How long can we realistically live? And how does our diet affect how long we will live?
These questions have been once again raised following David Murdock’s plans to live to be 125 through a strict diet. Now 87, Murdock is undoubtedly a specimen of health. According to Murdock, has never experienced any physical ailments — even colds or headaches.
When an unbelievably healthy 87-year-old man claims he can live to be 125 based on diet alone, it’s worth a moment of listening!
The Diet of a Passionate Man
How does Murdock live that differs from most our lifestyles? He consumes as many fruits, vegetables and protein sources into his daily diet as most of us manage to do during the entire week. For example, he eats as many as 20 vegetables and fruits daily, pureeing them into smoothies he drinks two to three times each day. He also eats loads of protein in the form of cholesterol-free egg whites, nuts, beans, and seafood. However, his diet is absent of red meat, poultry, and dairy altogether. Also forbidden in his diet are alcohol, sugar and salt.
Murdock is putting his money where his mouth is regarding his quest to live a long life through strict dieting. He has, by some estimates, spent more than $500 million of his fortune to build the North Carolina Research Campus, a facility that “holds the promise of optimal health and maximal life span.”
Perhaps it was his mother’s death from cancer at the age of 42 that led Murdock to examine optimal health and maximal life span, or maybe it was his wife’s diagnosis of ovarian cancer at any early age. What we do know is that the idea of nutrition was planted when he started researching ways in which his wife could treat her ovarian cancer. Although his wife, Gabriel, also lost her life early to cancer (she was just 43), Murdock continued to consider the strong link between health, nutrition and longevity.
Murdock’s Influence Far Reaching
Murdock’s passion for healthy eating was further realized when he dedicated an area behind his California ranch to tens of thousands of square feet of greenhouses. He now has a large staff of gardeners who tend to the produce grown there.
Murdock’s influence is seen throughout his companies, including at the Dole headquarters in California. From a company fitness center to a subsidized cafeteria bursting with fresh food, Dole is a fine example of healthy living. Dole is now the world’s largest producer of fruits and vegetables.
In addition, the California Health and Longevity Institute, which is across the street from the Dole headquarters, is a combined medical suite, spa and demonstration kitchen.
Although Murdock’s quest to live to be 125 is more a dream than a realistic goal, there’s one certainty: his research and passion for learning more about the benefits of a healthy diet will go on to help generations lead healthier, longer lives.
