Britons are living longer than ever. A girl born in the UK today can expect to see her 83rd birthday and a boy will live to be on average 79. Compared to 25 years ago, women now live on average four years longer and men five-and-a-half.<\/p>\n
There are now record numbers of people aged 100 or over \u2013 more than 14,500, a figure that has risen by 65 per cent in the past decade alone, and quadrupled in the past 20 years.<\/p>\n
But while we may live to see 100, will we do it well?<\/p>\n
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There are now record numbers of people aged 100 or over \u2013 more than 14,500, a figure that has risen by 65 per cent in the past decade alone<\/p>\n
The most recent Office for National Statistics report said that although life expectancy keeps rising, so do the years spent \u2018in bad health\u2019: now at 19 years for women and 16.1 for men.<\/p>\n
To tackle this, a new campaign called WE100, fronted by Loose Women\u2019s Janet Street-Porter, aims to herald \u2018a new era of humans living 100 healthy years\u2019 by educating the nation on the how to extend the years living in good health.<\/p>\n
We gathered some of the UK\u2019s foremost experts in the fields of neuroscience, dementia, cosmetic surgery and national health to share the tips and tricks they hope will see them live happy and healthy beyond 100\u2026<\/p>\n
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Professor June Andrews OBE is a worldwide authority on dementia<\/p>\n
Professor June Andrews OBE is a worldwide authority on dementia and Emeritus Professor at Stirling University. She is author of Helpful Hints For Carers Of People With Dementia.<\/span><\/p>\n She says: At a lecture I gave recently, I asked the audience about this very subject. People weren\u2019t that enthusiastic about living to be 100. They believed old people are marginalised, they thought they wouldn\u2019t be healthy and would have financial struggles. Most of them were also not thinking about how to minimise these problems.<\/p>\n Personally, I would love to live to be 100. There is a 50 per cent statistical chance by then that I\u2019ll be a bit frail and have dementia.<\/p>\n So I am keeping fit \u2013 that\u2019s the most important thing for brain and body. Nothing major: swimming, enthusiastic housework and walking between meetings. \u2018Brain-training\u2019 puzzles simply make you better at puzzles; if you want a good brain in later life, education seems to equip you with extra capacity.<\/p>\n Since I was 60 I\u2019ve written a book, started a company and taken on international consultancy.<\/p>\n Social contact is also important. I make sure I have fun with friends and family when I can.<\/p>\n I am not convinced vitamin supplements make a difference if you eat a normal diet.<\/p>\n Avoiding constipation is probably more important. It sounds strange but constipation in older people can trigger delirium and you can go downhill very quickly.<\/p>\n I avoid red and processed meat, as research has shown they are harmful to brain health due to the chemicals in them, and I follow a Mediterranean diet with plenty of oily fish. This diet also advocates a glass of wine a day \u2013 and I tend to have a glass of champagne, or something fizzy, every day. Research has suggested it may boost memory, and that\u2019s good enough for me!<\/p>\n Sir Muir Gray, 72, is former chief of knowledge for the NHS and honorary professor at the University of Oxford<\/p>\n Sir Muir Gray, 72, is former chief of knowledge for the NHS and honorary professor at the University of Oxford. He is author of several books including the bestselling series Sod 70.<\/span><\/p>\n He says: Every morning I spend ten minutes doing a series of exercises to keep my strength and fitness up. These include two batches of 40 push-ups and a plank for 72 seconds. I believe you need to exercise MORE as you age to compensate, as the older you get, the harder it is to stay supple. Physical activity is such a simple yet crucial thing to do.<\/p>\n So when I turn 73 next birthday, I\u2019ll aim for the same number of seconds\u2019 planking.<\/p>\n I also stand on one leg while brushing my teeth to keep my balance up, and go for my \u2018vital\u2019 \u2013 as I call it: a 30-minute brisk walk every day. I can\u2019t run any more as I had a heart attack three years ago.<\/p>\n I get my five-a-day, if not more \u2013 especially from purple foods such as beetroot, as they\u2019re high in polyphenols. These are naturally occurring compounds that reduce inflammation and the risk of disease. I also choose white meat, not red, and olive oil over butter.<\/p>\n I believe by the time we hit our 60s we should be having three to four alcohol-free days a week, as our bodies are less resilient by this age. I probably drink four glasses of white wine a week.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t bother with brain-training exercises \u2013 my work is mental stimulation enough. If you\u2019re looking for stimulation, volunteer. The challenge will keep you sharp.<\/p>\n Baroness Susan Greenfield CBE, 66, is a British neuroscientist<\/p>\n Baroness Susan Greenfield CBE, 66, is a British neuroscientist whose research has focused on the treatment of Parkinson\u2019s and Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n She says: In the past year, I have cut out a lot of starchy foods such as bread, swapping it for healthier options such as oats and the odd Ryvita. As a result, I have lost a stone and feel far less bloated and perhaps a bit sharper, too. I\u2019m also not a great fan of meat. Instead, I opt for fish and veg and no processed food \u2013 even though I\u2019m a terrible cook.<\/p>\n When it comes to sugar, mine comes from alcohol \u2013 I can resist cakes. But I have three rules: I never drink on my own and never during the day unless I\u2019m on holiday or it\u2019s Christmas. It ruins you for the day otherwise. I also try to have one or two alcohol-free days each week.<\/p>\n In terms of supplements, there are a number I swear by. Each day, I take one capsule of soya lecithin [said to help prevent fat accumulation], antioxidants, omega fish oil, gingko biloba [for brain health], conjugated linoleic acid [fatty acids found mainly in meat and dairy products that can help weight loss], fizzy calcium [for bone health], Imedeen [skin health], IOMA [a collagen capsule] and liquid collagen. I\u2019m also a total believer in Berocca \u2013 sometimes several a day if needs be for energy.<\/p>\n Because of the work I do, my mind is always active and questioning things, so I don\u2019t bother with crosswords or brain-training.<\/p>\n I believe passionately in physical exercise \u2013 ideally squash four times a week \u2013 and I always, always feel better afterwards.<\/p>\n Connie in 1950 with her husband Frank<\/p>\n She has lived through two world wars and 20 Prime Ministers, and loves a good curry and an occasional whisky or glass of wine.<\/p>\n If anyone has the secret to living for a century, it is Connie Filce, 103, who feels as youthful as ever.<\/p>\n Widowed 37 years ago but determined to stay active, she got on a plane to Singapore and Indonesia in her mid-80s to explore the world.<\/p>\n A fall last year has left her unable to walk. But until the age of 98, Connie lived unsupervised, getting around with the help of a walking aid. Married at 21, in 1934, she and her husband Frank never had children. Alongside running their office-equipment business, they threw themselves into a host of volunteering activities in Croydon, where they lived \u2013 such as the Rotary Club. \u2018Socialising definitely keeps you young,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n \u2018I was very happy to make 100 and get the letter from the Queen. I consider myself very lucky.\u2019<\/p>\n Connie in 2017, aged 103, with her card from the queen. She considers herself lucky<\/p>\n It is getting out and about she misses most today. \u2018It really would be lovely to go out for a good walk. And I do still wish I\u2019d learned to play golf,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n Dr Jacqueline Lewis, 55, is one of the leading cosmetic and post-breast- cancer reconstructive surgeons<\/p>\n Dr Jacqueline Lewis, 55, is one of the leading cosmetic and post-breast- cancer reconstructive surgeons in the UK \u2013 named Best For Breast in Tatler\u2019s Beauty Cosmetic Surgery Guide 2016.<\/span><\/p>\n She says: Living to 100 is one thing, but feeling alive at 100 is another. I\u2019m 55, and when I reached the menopause my whole body changed. My husband said \u2018Why do you look so grumpy and tired and unhappy?\u2019 and I said: \u2018I don\u2019t feel like it, but my face looks like it.\u2019<\/p>\n My skin had changed, so did my skull. As we age, particularly post-menopause, bones thin, causing hollowing of the temples and enlargement of the eye socket.<\/p>\n And as your fat pads and soft tissue change and travel south, cheeks recess and bones become less defined.<\/p>\n My colleagues suggested a facelift and even though I know how safe they are \u2013 I used to specialise in them \u2013 I thought I\u2019d want a more subtle change.<\/p>\n As part of my work, I have been looking into minimally invasive procedures and tried them out myself.<\/p>\n I have had \u2018vampire facelifts\u2019 where your own blood is drawn and processed so only platelet- rich plasma remains, which is then reinjected.<\/p>\n I have also had hyaluronic acid fillers, which dissolve after six to 18 months. And I\u2019ve had Botox injections regularly for the past 14 years.<\/p>\n While it might seem superficial, it has affected my life in so many different ways. After a long life of stress, you feel it in your face. Now I smile more, I feel younger.<\/p>\n I have made changes to my diet and I eat a lot less meat.<\/p>\n After learning of the benefits of anthocyanins, found in \u2018purple\u2019 foods such as blueberries, aubergine and red cabbage, I\u2019ve dug up half my garden and planted lots of purple veg.<\/p>\n And I am an obsessive pole-dancer! I have been doing it for seven years. It\u2019s cardio, dance, strength and co-ordination.<\/p>\n Yes, I\u2019m a 55-year-old pole-dancer, I admit it. And as long as I can keep on going, I\u2019ll be a 100-year-old pole-dancer!<\/p>\n Janet Street-Porter, 70, journalist and broadcaster, is the face of WE100<\/p>\n Janet Street-Porter, 70, journalist and broadcaster, is the face of WE100, a initiative by Merck Consumer Health that aims to tackle negative perceptions of ageing and promote \u2018living 100 healthy years\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n She says: I\u2019m not very different now at 70 to how I was at 16, so I\u2019m hardly going to change in the next 29 years!<\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t matter what happens to your body as long as your mind is still the same. So you\u2019ve got to keep your brain active. I\u2019ve always been curious and wanting to do new things.<\/p>\n Older people get stuck in their ways so easily. For example, everybody cooks the same food all the time. I try to cook something I haven\u2019t cooked before once a week.<\/p>\n You might not always think it\u2019s a great dish, but at least you are trying something new.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve always hated dieting. I once went on one at a swanky spa and ate grapefruit and broth and thought I was going to die.<\/p>\n But I do think that when you\u2019re younger you can get away with eating a lot more. I mean, I love stodgy food, but I\u2019m not going to eat it every day now.<\/p>\n The key thing with this campaign is to tell people to keep their options open and try new things, which works for me, because I have always had a short attention span and I get bored easily.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve done yoga and boxing and I used to have a gym in my old house, but it all bored me after a while.<\/p>\n I think walking every day for 30 minutes is probably the best exercise. And that I stick to.<\/p>\n And I also play tennis regularly. I\u2019m on a hiatus at the moment because of an injury I picked up pretending I was Andy Murray, but as soon as that has healed I\u2019ll be back on the court.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Britons are living longer than ever. A girl born in the UK today can expect to see her 83rd birthday and a boy will live to be on average 79. Compared to 25 years ago, women now live on average four years longer and men five-and-a-half. There are now record numbers of people aged 100 Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-166273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=166273"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166273\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=166273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=166273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Stand on one leg when brushing your teeth\u00a0<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nEat Ryvita and take supplements<\/h2>\n
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![\"Baroness](\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/04\/01\/15\/3ED4FCCB00000578-4371034-image-a-11_1491057430949.jpg\")
<\/p>\nCONNIE, 103: I JUST WISH I COULD GO OUT FOR GOLF\u00a0<\/h3>\n
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![\"Connie](\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/04\/01\/15\/3ED4FD4400000578-4371034-image-a-4_1491055703417.jpg\")
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![\"Connie](\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/04\/01\/15\/3ED4FDAF00000578-4371034-image-a-5_1491055789195.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPole-dancing and a touch of botox\u00a0<\/h2>\n
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![\"Dr](\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/04\/01\/15\/3ED6A35A00000578-4371034-image-m-26_1491058616501.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTennis (but don’t try to be Andy Murray!)\u00a0<\/h2>\n
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