kinds of berries, and apples.
Vegetables are generally eaten raw, because food that is not totally fresh is considered harmful.
Nuts are the primary source of fat – almonds, pecans, beechnuts, hazelnuts and chestnuts.
Most Abkhasians consume less than 2000 calories a day, while Americans eat twice as much.
Abkhasians are strong and slender with no excess fat on their bodies. They eat slowly and chew thoroughly and deeply enjoy each other’s company.
These people are friendly, long-living, happy and extraordinarily healthy. In Vilcabamba, in the Andes, degenerative diseases seldom if ever affect the population.There is no heart disease, no cancer, no diabetes, no strokes, no cirrhosis, no senility, no arteriosclerosis. Neither have they rheumatism, osteoporosis or Alzheimer’s. Physicians have declared their general standard of fitness to be “amazing”.
They die as the result of an accident, from a sicknesss introduced by visitors from the outside, but never from the major diseases that affect the rest of the world.
Their extraordinary cardiovascular health was linked to their leanness, diet, low cholesterol levels, and high levels of physical activity.
Some of the population did not actually know their ages. However, the very oldest people were remarkably fit for their age.
The viejos of Vilcabamba own no cars or bicycles. They have no horses. They simply walk everywhere.
There is always physical work to do in the household or garden, and both males and females are involved in it from earliest childhood.
There is a saying in Vilcabamba that each of us have two “doctors”, the left leg and the right leg.
They have no canned, packaged, or processed foods.
They eat vegetables picked fresh from the garden. Fruits are eaten the same day they are plucked. The diet is almost entirely vegetarian, made up primarily of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, seeds, beans and nuts. Very rarely do they consume milk or eggs. They eat almost no meat and never any butter.
Their protein comes from vegetables, whole grains and variety of beans. Their carbohydrates are always unrefined, and come primarily from whole-grain cereals such as corn, quinoa, wheat and barley and from tubers including potatoes, yucca and sweet potatoes. Their fat comes mostly from avocados, seeds and nuts.
The third region described is Hunza, in Pakistan.
Elderly people here have remarkable good cheer and vitality and are extraordinarily vigorous. They hike up and down the steep hillsides with amazing ease and agility.
A heart specialist, Dr White, visited the Hunzans and found they lived to exceedingly old ages without any heart disease. He could not verify the actual ages of the elderly Hunzans he studied but he examined a group of 5 Hunzans whom he believed to be between 90 and 110 years old. None had any single sign of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels.
There are no hospitals, no insane asylums, no drug stores, no saloons, no tobacco stores, no police, no jails, no murders or other crimes and no beggars.
They are the world’s best mountain climbers, as they can travel, fully laden, over Himalayan terrain, at a rate of more than 40 miles a day, They seem never to suffer from fatigue.
There are thousands of terraced fields in Hunza. These fields are flooded with the rich mineral waters that come down from the surrounding mountains and deposit “a thin film of precious minerals over the already fertile soil”.
In these terraces the Hunzans grow a wide variety of fruit, including apricots, peaches, pears, apples, plums, grapes, cherries, mulberries, figs and many types of melons.
Their diet includes a multitude of wild berries, both fresh and sun-dried.
A typical breakfast in Hunza in the winter is a porridge made from dried apricots and millet, with freshly ground flaxseeds sprinkled on top.
Like the Vilcabambans and Abkhasians, they eat very little meat. Meat and dairy products together constitute only1% of their total diet.
Vegetables play a prominent role in the Hunzan diet, particularly greens, including mustard greens, spinach, and lettuce, root vegetables, an assortment of beans, chickpeas, lentils, pumpkins and squashes. They cultivate many kinds of herbs and grow flaxseeds,
A large part of the diet is eaten uncooked.
When vegetables are cooked, they are typically lightly steamed, and the water used to cook them is always consumed along with the vegetables themselves.
The fourth and final culture described is that of Okinawa, Japan.
This prefecture consists of 161 beautiful islands inhabited by 1.4 million people.
Okinawa has been scientifically established to be the home of “the longest lived and healthiest people ever thoroughly studied”.
In Okinawa there has been meticulous keeping of birth and health records, so there is no doubt about the claims to longevity.
“Okinawa is home to the world’s healthiest documented elders, to the world’s longest recorded life expectancies, and to the highest concentration of verified centenarians in the world.”
“When it comes to authenticated supercenterians (those who have lived to 110 and beyond), Okinawa is in a class by itself. Okinawa today accounts for 15 percent of the world’s documented supercentenarians despite being the home of only 0.0002 percent of the world’s population.”
The word “retirement”” does not exist in the traditional Okinawan dialect.
Finally, to sum up, the diets of all four of the people in these four regions have much in common:
They are all low in overall calories.
They are all high in good carbohydrates.
They are all “whole-foods” - diets with very little, if any, processed or refined foods, sugar, corn syrup, preservatives, artificial flavours or other chemicals.
They all depend on fresh foods, eating primarily what is in season and locally grown.
They are all low, though not super-low, in fat, and the fats come from natural sources.
They all derive their protein primarily from plant sources.
The elder Okinawans say that they stop eating when they are 80 percent full. They say they “eat less in order to live longer”.
High fructose corn syrup can be found in almost every processed food. Some studies indicate that corn syrup is almost worse than cane sugar.
A single 12-ounce can of “soda pop” contains about 13 teaspoons of sugar in the form of high-fructose corn syrup.
Excess sugar consumption is linked not only to obesity but also to kidney stones, osteoporosis, heart disease and dental cavities.
Obesity now contributes more to chronic illness and healthcare costs than does smoking.
Obesity is an epidemic. Almost two-thirds of all Americans are overweight. Obesity is increasing in every country in the world.
In Mexico, the average family of five drinks six gallons of Coca-Cola a week and 65 percent of the population is overweight or obese.
As regards low-carb diets such as Atkins’, side effects experienced include constipation, headaches, bad breath, diarrhea, muscle weakness, and cramps.
Ornish’s low-fat, plant-based diet has been scientifically proven to reverse atherosclerosis, decrease angina (chest pains), bring about permanent weight loss and dramatically reduce cardiac events such as heart attacks.
Atkins’ diet was declared to be dangerous, “a nightmare diet”. It reputedly puts people at risk of heart disease and raises the bad cholesterol.
People may temporarily lose weight on the Atkins’ and the South Beach diet but their LDL cholesterol goes up if they remain on them.
While in the White House, Bill Clinton consulted with Dr Dean Ornish who advised him to stay away from high-fat animal products, but he loved burgers and chose to follow the South Beach diet. After Clinton underwent emergency quadruple coronary artery bypass surgery to relieve clogged arteries in 2004, he said he wished he had never gone on a low-carb regimen of steaks and cheeseburgers and had instead followed the advice of Dr Dean Ornish.
He would have been better off if he had. The healthy and long-lived people of Okinawa, Vilcabamba and Hunza eat a diet very much like the Ornish diet – a low-fat, wholefoods, plant-based diet; they are among the leanest people on Earth.
In Okinawa, due to mistaken government influence, younger Okinawans are today eaing a much more Western diet than their elders have ever eaten.
They are consuming far more calories, far more processed food, far more meat, sugar and corn syrup.
They eat many of their meals in American fast-food restaurants and are becoming less physically active.
Young Okinawans today have the highest level of obesity in Japan, the worst cardiovascular risk profile, the highest risk of coronary disease, and the highest risk of premature death.
The book contains many further absorbing chapters, including one on the healing power of relationships.
I can highly recommend that you read this book. I will now be reading some of the author’s other books, those that I can get hold of.
April 2, 2011
Live longer and healthier via diet and lifestyle.
Eat vegetables — Dean Ornish, Joel Furhman, Caldwell Esselstyn, T. Colin Campbell, and John McDougall.
Volunteer, maintain strong social ties, act in love and compassion—Mother Teresa, Karen Armstrong, and Dame Cicely Mary Saunders.
Add John Robbins'Healthy at 100 to the cannon of books/voices urging us to eschew the Standard American Diet (SAD) and live longer in great health. In addition, Robbins' makes a case against our society's toxic ageism. We should be able to look forward to growing old and enjoy our maturity — not fear it. How to dance at 100? The tenets are: eat plants, be active, volunteer, and love and be loved.
Healthy at 100 provides examples: of long-lived, healthy utopian cultures — Abkhasia, Vilacamba, Hunza, Okinama (often in remote, isolated or island locales); many extraordinary people such as triathlete, vegan, cancer survivor Ruth Heidrich; and inspiring stories of the Chicken Soup for the Soul variety (some of them are actually from the Chicken Soup series). Robbins also makes his case with philosophical quotes and hard science.
Sections of the book end with long lists of Steps You Can Take.
Noted:
• When you are interacting with people who don't eat the same way you do, never be ashamed of the steps you are taking toward greater health. Let your enthusiasm and love of life be contagious.
• Give away everything that is cluttering your life. Have nothing in your house that is not useful or beautiful.
• Celebrate your birthday every year by doing something you've never done before.
• Become a hospice volunteer.
• Celebrate death days as well as birthdays.
Quotes
"A society's quality and durability can best be measured by the respect and care given to its elder citizens." — Arnold Toynbee
"Of all the self-fulfilling prophecies in our culture, the assumption that aging means decline and poor health is probably the deadliest." — Marilyn Ferguson
"I want to drink to women all over the world...for them not to work too hard and to be happy with their families." — K. Lasuria
"Food should nourish life — this is the best medicine." — Okinawan proverb
"We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects."
— Herman Melville
Eat vegetables — Dean Ornish, Joel Furhman, Caldwell Esselstyn, T. Colin Campbell, and John McDougall.
Volunteer, maintain strong social ties, act in love and compassion—Mother Teresa, Karen Armstrong, and Dame Cicely Mary Saunders.
Add John Robbins'Healthy at 100 to the cannon of books/voices urging us to eschew the Standard American Diet (SAD) and live longer in great health. In addition, Robbins' makes a case against our society's toxic ageism. We should be able to look forward to growing old and enjoy our maturity — not fear it. How to dance at 100? The tenets are: eat plants, be active, volunteer, and love and be loved.
Healthy at 100 provides examples: of long-lived, healthy utopian cultures — Abkhasia, Vilacamba, Hunza, Okinama (often in remote, isolated or island locales); many extraordinary people such as triathlete, vegan, cancer survivor Ruth Heidrich; and inspiring stories of the Chicken Soup for the Soul variety (some of them are actually from the Chicken Soup series). Robbins also makes his case with philosophical quotes and hard science.
Sections of the book end with long lists of Steps You Can Take.
Noted:
• When you are interacting with people who don't eat the same way you do, never be ashamed of the steps you are taking toward greater health. Let your enthusiasm and love of life be contagious.
• Give away everything that is cluttering your life. Have nothing in your house that is not useful or beautiful.
• Celebrate your birthday every year by doing something you've never done before.
• Become a hospice volunteer.
• Celebrate death days as well as birthdays.
Quotes
"A society's quality and durability can best be measured by the respect and care given to its elder citizens." — Arnold Toynbee
"Of all the self-fulfilling prophecies in our culture, the assumption that aging means decline and poor health is probably the deadliest." — Marilyn Ferguson
"I want to drink to women all over the world...for them not to work too hard and to be happy with their families." — K. Lasuria
"Food should nourish life — this is the best medicine." — Okinawan proverb
"We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects."
— Herman Melville
February 6, 2009
This is one of the most beautiful and positive books I've ever read. Anybody and everybody should read it - I think there is something in it that will appeal to each person on this planet.
The theme of the book comes down to this: getting old should not be scary, and should nt be treated as something to fear. Each one of us can prevent the mental and physical deterioration that is often associated with getting old by simply eating well, exercising, and surrounding ourselves with people we love and who love us back.
Robbins examines four cultures who are known for their longevity: the Abkhasians, the Vilcabambans, the people of the Hunza region, and the Okinawans, and then spends the rest of the book laying out exactly what we can do to extend our own longevity AS LONG AS we are healthy in doing so. Who wants to live to be 100, but become a vegetable or suffer from any number of diseases associated with advanced age? The point is not to extend one's life - it's to extend one's health.
Read this book TODAY! It will change your life. Honestly.
The theme of the book comes down to this: getting old should not be scary, and should nt be treated as something to fear. Each one of us can prevent the mental and physical deterioration that is often associated with getting old by simply eating well, exercising, and surrounding ourselves with people we love and who love us back.
Robbins examines four cultures who are known for their longevity: the Abkhasians, the Vilcabambans, the people of the Hunza region, and the Okinawans, and then spends the rest of the book laying out exactly what we can do to extend our own longevity AS LONG AS we are healthy in doing so. Who wants to live to be 100, but become a vegetable or suffer from any number of diseases associated with advanced age? The point is not to extend one's life - it's to extend one's health.
Read this book TODAY! It will change your life. Honestly.
August 28, 2012
The son of Baskin-Robins, wrote a book on health. Yeah, he exposes the dangers of unhealthy eating, and lifestyles. A great read and motivator.
Publisher's Summary
Why do some people age in failing health and sadness, while others grow old with vitality and joy? In this revolutionary audiobook, best-selling author John Robbins presents us with a bold new paradigm of aging, showing us how we can increase not only our lifespan but also our health span.
Through the example of four very different cultures that have the distinction of producing some of the world's healthiest, oldest people, Robbins reveals the secrets for living an extended and fulfilling life in which our later years become a period of wisdom, vitality, and happiness. Bringing the traditions of these cultures together with the latest breakthroughs in medical science, Robbins reveals that, remarkably, they both point in the same direction.
Publisher's Summary
Why do some people age in failing health and sadness, while others grow old with vitality and joy? In this revolutionary audiobook, best-selling author John Robbins presents us with a bold new paradigm of aging, showing us how we can increase not only our lifespan but also our health span.
Through the example of four very different cultures that have the distinction of producing some of the world's healthiest, oldest people, Robbins reveals the secrets for living an extended and fulfilling life in which our later years become a period of wisdom, vitality, and happiness. Bringing the traditions of these cultures together with the latest breakthroughs in medical science, Robbins reveals that, remarkably, they both point in the same direction.
September 21, 2008
I fully understand that putting this one out there officially qualifies me as OLD, but this book was fascinating and illuminating, throwing the paradigm of old = lame right out the window. I picked it up at my parents house, thumbed through it and couldn't put it down. Christina, this was the book we talked about at dinner. Worth a read!
January 7, 2017
It's unfortunate that this book won't be widely read by the young. Within it is a blueprint for how to live life fully. There is no neglecting food, exercise or love and community in the approach offered. I suppose some will criticize it as idealistic and naive but they are missing the point. Amazing book
Read
September 9, 2008fascinating and so simple...really loved the notion that it is as much our cultural paradigm that aging is a bad thing, as anything we eat or do that affects how we age.
December 31, 2010
Really enjoyed this book. Lots of solid references in the back also. How to be healthy at 100? Eat fresh vegetables, sing and dance, and generally be positive. :)
April 28, 2017
I think everyone should read this book to learn more about the aging process and how the quality of life as you age is completely in your own hands.
January 27, 2020
John Robbins has written a fantastic book that shows us how wonderful ageing can be if we do so with grace and dignity: “I’ve learned that one can be old and beautiful, old and still passionately alive, old and still bursting with wonder and blooming with joy. I’ve come to see that old age can be a time of growth and renewal, wisdom and well-being. I’ve come to understand that the lives of older adults can be as full of promise and potential as those of younger people, and that different generations can relate to one another with dignity and respect.”
This was a very timely reminder that our future is very much in our own hands and based on our own choices. So lets be mindful to eat well, exercise regularly, and cultivate the human relationships that are dear to us.
This was a very timely reminder that our future is very much in our own hands and based on our own choices. So lets be mindful to eat well, exercise regularly, and cultivate the human relationships that are dear to us.
March 6, 2025
Probably one of the most important books you will ever read. It starts off very nutrition-and-exercise based and moves into a profoundly, almost poetic appraisal of what really matters to us in life and in death. I cried, I contemplated, I re-evaluated. I'll be taking the lessons from this book with me everywhere I go, I know.
October 13, 2021
The sections on the importance of love, giving, companionship, community and positivity were gentle reminders to keep focusing on what matters.
January 3, 2021
A bit rah-rah on the vegetarian/vegan bandwagon, but understandably so. He included the social aspects of staying healthy, as well as the food & exercise portions.
November 9, 2020
نویسنده، مجموعه ای از خوراک، سبک زندگی و فرهنگ اجتماعی را در فرایند عمر طولانی معرفی کرده و به توضیح هر کدام با ارائه ی شواهد میپردازد. هرچند که خیلی از علتها را خود میدانیم (وتنها یادآوری شان نیاز است) و هیچ کدام هم تضمینی برای صد ساله شدن نیست.
یکی از عامل های مهم در سلامت، فرهنگ برخورد با افراد مسن و تغییر ذهنیتمان از افزایش سن و پیری است. جایی که سن بالا نشانگر تجربه و دانش زیاد است و جایی که سالمندان به خانه های مراقبت از سالمندان سپرده میشوند چون جایگاهی در میان خانواده شان ندارند، تفاوت از زمین تا آسمان است. از دیگر علت ها میتوان به اختلاف طبقاتی، فشارهای اجتماعی، قضاوتها و استرس ها اشاره کرد. داشتن فعالیت و جایگاه اجتماعی هم نقش مهمی در سلامت روح و روان و در نتیجه جسم دارند.
کتاب بیان کننده داستان انسانهایی است که برای تولدهای خود در هر سنی کار جدید کردند. یکی شان که در ذهنم ماندگار شده، فردی هفتاد-هشتاد ساله است که طول دریاچه را با دستان بسته (گاهی با حمل قایقی از مسافران) طی کرده؛ به نماد دلداری دادن به زندانی هایی که بعدتر بخاطر همین حرکات اجتماعی آزاد شدند.
مهمترین رسالت کتاب برایم این بود که سلامتی در صد سالگی و فراتر از آن را افسانه ای و غیر قابل دسترس نبینم؛ بعلاوه تنها یک سوم کتاب به عادات فردی و سبک زندگی تکی میپردازد و دو سوم آن تاثیر جامعه ای که در آن زندگی میکنیم بر سلامت ماست. همچنین یادآوری اینکه هیچ وقت برای شروع دیر نیست. حتی، بدن نود ساله به بالاها هم قدرت ساخت ماهیچه دارد و تاثیر نحوه ی زیست مهمتر از ژن هاست.
نویسنده در عین تلاش برای ارائه ی سبک زندگی سلامت، اصلا با حرص و طمع به افزایش سن نگاه نکرده. برعکس یکی دو فصل آخر کتاب، به مرگ اختصاص دارد. تاکید بر اهمیت کیفیت و عرض زندگی؛ نه صرفا طولانی بودنش. ما دو تولد داریم یکی روزی که فیزیکی پا به جهان میگذاریم و دیگری روزی که میفهمیم "چرا" آمدیم؟ در نهایت باید افزایش سن و مرگ را هم خیلی دوستانه پذیرفت و باهاش کنار آمد و از این فرصتهایی که داریم بهترین استفاده را کرد. عمر گرامیتان شیرین.
پ.ن. یکی از حواشی جالب کتاب معرفی قبایل بدوی است که توانسته اند عالی در شرایط سخت دوام بیاورند و به روزگار کنونی برسند که نشانگر مدیریت خیلی خوبشان دربرابر حوادث روزگار بوده است. متاسفانه اکنون در حال انقراضند. یکی از این قبایل پیگمه ها (Pygmy) است. پیگمی ها معموملا در نواحی آفریقای مرکزی زندگی میکنند و از قبایل شکارچی-جمع شونده هستند. قدی کوتاه تر از ما دارند. در سایت National Geographic اطلاعات جالبی درباره این اقوام برای علاقه مندان وجود دارد.
یکی از عامل های مهم در سلامت، فرهنگ برخورد با افراد مسن و تغییر ذهنیتمان از افزایش سن و پیری است. جایی که سن بالا نشانگر تجربه و دانش زیاد است و جایی که سالمندان به خانه های مراقبت از سالمندان سپرده میشوند چون جایگاهی در میان خانواده شان ندارند، تفاوت از زمین تا آسمان است. از دیگر علت ها میتوان به اختلاف طبقاتی، فشارهای اجتماعی، قضاوتها و استرس ها اشاره کرد. داشتن فعالیت و جایگاه اجتماعی هم نقش مهمی در سلامت روح و روان و در نتیجه جسم دارند.
کتاب بیان کننده داستان انسانهایی است که برای تولدهای خود در هر سنی کار جدید کردند. یکی شان که در ذهنم ماندگار شده، فردی هفتاد-هشتاد ساله است که طول دریاچه را با دستان بسته (گاهی با حمل قایقی از مسافران) طی کرده؛ به نماد دلداری دادن به زندانی هایی که بعدتر بخاطر همین حرکات اجتماعی آزاد شدند.
مهمترین رسالت کتاب برایم این بود که سلامتی در صد سالگی و فراتر از آن را افسانه ای و غیر قابل دسترس نبینم؛ بعلاوه تنها یک سوم کتاب به عادات فردی و سبک زندگی تکی میپردازد و دو سوم آن تاثیر جامعه ای که در آن زندگی میکنیم بر سلامت ماست. همچنین یادآوری اینکه هیچ وقت برای شروع دیر نیست. حتی، بدن نود ساله به بالاها هم قدرت ساخت ماهیچه دارد و تاثیر نحوه ی زیست مهمتر از ژن هاست.
نویسنده در عین تلاش برای ارائه ی سبک زندگی سلامت، اصلا با حرص و طمع به افزایش سن نگاه نکرده. برعکس یکی دو فصل آخر کتاب، به مرگ اختصاص دارد. تاکید بر اهمیت کیفیت و عرض زندگی؛ نه صرفا طولانی بودنش. ما دو تولد داریم یکی روزی که فیزیکی پا به جهان میگذاریم و دیگری روزی که میفهمیم "چرا" آمدیم؟ در نهایت باید افزایش سن و مرگ را هم خیلی دوستانه پذیرفت و باهاش کنار آمد و از این فرصتهایی که داریم بهترین استفاده را کرد. عمر گرامیتان شیرین.
پ.ن. یکی از حواشی جالب کتاب معرفی قبایل بدوی است که توانسته اند عالی در شرایط سخت دوام بیاورند و به روزگار کنونی برسند که نشانگر مدیریت خیلی خوبشان دربرابر حوادث روزگار بوده است. متاسفانه اکنون در حال انقراضند. یکی از این قبایل پیگمه ها (Pygmy) است. پیگمی ها معموملا در نواحی آفریقای مرکزی زندگی میکنند و از قبایل شکارچی-جمع شونده هستند. قدی کوتاه تر از ما دارند. در سایت National Geographic اطلاعات جالبی درباره این اقوام برای علاقه مندان وجود دارد.
August 1, 2023
I would like to live a long life, but I would also like to enjoy it. This book gives an interesting insight of how wholefoods diet, exercise and meaningful relationships give you a better chance of a healthier and happier life. Some of the suggestions in the book were not new, but some statistics especially around relationships, were quite interesting. And I doubt I would be able to completely give up some food pleasures, but with moderation I could still reach a balance I am happy with.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was the constant comparison to the American diet. Anything you compare to fast food will result in better outcomes. And I cannot relate to a completely unhealthy lifestyle. I would have liked to learn more about the changes needed in a European moderate lifestyle which already includes exercise and balanced meals.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was the constant comparison to the American diet. Anything you compare to fast food will result in better outcomes. And I cannot relate to a completely unhealthy lifestyle. I would have liked to learn more about the changes needed in a European moderate lifestyle which already includes exercise and balanced meals.
January 21, 2015
I would change the title. It is not a book about how to live to be 100, but how to live well as long as you are alive. How we treat one another is just as important to health and longevity as diet and exercise. There is no fountain of youth, but we can make a difference in ourselves and our world by making wise choices. I wish everyone would read this book. John Robbins' compassionate heart shines through every page. He introduces us to societies that have known how to live well, and as a result have had many members live to old age without disease or senility. He doesn't recommend copying them, but rather learning from their secrets. Fascinating and eye opening book.
April 14, 2025
You know if the health book isnt all over social media or writen by social media doctors who hates epidemiology and trying to sell their brand (ie Peter attia) then its gonna be a gooden.This book is so well researched - not one reference was taken out of context or from a rubbish study.
On another front, this book isnt just a standard health book on exercise and diet but also talks about interpersonal relationships, attitudes towards aging ect and countries around the world. Absolutely Loved it.
On another front, this book isnt just a standard health book on exercise and diet but also talks about interpersonal relationships, attitudes towards aging ect and countries around the world. Absolutely Loved it.
February 1, 2008
It was especially interesting to me to learn about some little-known cultures and their simple lifestyles. Robbins can be a little wordy at times, and a tad too "New Agey" for me, but he comes from the heart, and the information is valuable.
February 25, 2009
Eye opener book for me about nutrition and health. After reading the book, I changed my diet.
February 3, 2020
This is a book about health. Obviously. While the information in the book is good I do find some flaws in it. First, the author of the book (as far as I know) is not a doctor or a registered nutritionist. He seems to be more of a serious enthusiast in matters of health and nutrition. Another, his book (towards the end) seems a bit preachy. I understand that he is passionate about the subject, but I get the point. I don't need a elaborate explanation of why it's all important. I already know it is.
He uses the healthiest cultures in the world as a driver for his argument. This is actually what drew me to this book in the first place. What you must realize is that this book was published in 2006. Information about health (physical, mental, emotional, etc.) has advanced since. New technologies have come out that improve our lives in certain ways.
So, the information in this book, while it had good intentions, is mostly outdated. I tried looking for an updated version of this book, but have not found one, yet.
Overall, the book did reach one of my expectations, which was to learn more about diet, nutrition, mental health and all the stuff in between. His book didn't provide information I was looking for exactly, but I am now on the hunt for more books and resources that will help me better with my own personal health.
He uses the healthiest cultures in the world as a driver for his argument. This is actually what drew me to this book in the first place. What you must realize is that this book was published in 2006. Information about health (physical, mental, emotional, etc.) has advanced since. New technologies have come out that improve our lives in certain ways.
So, the information in this book, while it had good intentions, is mostly outdated. I tried looking for an updated version of this book, but have not found one, yet.
Overall, the book did reach one of my expectations, which was to learn more about diet, nutrition, mental health and all the stuff in between. His book didn't provide information I was looking for exactly, but I am now on the hunt for more books and resources that will help me better with my own personal health.
October 11, 2023
Heavily researched book regarding ancient civilizations that had longevity in life. Robbins did state that we study them to learn from them not to be exactly like them. The same as most history should be a learning experience. Many of the facts in this book regarding nutrition, I have heard previously. The part that resonated with me the most is the mind set that aging is bad, your life is over at a certain age. Civilization needs to work on changing this mindset. Maybe there will be less depression regarding aging? The book focuses on nutrition, exercise, mental and emotional health, and gives ideas on how to improve them in your life. All suggestions are given with facts from studies and research to support them.
March 14, 2018
The only reason this didn't get my five-star rating is because I knew most of the information due to my health coach emphasis, training, and study. Still, it is an excellent compilation, certainly as a review or for someone knew to eating healthy. Robbins takes an objective view and reports on research as well as story-telling from the people he met as he wrote this book. One chapter I enjoyed was toward the end of the book. It was on consuming epa and dha. As a plant eater, I appreciated his explanation. Also, relearning about iron absorption and meat's contribution to cancer regarding iron was appreciated.
September 10, 2018
What can be learned from three different societies who maintained a plant based diet, daily movement/exercise, and not giving to much thought to amassing wealth? How to live past 100. I really enjoyed reading this book because America is clearly operating a faulty system. We have allowed corporations and big pharma rule our lives just so we can make money at jobs we hate to afford stuff we don't need. Get outside, play with your kids, focus on what you shove into your mouth.
October 23, 2022
I enjoyed this book very much. The advice was widespread, not just diet. The advice was also backed by solid theory, science, examples. It is a book to be read by all ages especially by the young who are raising children. After you read this book you “get it” - you understand the things in life to truly value, the ways in which society has changed our perspective away from interpersonal relationships as those to strive for. Quality relationships are so very important to our health.
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