Most people are lucky live to 100but two women have lived far beyond that, ranking among the world’s oldest people — and they’re both from France.
Jeanne calm down is believed to be the world’s oldest person on record, having lived on Earth for 122 years. And recently, a French nun named Sister André was the world’s oldest person until January 17, when she died at the age of 118.
Jean-Marie Robine, a demographer who studies the relationship between health and longevity, says it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what helps people live past 100, when other behaviors are considered. of people living over a hundred years old.
But there are several factors that could help France excel in life expectancy, said Robine, who is also research director at the Institut National De La Sante et de La Recherche Medicale (INSERM) in France.
Here are some reasons why people from The Hexagon tend to have some bonus years.
Why do French people tend to live longer than residents of other countries?
1. Free Education
“The most educated people live longer,” says Robine. “They value longevity more [and] better health. They have better knowledge of what to do [and] what not to do if you want to stay healthy.”
According to Robine, people with more education also have a better understanding of what foods to eat to prolong life and what exercises to include in their daily lives to increase longevity.
2. Access to free health care
Countries with the highest life expectancies including France, Japan and Denmark all offer free healthcare.
“And this is an important distinction,” said Robine, comparing life expectancy in different countries, “and here we lose to countries like Britain, the Netherlands and the United States.”
3. Better dietary choices
The inhabitants of the South of France, where Jeanne Calment and Sister André were both born, obey a Mediterranean diet, said Robin. The Mediterranean diet prioritizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seafood, and healthy fats – while limiting or cutting out red meat, dairy, and sweets.
When you compare the North of France with the South of France, there is a two-year difference in life expectancy, which can be Part of that is due to diet. The weather is also an important factor, he added, as winters and summers in the south of France are less severe than in the north.
Regarding diets in other countries, Robine said, “people are also eating [much] fat and salt.”
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