The oldest human in the world turns 115

[Shaman]

When Gertrude Baines was born, in Shellman, Georgia, Grover Cleveland was president. The U.S. flag had only 44 stars. Today, this daughter of a slave is the oldest living person on the planet, according to the rigorous validation process of the Guinness Book of Records.

Yesterday, on April 6, 2009, Ms. Baines celebrated her 115th birthday (see video) at Western Convalescent Hospital in Los Angeles. She now exceeds the average overall life expectancy in the U.S. by approximatley 35 years. And she exceeds the much lower average life expectancy among black Americans by roughly four decades.

Indeed, Gertrude Baines is a tough act to follow. When she was born in 1894, Frederick Douglass was still alive. When she was two, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld segregation in the landmark decision in Plessy v. Ferguson. And just weeks before Ms. Baines' 18th birthday, a famous woman born by the name "Aramintha Ross" died. But we know her much better as Harriet Tubman.

According to the Gerontology Research Group, Ms. Baines had already become the world's oldest person on January 2 after a 115-year-old Portuguese woman died. Next in line for the world record is 113-year-old Kama Chinen of Japan, the country with the world's highest life expectancy. In Japan, female life expectancy is now slightly over 85 years. Japanese women have held the highest average life expectancy in the world for over two decades.

Ms. Baines exceeds Japan's high mark by a solid 30 years.

Apparently inspired by hope, the supercentarian voted only twice in her life: the first time for John F. Kennedy, the second time for Barack H. Obama. When asked on voting day (see video), why she cast her ballot for Obama, she replied: "He's for the colored people."

Aside from arthritis and the inability to walk, Ms. Baines is reportedly in good overall health and is aging gracefully.

Happy 115th Birthday, Ms. Gertrude Baines!

[Shaman]

Also, to keep Ms. Baines' legacy more inspiring, as this post was initially intended, I'll start a new post shortly that explores more tips on health living. Several Asian traditions, which I've mentioned a few times on this site, have remarkable benefits, including three Asian traditions that's I've personally adopted: Tai Chi, Yoga and Taoism. I'll post more on this soon. Readers who are looking for pathways and inspirations to improve their health, in the early spring, will have a few positive energy resources.

[Shaman]

Again, much thanks.

Blessings.

[White Lion]

You have to get the last shot in. Nothing I wrote exhibits any special knowledge regarding health. I chose to talk about life experiences and leave the studies to someone else. I'll go as far as to say I have limited knowledge when it pertains to issues concerning health. I also know you have to balance studies with real life, academia is far from real life. Research is a very big part of what you do, and certainly I respect that, but never forget to talk to the old man on the corner playing pinochle, you know where you and I came from. You learn a lot from those cats too.

Be that as it may, yes, yes, yes. Always a blast! Peace.

[Shaman]

Again, White Lion, thanks for sharing your health knowledge and experiences here. Much appreciated.

[White Lion]

1) Don't think I ever heard an African American use the term "X factor" in that context, EVER! More to the point, if I were standing on the corner of 52nd St ALL DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK, I doubt if I ever hear a Brother use that term, in that context...LOL You know it, I know it, keep it real partner!

By the way, "I used the term" X factor not you, you were merely responding to what you thought I meant by using the term.

2) While I respect what you do for a living, I can only speak from actual experience, having traversed many areas of Asia. You continue to point to studies, I'll continue to point to life experiences "in Asia".

Your last paragraph is simply repeating what I said, I don't condone any of this, but you have people who defy the odds. If you want to again go to studies, study the two names (I know they're not black) but try to study those two and countless others who did everything wrong but managed to live long and fruitful lives. AND for the umpteenth time, I'm not using this as an excuse and they are exceptions!

[Shaman]

White Lion, I appreciate your thoughts here. I used "X-factor" merely as a convenient term to capture the common misconception held among many Americans, especially among blacks, about the factors that determine human health and how to properly weigh these various factors.

In any case, as always we're 180 degrees apart on basic health principles. No problemo. All I can say is that I do this stuff for a living, and the health info that I share on this site is exactly the same info that we provide at the National Medical Association and the American Public Health Association. In fact, in the interest of time, I often cut and paste health explanations that I've written for various health leaders.

But each person has their own experiences and their own understanding of human health. And each person must choose their own health principles and practices. As I always say: "The best proof of whether or not one's adopted health principles and practices are sound is the mirror: If its deeply flawed then your mirror and your doctor will be letting you know."

And frankly, that's worth more than any health education material that I could ever freely share on this site. As the elders like Ms. Baines often say: "The proof is in the pudding."

[White Lion]

Thanks for taking my post literally. While you're at it why don't you throw in Russia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan...LOL

To be more specific, The Korea's, China, Japan, all of S.E. Asia, etc. all eat a lot of rice. I can tell you for a fact if any of the "oriental" countries had to go without rice for more than a day, you would have a national emergency on your hands...fact!

I also vehemently disagree with the variety of vegetables at one sitting. In fact that does vary from country to country. The above countries are no more vegetarians (or anything approaching that) than the guy you have pictured above.

You point to studies, I point to actual experience.

As for the X factor, this is a term used jokingly and of course you once again took it literally and proceeded to bore me with a three page speech on the obvious. Allow me to keep it short and sweet. Do the names George Burns or Rodney Dangerfield mean anything to you? These names are one of tens of thousands who lived well into their 70's, 80's and even late 90's in George Burns case. They did everything wrong, but managed to live that long with few health problems. Is that an excuse to pattern your lives after them, of course not, but fact is fact. They managed to live long lives and hell Rodney Dangerfield was a pothead and coke monster damn near till the day he died which was age 82. I think in Rodney's case it probably caught up to him because of the way he died. BUT one thing is for certain, he didn't sit around growing organic vegetables, gnawing on fruits, nuts and berries. Again this is to be taken lightly, as I personally that's a great way to live and eat. By the way, I think Rodney Dangerfield is one of the funniest men to ever live. Totally out of his mind.

This is the X factor, most people would die, because that shit is bad for you, but they all managed to live and live well.

Thanks

[Shaman]

(1) "the Asian culture"??? Although there are certainly some commonalities among Asian populations, Asians are not culturally homogenous. The Vietnamese are not the Koreans. The Chinese are not the Pakistanis. I've only been to three Asian nations (India, Thailand, and South Korea) and all three had substantially different cultural systems.

(2) I absolutely agree that a key aspect of the famously healthy diet in Japan is their modest portions, which are quite small by American standards. Also, another dietary key is their relatively high intake of diverse vegetables. Americans like to cook just 1 vegetable (or maybe 2 at best)--and we tend to overcook the vegetable (boiling the nutrients out of it). But it's not uncommon for a Japanese dish to have at least 2 or 3 or 4 vegetables. Also, another key difference is food preparation. For example, unlike Americans, the Japanese don't scoop a ton of butter fat on their rice. However, it's interesting (and troubling) to note that fast food stores now pose an increasing threat to the Japanese diet. Obesity is sneaking up. Last year the Minister of Health mandated that businesses and local governments must literally measure the waistline of men and women. I beleive the waistline limit for males is 33 or 34. Imagine how many American males would fail that test LMAO!! I'd guess about 95! LOL! IN any case, it wll be interesting to see how Japanese culture and politics takes on the pressures of the market.

(3) Diet is important, and I think that your mostly dietary reply to Ms. Baines' remarkable longevity has some degree of merit. But in reality, the factors that differentiate life expectancy patterns between nations (and within nation) is much more complex than diet. These factors include stark differences in culture, socioeconomic status, quality and access to healthcare/preventive medicine, health literacy levels, and, of course, behavioral differences in physical activity--just to name a few. And each of these factors are highly interactive. It is widely understood among health scientists that Japan does extremely well with life expectancy because it generally does very well across the spectrum of these multifactorial "determinants of human health." In fact, the single factor that emerges the most in scieintific explanations for Japan's coveted health is its culture that tends to promote greater discipline, moderation, and balance in living. In contrast, American culture promotes hyperconsumption. But here again, it will be interesting to see, in the years ahead, how Japanese culture navigates market forces.

(4) "the X-factor"??? Oh, no. Please don't go there. This is probably the area that we health educators invest a fair amount of time in trying to get folks to grasp hold of reality, especially blacks. Simply put, the X-factor is virtually irrelevant to maintaining good health. And, statistically, it is absolutely irrelevant to a country's average life expectancy (because the statistical formula used to compute these averages already take the X-factor into account). Sure, you can walk down the street and an earthquake can swallow you, or some rare form of brain disease can destroy you, or a bolt of lightning can strike you dead. Sadly, too many people, especially black folks, use this as a crutch against taking responsibility for their own health. In the public health sector, we refer to this as "fatalism"--the belief that circumstances beyond our control dictate our health. Again, yes, the sky could fall or the earth could rumble. But the truth is, most of the circumstances that determine human health are substantially within human control.

For example, I just finished a report for the American Cancer Society which shows that at least 80-90% of all cancers in the U.S. are preventable (i.e., they are caused not by rare cancers but by smoking, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and obesity). And the same is overwhelmingly true for heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and other major health problems that account for the vast majority of premature deaths in the U.S. The most common factor: people not taking responsibility for their health.

Not the X-factor.

My suggestion: (1) Scrap the X-factor--it's silly. (2) Take control of your body--you're the only one who can. (3) Leave the earthquakes up to God--she'll let you know when it's your time to go.


The Real X-Factor in the United States

[White Lion]

Knowing a thing or two about the Asian culture, the evil white rice is a huge staple in Japan and ALL Asian countries. However the difference between let's say the Philippines and a Japan or China is they tend to eat very lean portion controlled meals. But, make no mistake rice is part of damn near every meal.

Filipino's like Americans tend to eat poorly, heavy on fried foods and fatty meats.

Of course there's the X-factor, you have those who eat poorly and smoke and whatever else that live to be well into their 80's