Health
100-year-old great-grandmother reveals her secret of living a long life
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Longevity is a lifestyle practice, according to 100-year-old Ruth Lemay, who has gone viral for sharing her vibrant energy and fitness routine.
Lemay, who lives in Virginia Beach, was featured in a video while pedaling on a recumbent exercise bike at the gym. The video was posted by the health brand evry.day club (@evrydayclub) on Instagram.
The centenarian was asked what she does to stay so fit and “look so great” for her age, as she was wrapping up three miles on the bike after 30 minutes.
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“Then I’ll do 30 more minutes,” she commented. “And I walk — [I’ll] do a mile.”
Lemay shared her “secret to longevity” — the fact that she started walking four miles every day after she retired.
“That’s just what keeps you going,” she said. “A lot of exercise. Plenty of sleep. I go to bed at 9:30 at night and I eat a lot of vegetables — trying to keep healthy.”
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Lemay said that she and her 78-year-old daughter attend the gym three times per week. They typically do individual workouts.
Her sessions include riding the recumbent bike, which is reclined to support the lower back, for two 30-minute stints, reaching about three miles both times.
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That is followed by a 1.4-mile walk, as Lemay is currently working toward reaching a mile and a half.
“When I don’t go to the recreation center, I still try and walk from one end of my house to the other,” she told Women’s Health. “It’s 170 steps, 40 times, which is 6,800 steps (3.22 miles).”
Ruth Lemay, 100, bikes and walks every day to keep healthy. (Instagram/@evrydayclub; iStock)
In an interview with TODAY.com, Lemay said she lives in her own home and enjoys cooking. She drove a car until she was 98.
“I’ve always exercised,” she said. “I feel fine. I might be a little bit tired after riding the bicycle and the walk, but that’s OK. I don’t expect not to feel tired.”
Her late husband of 56 years would encourage her to walk after work, said Lemay.
“He said, ‘You just take the dog and go for a walk, and I’ll fix dinner,’” she recalled. “It was wonderful.”
Lemay’s late husband (not pictured) always encouraged her to walk when she got home from work, she said. (iStock)
Lemay’s daughter, Annette Parker, shared with TODAY that her mother has “always been very conscious of her diet.”
This includes non-fat yogurt, walnuts, oatmeal with banana and milk, or a scrambled egg with toast in the mornings. For protein, Lemay sticks with chicken, turkey or seafood.
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Lemay’s diet also includes red grapes, blueberries and many vegetables.
“I love vegetables. I grew up in the country, and my dad grew all kinds of vegetables, and they were wonderful for you,” she said.
Maintaining social relationships and good mental health have been shown to promote longevity. (iStock)
Lemay, who has never smoked and doesn’t drink alcohol, added, “I’m in pretty good health for my age.”
While genetics may impact longevity, Lemay shared with TODAY that she doesn’t know anyone in her family who has lived as long as her. Her mother died of colon cancer at 65 and her father died from a heart condition at 74.
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Other than one heart valve replacement, the great-grandmother has avoided major health complications.
In addition to paying attention to nutrition and fitness, Lemay and Parker said that maintaining good mental health and keeping a vibrant social life have been key longevity factors.
Fox News Digital reached out to Lemay and her representatives for comment.
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Pumpkin is a staple ingredient in many holiday dishes, like pumpkin pie, breads, soups and even ravioli.
In addition to its seasonal appeal, pumpkin has been shown to have many health benefits.
According to New York-based certified holistic nutritionist Robin DeCicco, pumpkin is a great source of fiber and potassium, which boosts heart health by countering sodium’s effect on blood pressure.
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“For heart health — and health in general — we are always looking for ways to increase our daily intake of fiber, and pumpkin is a good source,” she told Fox News Digital in an interview.
About 1 cup of canned organic pumpkin purée can provide more than 10% of daily potassium and contains about 4 grams of fiber.
Caratenoids found in pumpkin, butternut squash and carrots can help protect against cell damage, experts say. (iStock)
DeCicco suggested adding pumpkin purée to smoothies, oatmeal and yogurt bowls for a “rich creaminess” that also satisfies the appetite.
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According to the nutritionist, pumpkin is also very high in antioxidants.
“There is research correlating a diet high in antioxidants to health benefits, specifically lowering the risk of inflammatory conditions,” DeCicco added.
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Pumpkin and other brightly colored foods, like butternut squash and carrots, also contain carotenoids, which can help protect against cell damage.
Pumpkin seeds are high in fiber and protein. (iStock)
It’s important to read labels carefully when using items like canned pumpkin purée because some labeled “pumpkin pie mix” most likely include added sugars, the nutritionist warned.
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“Look for the can to only say ‘organic pumpkin’ as the ingredient,” she advised. “If you do want to add a bit of sweetness on your own, add ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger and a small amount of low glycemic sugar, like coconut palm sugar.”
It’s important to read labels carefully when using items like canned pumpkin purée because some labeled “pumpkin pie mix” most likely include added sugars, a nutritionist warned. (iStock)
For a nutrient-dense snack, DeCicco recommends adding pumpkin seeds.
“Pumpkin seeds pack a huge protein and fiber punch to stabilize blood sugar and reduce cravings and are also high in many antioxidants and vitamins for overall health,” she said. “Rich in zinc for immune health — and studied to improve prostate health — they are also high in potassium, magnesium and iron.”
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Just a quarter cup of pumpkin seeds can provide about 10 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber, according to DeCicco. The fiber increases when eating the seeds after they are shelled.
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