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Three Myths About Longevity – Diet, Alchemy, and the Fountain of Eternal Youth
Trametes versicolor (Indian tail) is a variety of the legendary linden mushroom used by Chinese magicians to prolong their lives and the lives of others. photo: freepic
Trametes versicolor (Indian tail) is a variety of the legendary linden mushroom used by Chinese magicians to prolong their lives and the lives of others. photo: freepic
The 1959 Soviet census recorded 592 citizens over 120 years old, but modern scholars believe that the authenticity of such claims is rarely confirmed.
Before you are 50, you try to look younger, but as time goes by, you end up trying to look younger. In ancient times, some people attributed their longevity to special circumstances.
It is widely known that there is a special "longevity diet". If they eat moderately and choose the optimal combination of products, they can live up to 130 years. And maybe even more.
Unfortunately, scientists have not yet confirmed the connection between a single diet that suits everyone and longevity. Of course, a sensible and healthy diet can prolong life, but it is worth recognizing that everything is very individual.
Moreover, many of the “diets” mentioned by centenarians seem trivial.
For example, Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment claimed that she lived more than 122 years thanks to daily consumption of dark chocolate, wine and olive oil.
And Jean Magnes, an American woman who lived to be over 100, never doubted that she lived so long because she loved peanut butter on toast and coffee with cream.
Methods for achieving longevity and immortality became more sophisticated after several Chinese emperors became addicted to "healing potions" prepared by court magicians. A doctrine called "inner alchemy" emerged. It is a complex of spiritual practices that includes elements of yoga, meditation and breathing exercises. The dangerous mercury elixir was turned into a magical ritual.
The practice of "internal alchemy" is controversial and even harmful, since it starves oneself (eating one's own saliva) and delays the process of removing metabolic waste from the body.
You may find it helpful to think of "inner alchemy" as a kind of psychological training system.
The idea of a miraculous substance with properties that rejuvenate the body and prolong life is very tenacious.
In many legends and myths, the main ingredients of such elixirs are most often milk and honey, hazelnuts, salmon, reishi mushrooms, lingzhi (lacquer fungus) or life-giving apples. Sometimes you can find simpler garlic, asparagus or beets.
For example, the outstanding Russian scientist Ilya Mechnikov cleverly tried to prove that the elixir of immortality is curds prepared from special lactic acid bacteria.
These days, the ancient belief in a panacea for old age has been translated into the marketing idea of superfoods. Products advertised as healthy due to special properties. It all started with bananas, which were not sold in Europe for a long time. I ended up eating green coffee, goji berries and chia seeds. You probably know these tricks too.