Russian Centenarians

There are hundreds of centenarians living in the villages of the Russian Caucasus. A few miles from the Persian border, Shirali Muslimov offers visitors recollections of historic events which happened in mid-nineteenth-century Russia. Muslimov was  born in 1805 in the village of Barzavu. He had twenty three children and has never been ill. He can recall incidents from 150 years ago. He works a full day and still has good hearing and eyesight.

Azerbaijan may be where you will find the most centenarians. In these mountains you will find these hearty, whitehaired centenarians as they tread the rocky highland roads to tend their cattle or goat herds, their backs bent under  heavy loads of produce.

Soviet gerontologists believe the centenarians as far as their age is concerned. They site the results of the last census, taken in 1959. After ruling out misinformation, the census came up with a figure of 21,708 people who were 100 years old or older in the Soviet Union. About ten centenarians for every 100,000 population.

The answer to their longevity and good health they say is hard work, a healthy diet, clear air and some good homemade wine now and then. Another proof of resveratrol in red wine for longevity. Although an excess of drink will eventually damage your liver and kidneys. However, in moderation and made from organic grown grapes, the evidence shows that resveratrol in red wine is anti-ageing. Doctors credit mountain life and a lot of walking to create favorable conditions for strengthening the cardiac and vascular system.

Condensed from Readest Digest May 1967