Longevity Secrets I Learned from My Grandmother Who Was A Hundred
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Khristee Rich
Holistic Health Expert
It may surprise you, but it’s true. My grandmother, Alice Arrington, lived to be a hundred. It was something she aspired to and achieved. I was privileged to live with her for the last several years of her life and I learned a lot from studying her habits. I’d like to say that she had a guide to help her - since I am a holistic health expert - but honestly, I learned a lot from her too.
My grandmother was born in 1921. She grew up on a farm in Virginia. That’s right; she was a country girl. A Tom boy. She loved to spend time outside in nature. She climbed trees, shot rifles with the boys (and had great aim), rode horses, and twisted the necks of chickens for her family’s supper. She was a bit of a rebel. Soon, she outgrew this idyllic lifestyle with pastures of cows and horses, a large garden with fresh fruit and vegetables, a chicken coop, and acres of land just for her family. Desiring more activity and excitement, she moved to New York City to further her education and that’s when her life changed dramatically. She met, Walter, the man she would later marry. Sparks flew; they married and began traveling around the world. My grandmother had never traveled abroad before and immediately, fell in love with traveling too.
I share her background because contrary to popular belief, a long life is not based on what we do for a short period or in the later years of our life but what we do all throughout it. My grandmother grew up on a farm. She ate organic produce, whole food, homemade food - everything was fresh. She spent lots of time outdoors, in the sunshine playing and actively having fun. It invigorated her. This background gave her a solid foundation for her health and then, her strong spirit bravely ushered her outside of her comfort zone where she found new passions and adventures. Not only did she become a mother, but she hosted dinner parties, attended live performances, played golf, and crocheted multi-color afghans for family members. Having a family and keeping active with exercise, hobbies, and socializing kept her young - as did her sense of humor.
When we follow our joy, we ignite our vitality. A joy-filled life upgrades our health.
What I Learned from Her Later Years
The last six years of her life, we lived together. I learned a lot from this period of her life too. Every day, she ate fresh fruit and vegetables, homemade food, and made time for self-care. She exercised with hand weights, did light cleaning, and kept busy. Even in her nineties, she was open to going on adventures to see a botanical garden or to grab food from a diner and eat with us. She loved company especially seeing her family.
The most important longevity secret I will share with you is to detox. I made my grandmother a smoothie every morning with organic fruit and chlorella, sea algae. This superfood is a natural aid for detoxification and boosting the immune system. It’s highly nutritional with B vitamins, vitamins D, K, and A, iron, and protein. Plus, because it is so alkaline, it reduces inflammation too. She felt energized when she drank it. Chlorella gave her mental clarity and physical vigor.
Daily detoxication helps us to achieve joy and vitality.
I hope this article inspires you to live a holistic life like my grandmother filled with joy, adventure, and healthy food which includes detoxification.
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