Francesco and Maria Reale, with a photo of their younger selves, at their home in Toronto, on Jan. 12.Christopher Katsarov/The Globe and Mail
The
parade of longevity fads promising to add more years to average
existence – from cold plunges and intermittent fasting to red-light
therapy – can itself feel never-ending. But the glut of health
buzzwords, along with the strength of the US$1.8-trillion global
wellness market, demonstrates the obvious: people want to live a long
time – but they also want to age well.
According
to the United Nations Population Division, the global life expectancy
reached 71.7 years in 2022; in Canada it’s 81.3, according to Statistics
Canada. I’ve watched my grandparents – Maria and Francesco Reale –
surpass the global and national average with flair. The couple moved
into a one-bedroom condo down the hall from me last year. During my
daily visits, I’ve been inspired by their fuss-free attitude to aging,
so I spoke to them and two other impressive people over 80 about the art
of living longer.
Francesco and Maria Reale
The
Reales moved to Canada from Siderno Marina, a seaside enclave in the
southern Italian region of Calabria, in the 1950s. Both show it’s
possible to be independent well past 80. Maria, 87, still cooks and
cleans. Francesco, fresh off turning 100 in January, still holds a valid
driver’s licence.
The Reales prepare a small snack and espresso.Christopher Katsarov/The Globe and Mail
How I stay in shape
Maria: We
lived in a bungalow with a large garden until last year. Between
tilling, planting, growing and harvesting, it was a year-round project
and a great way to stay in shape. We would grow an entire grocery-store
produce section every summer.
Francesco:
Last year we even grew two marijuana plants a neighbour gave us. Now
that we’ve moved into a condo, we both invested in rollators and go for
walks around the neighbourhood. There’s a shared condo gym upstairs and
when we feel up for it, we go on the stationary bike.
Mr. Reale uses a pedal machine to stay active.Christopher Katsarov/The Globe and Mail
What I eat to stay healthy
Maria: We
usually eat similar things every week: legumes like white beans or
Italian lentil soup at least twice a week; white fish like cod baked
with tomatoes and olives a few times a month; hearty soup with chicken,
meat and escarole once a week; and homemade tomato sauce – sugo, as we
call it – with pasta and meatballs every Sunday when some of our
children and grandchildren come over. We eat fruit with every meal,
three times a day, and a little snack with coffee at 3. Everything in
moderation.
'We eat fruit with every meal, three times a day, and a little snack with coffee at 3,' says Mrs. Reale.Christopher Katsarov/The Globe and Mail
How I care for my mind
Maria: We
both read. We also play lottery scratch tickets together – it’s a fun
way to challenge your mind by matching numbers or looking for patterns.
Francesco: The only problem is we never win!
How we care for our relationships
Maria: We live close to our children, and speak daily.
Francesco: How should you maintain good relationships? Mind your own business, stay in touch with people and don’t judge others.
Francesco:
I smoked for over 40 years, until the eighties. It’s what everyone did
back then. But then I had a recurring cough and my doctor told me to
stop, so I did. It was tough, but I did it cold turkey.
Gunes Ege
Gunes Ege left Turkey for New York,to
study at Columbia University’s Barnard College in 1952. Throughout her
more than 40 years in medicine, Ege pursued a celebrated career in
radiation oncology at multiple hospitals, eventually settling at
Toronto’s Princess Margaret Hospital, where she helped develop the
department of nuclear medicine. In retirement, she dedicated her time to
translating her family’s archives. At 90, Ege still enjoys playing the
piano and her walkable neighbourhood, and is flirting with the idea of
publishing her memoir.
Ms. Ege at the piano in her home in Toronto, on Jan. 9.Christopher Katsarov/The Globe and Mail
How I stay in shape: For
many years I walked a lot, to and from work or around the park. I’d do a
three- to four-kilometre circuit. At the moment, I walk less and
shorter distances, but still around my neighbourhood to do groceries, my
banking and all errands.
What I eat to stay healthy:
A reasonable Mediterranean diet with plenty of vegetables, legumes and
fruit, but I am neither a vegetarian nor a vegan. The term
“Mediterranean diet” is new, but it’s always been how we eat.
Ms. Ege dedicated her time to translating her family’s archives.Christopher Katsarov/The Globe and Mail
How I care for my mind: Fortunately
my career in medicine provided plenty of stimulation and intellectual
challenges. In retirement I worked on my family archives and transcribed
documents from the old Ottoman script into the new Turkish script, and
that was mentally stimulating, challenging and rewarding.
How I care for my relationships:
My family and I all lived far apart – my parents in Turkey and my
sister in the U.S. – so we found ways to stay in touch. My sister and I
have always been very close and it has been the most important
relationship in my life. I believe relationships are cared for by being
available to each other at all times, to be able to listen with
patience, compassion and empathy and not just talk.
How I shook a bad health habit: I can’t think of one.
Diane Buckell
In
the 40 years she’s lived in her west-end Toronto neighbourhood, Diane
Buckell has maintained a close connection to High Park. It was the
setting of many walks and talks, and the place to whichshe
dedicated more than 25 years of activism. In 2014, Buckell helped found
the High Park Grenadier Fund, a non-profit organization that supports
community engagement. At 84, Buckell still spends almost every day at
the park’s Grenadier Cafe, collecting petitions for the “High Park
Access For All” campaign, which she launched.
Diane Buckell in High Park, in Toronto, on Jan. 5.Christopher Katsarov/The Globe and Mail
How I stay in shape: I’ve
lived in a four-storey home for more than 40 years, so the housework
alone is enough to stay in shape. I used to log about 15 to 20
kilometres a day walking around my neighbourhood and the park, well into
my late 70s. For a couple of years I didn’t do very much walking at
all; I started to feel weak and had a stent put in for my heart. I’m
back up to about three to five kilometres now.
What I eat to stay healthy: I
don’t fret about it much. I eat three meals a day and don’t like to
limit myself to not eating any particular foods. I’m a big believer in
moderation.
How I care for my mind: I’m
a very determined person. Through my advocacy, I’ve always had purpose,
which I think makes a difference for the mind. Besides that, I read a
lot. There’s a “little library” in my neighbourhood, a public drop box
where I take books and give back.
Ms. Buckell spends many afternoons at Grenadier Cafe, in High Park.Christopher Katsarov/The Globe and Mail
How I care for my relationships:
I have two beautiful daughters and multiple grandchildren that I’m very
close to. I speak to my daughters daily. I’ve also built a big
community of friends in my neighbourhood. I used to throw a Boxing Day
party every year, which began as my daughter’s birthday party and
eventually became a neighbourhood party for more than 40 people that I
threw for decades. It was a great way to build relationships with the
neighbours. I still care for my neighbour’s dogs when she needs, and she
takes care of my home when I take my yearly trip to Bermuda.
How I shook a bad health habit: I
stopped cooking with salt about 60 years ago. We already get so much of
it in prepared foods, and it’s not good for you. The less of it I can
have, the better, so I decided to cut it out when I cook.
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