Jeanne Calment, who lived to the age of 122 years. Here I will shed some light on her lifestyle.
Young Age
From a young age, Jeanne was no stranger to healthy, active living. She grew up on her family’s farm in Arles, France, where she helped with daily chores like harvesting crops, maintaining gardens, and caring for livestock. This kept her constantly moving through her teens and early adulthood.
After marriage
Even after marrying and starting a family of her own, Jeanne maintained an active routine. She would bicycle or walk several miles each day to run errands in town. Well into her 90s, she still lived independently in her apartment, taking the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible.
Diet
Jeanne’s diet centered around the traditional Mediterranean foods of her Provencal hometown. This meant lots of garden-grown vegetables, fresh fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, olive oil, herbs and garlic. She enjoyed the occasional glass of wine as well. Processed foods and red meats were seldom indulged.
In addition to daily movement and clean eating, Jeanne is said to have had a very positive mental attitude and joie de vivre. She loved socializing with friends and family, even hosting weekly card games well into her 100s. Laughter and community were clearly important aspects of her longevity formula.
Jeanne also possessed great genes – her mother lived to be over 90 years old too. But Jeanne’s active habits and plant-focused whole foods diet were likely what allowed her optimal genes to truly shine through to unheard of ages. Her 122 year lifespan shows just how profoundly lifestyle influences ultimate health outcomes, even with a genetic predisposition to longevity.
So in many ways, Jeanne’s incredible story underscores the powerful synergies of nature and nurture working together towards the same anti-aging ends. Her long life remains an inspiration.
