28.
Abkhasia
The Land of Vitality
Abkhasia is a disputed territory on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus. Abkhasia considers itself an independent state. This status is recognised by Russia and some other countries. However the Georgian government and the majority of the world’s governments consider Abkhasia a part of Georgia’s territory.
The status of Abkhasia is a central issue of the Georgian– Abkhasian conflict. This region formed part of the Soviet Union until 1991. As the Soviet Union began to disintegrate towards the end of the 1980s, ethnic tensions grew between Abkhaz and Georgians over Georgia’s moves towards independence. This led to the 1992–1993 War in Abkhasia that resulted in a Georgian military defeat and de facto independence of Abkhasia.
Abkhasia covers three thousand square miles between the eastern shores of the Black Sea and the crestline of the main Caucasus range. It is bordered on the north by Russia, and on the south by Georgia.
The status of Abkhasia is a central issue of the Georgian– Abkhasian conflict. This region formed part of the Soviet Union until 1991. As the Soviet Union began to disintegrate towards the end of the 1980s, ethnic tensions grew between Abkhaz and Georgians over Georgia’s moves towards independence. This led to the 1992–1993 War in Abkhasia that resulted in a Georgian military defeat and de facto independence of Abkhasia.
Abkhasia covers three thousand square miles between the eastern shores of the Black Sea and the crestline of the main Caucasus range. It is bordered on the north by Russia, and on the south by Georgia.
Shirali Mislimov was the world’s oldest man when he died at 168. This Soviet citizen had this piece of advice for us, “There are two sources of long life. One is a gift of nature, and it is the pure air and clean water of the mountains, the fruit of the earth, peace, rest, the soft and warm climate of the highlands.”
“The second source is people. He lives long who enjoys life and who bears no jealousy of others, whose heart harbors no malice or anger, who sings a lot and cries a little, who rises and retires with the sun, who likes to work and knows how to rest.”
It is not unusual for the people of this region to live well into their 90s and 100s. Estimates suggest that almost 3 percent of the population of the Caucasus is over 90 years of age.
In contrast, people over 90 in the United States represent only 0.4 percent of the population.
Not only do Caucasians live to a very old age, their physical and mental faculties remain remarkably intact. These people show the signs of aging—their hair is gray or white, and their skin in wrinkled—but they have good eyesight, excellent hearing, and unusually erect posture.
When high-quality machines break down, rarely is the breakdown the result of defective design or defective components. A motor car, carefully maintained and driven, will last for hundreds of thousands of miles. Yet many cars break down because of dirty ignition wires or distributor points and suffer early wear because of clogged filters and dirty oil. The car body may even look shiny and new but its vital mechanical components have been ruined by bad driving and poor maintenance.
Just as a reason can be found to explain the long life of one machine or the short life of another, so must there be reasons, perhaps just as simple, for different human life spans. Many researchers have spent their lives studying the subject.
Intrigued by the question of why the Caucasians live such long and healthy lives, American anthropologist Sula Benet undertook a study of the elderly people of Abkhasia. Benet’s findings led her to suggest that the stability and continuity of the Abkhasians’ culture is the major factor responsible for the Caucasians’ long life expectancies. Below is a summary of her findings.
Benet found that the Abkhasians regard work as an activity vital to life and that the concept of retirement is completely foreign to them. From their early years to their old age, they work as hard as their ability and physical conditions allow. Obviously, as they grow older the amount of work they can do decreases. Even so, people in their 100s continue to work, often as much as four hours a day.
In contrast, people over 90 in the United States represent only 0.4 percent of the population.
Not only do Caucasians live to a very old age, their physical and mental faculties remain remarkably intact. These people show the signs of aging—their hair is gray or white, and their skin in wrinkled—but they have good eyesight, excellent hearing, and unusually erect posture.
When high-quality machines break down, rarely is the breakdown the result of defective design or defective components. A motor car, carefully maintained and driven, will last for hundreds of thousands of miles. Yet many cars break down because of dirty ignition wires or distributor points and suffer early wear because of clogged filters and dirty oil. The car body may even look shiny and new but its vital mechanical components have been ruined by bad driving and poor maintenance.
Just as a reason can be found to explain the long life of one machine or the short life of another, so must there be reasons, perhaps just as simple, for different human life spans. Many researchers have spent their lives studying the subject.
Intrigued by the question of why the Caucasians live such long and healthy lives, American anthropologist Sula Benet undertook a study of the elderly people of Abkhasia. Benet’s findings led her to suggest that the stability and continuity of the Abkhasians’ culture is the major factor responsible for the Caucasians’ long life expectancies. Below is a summary of her findings.
Benet found that the Abkhasians regard work as an activity vital to life and that the concept of retirement is completely foreign to them. From their early years to their old age, they work as hard as their ability and physical conditions allow. Obviously, as they grow older the amount of work they can do decreases. Even so, people in their 100s continue to work, often as much as four hours a day.
The Abkhasians also find time for exercise. An Abkhasian saying states that “it is better to move without purpose than to sit still.” Consequently, Abkhasians usually begin each day by taking a long walk. They believe that these work and exercise habits greatly contribute to their long lives. Their doctors tend to agree with the Abkhasians, suggesting that the Abkhasians’ slow, steady approach to work and their dedication to exercise help their bodies to operate more efficiently.
The Abkhasians believe that their diet also is a factor in their long lives. They never overeat, and they consider overweight people to be ill. When eating, they cut their food into small bites, which they chew very slowly. This habit greatly helps their digestion. Also, the type of food the Abkhasians eat varies little throughout their lives. They consume very little meat and practically no fish. Most of their protein comes from goat cheese and buttermilk. They never use sugar, although they do use honey as a sweetener. The bulk of their diet comes in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables and a bread substitute called abista.
Few Abkhasians smoke, and they do not drink tea or coffee. The only stimulant the Abkhasians use is a locally-produced red wine, which is low in alcoholic content. Doctors interviewed by Benet believe strongly that the Abkhasians’ sensible diet and lack of “bad habits” add years to their lives.
Benet acknowledges that work, exercise, and diet all contribute to the Abkhasians’ long life span. She argues, however that the Abkhasians’ attitude toward aging is of equal importance. Abkhasians over the age of 100 are called long-living people, not old people.
Further, Benet suggests, the structure of Abkhasian society and the role of the elderly in it also contribute to long lives. Abkhasian society is based on a complex kinship system. This system is so extensive that everyone with the same surname is considered kin.
Such interdependence is the basis of the strong sense of security and belonging that most Abkhasians—both young and old— possess. This sense of security and belonging is strengthened for older Abkhasian by the respect they receive. They are asked to lead major ceremonies and celebrations, are called on to settle disputes, and are consulted on all matters of importance.
In short, Benet found that the elderly of Abkhasia are life-loving, balanced people who believe that they are an important part of society. This, she notes, is in stark contrast to many older Americans who believe that they are burdens to themselves and to their families. Could such people—and all Americans—learn something from the Abkhasians? According to Benet, the answer is yes.
Sula Benet is the author of her famous book, Abkhasians: The Long Living People of the Caucasus (1974, New York).
The Abkhasians believe that their diet also is a factor in their long lives. They never overeat, and they consider overweight people to be ill. When eating, they cut their food into small bites, which they chew very slowly. This habit greatly helps their digestion. Also, the type of food the Abkhasians eat varies little throughout their lives. They consume very little meat and practically no fish. Most of their protein comes from goat cheese and buttermilk. They never use sugar, although they do use honey as a sweetener. The bulk of their diet comes in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables and a bread substitute called abista.
Few Abkhasians smoke, and they do not drink tea or coffee. The only stimulant the Abkhasians use is a locally-produced red wine, which is low in alcoholic content. Doctors interviewed by Benet believe strongly that the Abkhasians’ sensible diet and lack of “bad habits” add years to their lives.
Benet acknowledges that work, exercise, and diet all contribute to the Abkhasians’ long life span. She argues, however that the Abkhasians’ attitude toward aging is of equal importance. Abkhasians over the age of 100 are called long-living people, not old people.
Further, Benet suggests, the structure of Abkhasian society and the role of the elderly in it also contribute to long lives. Abkhasian society is based on a complex kinship system. This system is so extensive that everyone with the same surname is considered kin.
Such interdependence is the basis of the strong sense of security and belonging that most Abkhasians—both young and old— possess. This sense of security and belonging is strengthened for older Abkhasian by the respect they receive. They are asked to lead major ceremonies and celebrations, are called on to settle disputes, and are consulted on all matters of importance.
In short, Benet found that the elderly of Abkhasia are life-loving, balanced people who believe that they are an important part of society. This, she notes, is in stark contrast to many older Americans who believe that they are burdens to themselves and to their families. Could such people—and all Americans—learn something from the Abkhasians? According to Benet, the answer is yes.
Sula Benet is the author of her famous book, Abkhasians: The Long Living People of the Caucasus (1974, New York).
What Do Abkhasians Eat?
According to John Robbins, the traditional Abkhasian diet is essentially lacto-vegetarian, with a rare serving of meat.
Abkhasians usually begin breakfast with vegetables [watercress, radishes in spring; tomatoes, cucumbers in summer and fall; pickled cucumber, tomatoes, radishes, cabbage in winter]. No dressings are used.
Abkhasians usually begin breakfast with vegetables [watercress, radishes in spring; tomatoes, cucumbers in summer and fall; pickled cucumber, tomatoes, radishes, cabbage in winter]. No dressings are used.
In general, even at the end of their prolonged lives, these ancients, have their own teeth, fairly luxuriant hair, good eyesight, erect postures, and have never known illness or sickness. They look younger than their years, and Professor Benet, for instance, was once embarrassed in Abkhasia after making a toast to a man who looked about 70 years old. "May you live as long as Moses," she said. The man, it turned out, was already 119 and Moses had lived only to 120.
~David Wallechinsky
They drink one or two glasses a day of a fermented beverage called ‘matzoni’, made from the milk of goats, cows, or sheep.
At all three meals, the people eat their “beloved abista”, a cornmeal porridge, always freshly cooked and served warm.
If they get hungry between meals, Abkhasians typically eat fruit in season from their own orchard or garden. Cherries and apricots are the choice fruits in the spring. Throughout the summer there are pears, plums, peaches, figs, and many kinds of berries. In the fall there are grapes and persimmons, as well as apples and pears. Fruit that is not eaten fresh is stored or dried for winter use.
With rare exception, vegetables are eaten raw.
Freshness of food is considered paramount.
Nuts [almonds, pecans, beechnuts, hazelnuts, chestnuts] play a major role in Abkhasian cuisine and are the primary source of fat in the Abkhasian diet. Virtually every meal contains nuts.
Abkhasians eat relatively little meat. ... Even then, the fat of the meat or poultry is never used. Abkhasians also consume no white sugar and very little salt.
Most Abkhasians consume less than 2000 calories a day. ... Overeating is considered both socially inappropriate and dangerous.
Abkhasians are universally very strong and slender people, with no excess fat on their bodies. They eat slowly and chew thoroughly.
John Robbins, a bestselling author, has discussed this region in his famous book - Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World’s Healthiest and Longest-Lived Peoples.
Dr. Alexander Leaf, a world-renowned physician is another person to shed light on this region. In the early 1970s, National Geographic magazine commissioned him to visit, study, and write an article about the world’s healthiest and most long-living people.
Dr. Leaf, a professor of clinical medicine at Harvard University and Chief of Medical Services at Massachusetts General Hospital, had long been a student of the subject and had already visited and studied some of the cultures known for the healthy lives of their elderly people. It was a time, unlike today, when these regions and their cultures were still somewhat pristine.
Dr. Leaf undertook a series of journeys that he subsequently described in an influential series of articles that appeared in National Geographic magazine beginning in 1973.
Dr. Leaf traveled to these remote areas to meet, photograph, examine, and appraise for himself the longevity and health of those who were reputed to be the world’s oldest and healthiest people. Dr. Leaf listened to their hearts, took their blood pressure, and studied their diets and lifestyles.
“Certainly no area in the world,” Leaf wrote, “has the reputation for long-lived people to match that of the Caucasus in southern Russia.” And in all the Caucasus, the area most renowned for its extraordinary number of healthy centenarians (people above the age of 100) was Abkhasia. A 1970 census had established Abkhasia, then an autonomous region within Soviet Georgia, as the longevity capital of the world. “We were eager to see the centenarians,” Leaf said, “and Abkhasia seemed to be the place to do so.”
Prior to Dr. Leaf ’s visit, claims had been widely circulated for life spans reaching 150 years among the Abkhasians. Just a few years earlier, Life magazine had run an article with photos of Shirali Muslimov, said to be 161 years old. In one of the photos, Muslimov was shown with his third wife. He told the reporter that he had married her when he was 110, that his parents had both lived to be over 100, and that his brother had died at the age of 134.
At all three meals, the people eat their “beloved abista”, a cornmeal porridge, always freshly cooked and served warm.
If they get hungry between meals, Abkhasians typically eat fruit in season from their own orchard or garden. Cherries and apricots are the choice fruits in the spring. Throughout the summer there are pears, plums, peaches, figs, and many kinds of berries. In the fall there are grapes and persimmons, as well as apples and pears. Fruit that is not eaten fresh is stored or dried for winter use.
With rare exception, vegetables are eaten raw.
Freshness of food is considered paramount.
Nuts [almonds, pecans, beechnuts, hazelnuts, chestnuts] play a major role in Abkhasian cuisine and are the primary source of fat in the Abkhasian diet. Virtually every meal contains nuts.
Abkhasians eat relatively little meat. ... Even then, the fat of the meat or poultry is never used. Abkhasians also consume no white sugar and very little salt.
Most Abkhasians consume less than 2000 calories a day. ... Overeating is considered both socially inappropriate and dangerous.
Abkhasians are universally very strong and slender people, with no excess fat on their bodies. They eat slowly and chew thoroughly.
John Robbins, a bestselling author, has discussed this region in his famous book - Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World’s Healthiest and Longest-Lived Peoples.
Dr. Alexander Leaf, a world-renowned physician is another person to shed light on this region. In the early 1970s, National Geographic magazine commissioned him to visit, study, and write an article about the world’s healthiest and most long-living people.
Dr. Leaf, a professor of clinical medicine at Harvard University and Chief of Medical Services at Massachusetts General Hospital, had long been a student of the subject and had already visited and studied some of the cultures known for the healthy lives of their elderly people. It was a time, unlike today, when these regions and their cultures were still somewhat pristine.
Dr. Leaf undertook a series of journeys that he subsequently described in an influential series of articles that appeared in National Geographic magazine beginning in 1973.
Dr. Leaf traveled to these remote areas to meet, photograph, examine, and appraise for himself the longevity and health of those who were reputed to be the world’s oldest and healthiest people. Dr. Leaf listened to their hearts, took their blood pressure, and studied their diets and lifestyles.
“Certainly no area in the world,” Leaf wrote, “has the reputation for long-lived people to match that of the Caucasus in southern Russia.” And in all the Caucasus, the area most renowned for its extraordinary number of healthy centenarians (people above the age of 100) was Abkhasia. A 1970 census had established Abkhasia, then an autonomous region within Soviet Georgia, as the longevity capital of the world. “We were eager to see the centenarians,” Leaf said, “and Abkhasia seemed to be the place to do so.”
Prior to Dr. Leaf ’s visit, claims had been widely circulated for life spans reaching 150 years among the Abkhasians. Just a few years earlier, Life magazine had run an article with photos of Shirali Muslimov, said to be 161 years old. In one of the photos, Muslimov was shown with his third wife. He told the reporter that he had married her when he was 110, that his parents had both lived to be over 100, and that his brother had died at the age of 134.
The legend of extraordinarily healthy and long-lived people in the Caucasus was being heavily promoted by U.S. corporations that manufactured and sold yogurt, attempting to connect the phenomenal longevity of people in the region to their consumption of yogurt. The Dannon yogurt company marketed a widely seen commercial showing a 110-year-old mother pinching the cheek of her 89-year-old son and telling him to eat his yogurt.
This clever ad and others featuring Soviet centenarians were fabulously successful in the American market. They produced a generation of Americans who associated yogurt with extreme longevity.
~ John Robbins
Muslimov had passed away by the time of Leaf ’s studies. But a woman named Khfaf Lasuria had also been featured in the Life article. Leaf wanted to meet her, and he found her in the Abkhasian village of Kutol, where she sang in a choir made up entirely, he was told, of Abkhasian centenarians.
Though he was greatly impressed by this elderly lady’s charm and spirit, Leaf did not simply take her word for her age. To the contrary, he went to significant efforts to assess it objectively. After laborious investigations, Leaf concluded that Mrs. Lasuria was close to 130 years old. He wasn’t fully certain about that, saying only that he had arrived at a degree of confidence and this was his best estimate. But he was sure of one thing. She was one of the oldest persons he had ever met.
Everywhere he went in Abkhasia, Leaf met elders in remarkable health. The area seemed to warrant its reputation as the mecca of superlongevity.
Like others who have studied the elders of Abkhasia, Leaf had colorful stories to tell. All most all the elders examined by him had a youthful blood pressure of almost 120/85 and a pulse rate of 70. Also he learnt from local doctors that osteoporosis was nonexistent and fractures were rare.
There have been numerous controversies regarding the exact age of these elders but everyone accepts the unusual longevity in the region to be a genuine reality, and that the area is indeed home to an inordinate number of extremely healthy elders.
Though he was greatly impressed by this elderly lady’s charm and spirit, Leaf did not simply take her word for her age. To the contrary, he went to significant efforts to assess it objectively. After laborious investigations, Leaf concluded that Mrs. Lasuria was close to 130 years old. He wasn’t fully certain about that, saying only that he had arrived at a degree of confidence and this was his best estimate. But he was sure of one thing. She was one of the oldest persons he had ever met.
Everywhere he went in Abkhasia, Leaf met elders in remarkable health. The area seemed to warrant its reputation as the mecca of superlongevity.
Like others who have studied the elders of Abkhasia, Leaf had colorful stories to tell. All most all the elders examined by him had a youthful blood pressure of almost 120/85 and a pulse rate of 70. Also he learnt from local doctors that osteoporosis was nonexistent and fractures were rare.
There have been numerous controversies regarding the exact age of these elders but everyone accepts the unusual longevity in the region to be a genuine reality, and that the area is indeed home to an inordinate number of extremely healthy elders.