In addition to living a privileged life and inheriting good genes, Queen Elizabeth also pioneered a lifestyle that encouraged a long and healthy life. So what is the secret of the queen’s healthy long life?
Until last year, Queen Elizabeth of England was the picture of healthy longevity. Not only did she live an exceptionally long and active life, but she reached the age of 96 without being affected by cancer, dementia or other health problems that can come with aging. “Queen Elizabeth was a life well lived,” King Charles said in his address to the nation following his mother’s death on September 8. “For most of us, how long we live is probably less than 20% dependent on our genetics, meaning the other 80% depends on lifestyle and luck,” experts said.
GENES ALSO PLAYED A ROLE: QUEEN’S MOTHER DIED AT 101 BUT FATHER DIED AT 56
Here are some of the queen’s healthy longevity habits:
REGULAR EXERCISE
The Queen walked her dogs, rode horses, hiked the grounds of her estates and otherwise remained active throughout her life and into old age. Probably the best thing most of us can do for our health is to exercise regularly. Many studies show that older people who are more active live longer and healthier lives. A recent study showed that walking 10,000 steps a day can halve the risk of dementia.
A SENSE OF PURPOSE IN LIFE
Queen Elizabeth’s life was centered around duty and service to her nation. She was still fulfilling official duties well into her 90s. A growing body of research suggests that having a strong sense of purpose in life improves physical and mental health and improves overall quality of life, the authors of a study published in JAMA in 2019.
When they followed 7,000 adults, they found that those who scored higher on a questionnaire designed to measure life purpose were less likely to die during the study period. Volunteering is one way people can improve their purpose in life, the study said.
NOT RETIRED
The Queen never retired, but continued to work until old age. So much so that just two days before her death, the monarch met with Liz Truss and appointed her as Britain’s new prime minister, looking frail and weak but glowing in photographs.
ANIMAL FRIENDS
The Queen loved her corgis, her furry four-legged canine companions. She owned dozens of dogs in her lifetime and four of them survived. The monarch also adored horses.
