Good news on healthy life and aging… from an Amazon rainforest tribe
By Health Correspondent, Jill Dando News
These days in the UK, America and other western nations, health has become big business.
So if you want some good news on healthy life and aging, a pop to visit the 16,000 residents of a tribe in the Amazon rainforest may be just what the doctor ordered.
The Tsimanes are unique in many ways and one of the last peoples on the planet to live a fully subsistence lifestyle of hunting, foraging and farming.
They are a group to learn some vital lessons from - which is what one lot of researchers have done.
Anthropologist Hillard Kaplan of the University of New Mexico, has led the group of researchers for 20 years.
Take Martina Canchi Nate for example. The 84-year-old Tsimanes woman, exemplifies the exceptional vitality of her people - she digs up yucca, cuts down plantain trees, and carries heavy loads with ease, often outpacing her younger companions.
So what are the takeaways for our own lives?
The key to the Tsimanes' exceptional health lies in their active lifestyle and nutrient-rich diet.
On average, they take 16,000 to 17,000 steps per day, spending less than 10% of their daylight hours in sedentary activities.
Their hunting and gathering alone can require over 8 hours of physical activity, covering 18 kilometers or more.
The Tsimanes' diet is predominantly plant-based, with 72% of their calories coming from carbohydrates and minimal processed foods, alcohol, or cigarettes.
Their protein sources are primarily from hunted animals, such as birds, monkeys, and fish.
This combination of constant physical exertion and a nutrient-dense, unprocessed diet appears to be the foundation of their remarkable health.
Studies have shown that the Tsimanes have the healthiest arteries ever documented, with 65% of those over 75 showing no signs of clogged blood vessels - a stark contrast to 80% of Americans of the same age who do exhibit signs of arterial plaque buildup.
Furthermore, the Tsimanes experience up to 70% less brain atrophy than their age-matched counterparts in industrialized countries, and there are zero documented cases of Alzheimer's disease among the adult population.
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However, the Tsimanes' traditional way of life is changing. Deforestation and the introduction of motorized boats and new food sources, such as sugar and oil, are altering their physical activity levels and dietary patterns.
As a result, the community is starting to see the emergence of conditions like diabetes and rising cholesterol levels, particularly among the younger generations.
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Despite these changes, the Tsimanes' resilience and acceptance of aging are evident.
As 81-year-old (or perhaps 100-year-old, by her own account) Hilda told the BBC, "I'm not afraid of dying. They're going to bury me, and I'm going to stay there...very still."
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