Have you ever heard of the Hunza People?
Learn how to live longer by separating myth from fact, and utilizing natural solutions.
In the debate over which diet and lifestyle is the best path for increased health and longevity, there is nothing like real-life indisputable proof such as that found among the Hunza tribe in the Himalayas.
Others say that it is very common for Hunzas to have children after the age of 60 and some agree to the fact that Hunza people are descendants of Alexander the Great and Yes, they could very well be Greek! According to the local Burusho legend, the village that was founded by the army of Alexander the Great.
These people, living in an extremely secluded region of the world, practice simple lifestyle habits which allow them to enjoy excellent overall health and lifespans of up to 120 years!
This, and they do it in style, being among the happiest human beings on Earth with near-perfect physiology. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, blood pressure issues and other common plagues of the Western world are almost unheard of among the Hunza.
This tribe was first written about by Dr. Robert McCarrison in the publication Studies in Deficiency Disease, followed in 1961 by an article in JAMA documenting the remarkable lifespan of the Hunza. As a result of this prior research, Dr. Jay M. Hoffman took a trip to the Hunza valley to study tribal longevity more in depth. His findings were published in the 1968 book HUNZA – Secrets of the world’s healthiest and oldest living people.
When living at higher altitudes, our bodies make adjustments: creating more red blood cells to carry oxygen through the bloodstream, pushing air into normally unused portions of the lungs and producing citrate synthase, a special enzyme that helps the oxygen found in hemoglobin make its way into body tissue – Cancer and metabolism [Source: Bing]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15714131
Loss of the respiratory enzyme citrate synthase, which catalyzes the first reaction of the TCA cycle in respiratory metabolism, causes the bioenergetic switch from mitochondrial respiration to cytosolic glycolysis and accelerates tumor malignancy by inducing a change to the EMT phenotype?
To investigate whether altered energy metabolism induces the Warburg effect and results in tumor malignancy, the respiratory enzyme citrate synthase (CS) was examined, silenced, and the effects analyzed. In human cervical carcinoma cells, RNAi-mediated CS knockdown induced morphological changes characteristic of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This switch accelerated cancer cell metastasis and proliferation in in vitro assays and in vivo tumor xenograft models.
Notably, CS knockdown cells exhibited severe defects in respiratory activity and marked decreases in ATP production, but great increases in glycolytic metabolism. This malignant progression was due to activation of EMT-related regulators; altered energy metabolism resulted from…. the deregulation of the p53/TIGAR and SCO2 pathways. This phenotypic change was completely reversed …. by the p53 reactivation via treatment with proteasome inhibitor MG132 or co-knockdown of E3 ligase HDM2 and partially suppressed by ATP treatment. This study directly links the Warburg effect to tumor malignancy via induction of the EMT phenotype
High altitude also triggers an increase in our heartbeat, breathing and urination. The low humidity and low air pressure at high altitudes causes moisture from your skin and lungs to evaporate at a faster pace — and your body’s increased exertion requires even more water to keep it hydrated. Read More:
Why Some HunZa People Crave Mushrooms…
Ophiocordyceps sinensis, is known in English colloquially as caterpillar fungus, or by its more prominent names yartsa gunbu, or dōng chóng xià cǎo or Yarsha-gumba or Yarcha-gumba, यार्सागुम्बा. It is an entomopathogenic fungus in the family Ophiocordycipitaceae. It is mainly found in the meadows above 3,500 meters in the Himalayan regions of Nepal, Bhutan, India and Tibet.
Cordyceps medicinal mushrooms have been quite in the center of attention. It turned out that the record breaker Chinese runners can significantly increase their performance with its consumption. Energy-releasing effect of Cordyceps medicinal mushroom is appreciated in the East for thousands of years.
Until state of the art production processes were introduced, there was limited supply of it. The same vitality increasing effect, which is the engine of the athletes’ performance, can help us to continue to live longer. DXN Cordyceps medicinal mushroom supports cellular energy metabolism. It boosts the minor kidney function, also making it easier to adapt to stress. Which regulate immune function and stimulates blood circulation in the capillaries, The fungi improve oxygen consumption too.
Health Benefits of High Altitude (Andes Mountains) Living!!!
Living in high altitudes is not necessarily healthier; however, statistics show people that live in high altitude US states such as Utah and Colorado are fitter (it takes more physicality to exist at higher altitudes) and have lower obesity rates.
Mountain states such as Colorado and Utah have healthy reputations, largely because they attract and inspire health-conscious people. However, could it be that living at high altitudes makes you healthier? Maybe, according to a recent study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
The researchers analyzed the relationship between elevation, life expectancy and mortality rates from chronic diseases for hundreds of counties in the continental U.S. They found that the 10 million Americans residing in counties above 4,900 feet live one to three years longer on average than those living near sea level. The higher the altitude, the greater the longevity benefit.
That does not mean the altitude was responsible, of course. In fact, when the researchers adjusted the data for factors such as income, population density, race/ethnicity and smoking, the longevity difference disappeared. However, when they looked at specific diseases, they found that, even after the statistical adjustments, people (especially women) living at high altitudes were less likely to die from heart attacks.
Physical Activity (walking, gardening, exercise) in Healthy People Living in High Altitudes Can Add Several Years to Life. In high altitudes, walking every day, and or exercising for healthy people makes them fitter and able to exert themselves more. This is why some athletes like to train in higher altitudes.
Source: Harvard University Gazette
Our observation: After living in higher altitude and adapting to the thinner air and less oxygen, when we travel to sea level, it seems we have more energy and feel great!
All of the above makes sense only if the air is clean and pure however. All the extra exertion and pretty scenery will do nothing for your health if on top of getting less oxygen, what oxygen you do get, is polluted, something to check into.
The bottom line, after doing some research seems to be that high elevation living is good mostly for those people who are already healthy and or were born in the high altitude.
The research suggests that people with health conditions such as upper respiratory conditions or COPD do not do well in high altitudes, and to top it off, if the air is not clean, their condition is actually aggravated, and in some people that did not have a preexisting condition but may have had a slight sensitivity, they may develop one.
7 easy ways to adjust to high altitude.
Thankfully, avoiding altitude sickness is extremely easy. And, while we can’t make the high elevation lower, we do have some preventative measures you can take to stay happy and healthy. Like anything in life, altitude sickness is extremely difficult to get rid of once it has arrived… so prevention is essential. Let’s dive right in:
1. Don’t overdo it on the alcoholic beverages.
Many people find themselves hammering back more alcohol than usual on ski trips. In part because they are living it up with their friends in the mountains and letting the good times roll… but also to stay warm and perhaps take the edge off the days filled with endless falls and crashes.
With that said, heavy drinking can enhance the effects of altitude sickness on the body in two ways. One, a key to avoiding altitude sickness is staying hydrated (which we will be covering in the next section) –– alcohol actually dehydrates the body.
And, two, when you drink you won’t just be hit with the dizziness of intoxication but also the dizziness of altitude sickness… so a double whammy of dizzy. Some studies suggest that you may get drunk faster at higher altitudes, although it’s difficult to understand whether or not the alcohol potentiates the effects of alcohol or if it’s just the combination of dizziness from drinking with the (potential) dizziness from the high altitude.
2. Stay extra hydrated.
Believe it or not, you actually lose more water and sodium when you’re up in the mountains. This combined with physical activity (hiking and skiing), along with much drier and cooler air means it is easy to get dehydrated if you’re not throwing back the H2O. Also, along with chugging water, it might be a good idea to run a humidifier of sorts while you are inside your hotel or cabin. Dehydration can enhance the effects of altitude sickness and it is much easier to get dehydrated when you in the mountains.
Replicate HunZa Glacier Water Supply!!!
How To Make Sole Water / Electrolytes On Keto
~ Sterilize the (( large glass container or pitcher )), then fill it with filtered drinking water.
~ Cover the container, and set it in a sunny window for 24 hours to increase the “chi” or life force of the water. This step replicates the natural sunlight water would be exposed to whilst melting down the glaciers in the Hunza Valley.
~ Using large, rock-sized Himalayan salt crystals, place as many as you can in a mason jar. Remember, don’t cover your jar with a metal lid as it can react with the salt; choose a wooden or plastic lid instead.
~ Fill the jar with your sun water, pouring it over the salt crystals. Refill the “sun water” and set it back in the window. You will have your “salt water” and your “sun water.”
~ Let the crystals sit in the water for another 24 hour period. This will allow the water to become saturated.
~ When “infused,” this water is called sole; you’ll remove about a teaspoon of sole a day, and continue to top the jar with more water as long as you can still see the salt crystals. Make sure to use a non-metal teaspoon to remove sole. Add a teaspoon to a full glass of sun water.
~ Drink on an empty stomach in the morning and wait approximately 30 minutes prior to consuming any other food or beverage.
~ Once the salt crystals in your sole are gone, you can start over the process.
3. Get plenty of rest.
Generally speaking, when people head to high elevation, they aren’t looking to just relax. Their trips are normally packed full of mountain biking, camping, exploring, hiking and skiing. While we would never tell you — to not take advantage – of nature’s playground… we do recommend that you make an effort to get plenty of rest. Higher altitudes can have some crazy effects on your sleep patterns… the biggest of which is sleep apnea or frequent pauses in breath. When you are in the mountains and experiencing sleep apnea, you aren’t getting as full of rest — as you are when you are cuddled up — in your warm bed at home… which means you need to rest more. Keep this in mind if you are looking to avoid altitude sickness.
4. Be smart about your physical activity.
Like we mentioned in the previous section, anytime you head to the mountains, you probably have some pretty ambitious activities planned. With that said, we recommend that you be smart about this physical activity that you partake in. Due to the fact that there is less oxygen the higher you go, the heart has to work much harder… this means you are more likely to get tired quicker, suffer from altitude sickness and have a tougher time adjusting to high elevation. So, we recommend that you be smart about your physical activity. After stepping off the plane, give your body plenty of time to adjust before going for a ten mile run through the mountains.
5. Eat a high carb diet.
A vacation in a high elevation is not the time nor the place to start a low carb diet. Nor is the time right after moving! In fact, you should do the complete opposite… you should be loading up on carbs. No, this isn’t an excuse to drown yourself in french fries and pizza. We are talking good high carbs like… whole grains, potatoes, fruits, and whole wheat bread. We suppose pizza can fall into the bread category. In all seriousness, it’s important to remember that your body burns more calories when functioning at a high elevation, so you are going to need to increase your carb load if you are interested in adjusting to the high altitude.
6. Come prepared with medication just to be safe.
Before venturing off into the mountains, we recommend you schedule an appointment with your doctor… especially if you are prone to altitude sickness. Fortunately, there are plenty of medications out there that can help you in avoiding altitude sickness. Medications like prophylaxis and dexamethasone (and in severe cases drugs like Cialis and Viagra can work). There is a misconception that you have to be tough and take on altitude sickness on your own… but this is far from true. If you experience altitude sickness often, we highly recommend that you take some sort of prescription medication to avoid it.
7. Ascend the mountain slowly rather than quickly.
When your adrenaline is pumping and you’re ready to get from the bottom to the top of the mountain you might be inclined to climb as quickly as possible –– this is a bad idea. It is important to remember that your body typically needs 4-5 days to adjust to high elevation (8,000+) feet. So, with that said, don’t expect to just climb the mountain in one day. Climb slower rather than faster to avoid altitude sickness… plus this gives you more time to take in the beautiful scenery. Denver, e.g. has several beautiful hikes that don’t require much (additional) elevation change.
Bonus Tip: this one doesn’t necessarily relate to altitude sickness, but we like to recommend it because it is often overlooked. If you are in the mountains you are closer to the sun, which means you are more likely to burn. So, whether it is cloudy or cold outside, you still want to wear sunscreen.
Final thoughts on adjusting to high altitude
Did you like this article? Well then, you might like these too!
– Why Cuenca Ecuador’s Climate (weather) May Not Be for Everyone.
– Moving to Cuenca Ecuador? Adjusting to the Culture and Climate.
– What’s It Like to Live on the Equator of Ecuador.
To maximize your health further while living in a high altitude city, check out: Better Health, Better Life.
We’re an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!
Apricot Seed And Cancer Protection
McCarrison documented the most unique aspect of the Hunza diet: dried apricot seeds, which make up a large portion of their caloric intake.
Thanks to modern science, we know that these powerful foods contain vitamin B17. Due to this, the tribal people’s intake of vitamin B17 is 200 times more than the average American.
Due to the lack of cancer among the Hunza, scientist Ernst T. Krebs actually came up with a cancer treatment based on this seed, called laetrile. The treatment was effective, but inexplicably banned by the FDA. Despite this, you can still obtain this product in health food stores.
Staying Young Through A Young Mindset
Source: PSU
More and more research is concluding that mind over matter is a real phenomenon, and no one demonstrates this principle better than the Hunza, particularly regarding how they view the aging process.
To the Hunza, ‘middle age’ is considered to be about 100 years old, and that men and women will commonly produce children well into their 80s and 90s.
Live accounts of these people have often spoken about how old Hunza women appear to be about half the age they actually are.
The Hunza obviously have natural defenses against illness and aging. Let’s explore them further.
Eating Healthy Is The Most Important Thing
This should come as no surprise to anyone, really. However, exactly what constitutes a healthy diet is the subject of some debate recently. What the researchers found about the Hunza diet have actually been tested, and proven.
Here is the basis of that diet:
Raw fruits and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, dark leafy greens, pas, turnips, squash, apples, blackberries, cherries, pears, peaches, and (of course) apricots; Nuts, like hazelnuts, almonds and their oil derivatives; Animal protein consisting of chicken, milk, yogurt and cheese (the Hunza observe a mostly vegetarian diet, however); Grains, such as buckwheat, millet, barley, and wheat.
Also, these people drink large amounts of pure mineral-rich glacial water, and very little of anything else. Wine is used for medicinal purposes, only.
Eat Less
Hunza people eat two main meals per day, and their lifestyles are filled with often-demanding physical labor. They have much energy and endurance, which is likely associated with staying active.
So, they consume less calories per day than the average American, despite being more active. An average Hunza adult takes in less than 2000 calories per day (in comparison, the average American consumes over 3000)
More Secrets
The Hunza people tend to hold fasting periods, especially in the spring. These fasts can last for several days.
Health professionals in the Western world already know that fasting is good to ‘reset’ the body, but advise starting slowly. After all, Hunza people start these habits young.
This is a bit of a redundancy, but we should reiterate that the food consumed should be fresh and mostly raw to retain the nutrient density. Diet should be plant-based, and consumption of meat should remain minimal. Eating whole grains is important.
Also, regular exercise is key to good health. For a simple beginning, try adding daily walks to your routine. Perhaps walk or bike short distances instead of driving. Most of us can easily manage the addition of an hour of exercise per day.
Finally, live in the now! Hunzas are adept yoga practitioners, and are masters of yogic breathing. Also, daily meditation is observed, with short sessions throughout the entire day. They tend to go through life with focus on the present. Yesterday already happened, tomorrow isn’t here yet.
Surely, we can easily adopt some, if not all, of these lifestyle adjustments! Adopt Hunza principles for improvements to your serenity, peace, health & well being!
There are many myths and stories about people, such as the Hunza people, who lived happy and healthy for a long, long time. Some of these myths are just that, a hoax, and that’s why separating these ideas from facts are important.
So, what is the secret to a long and healthy life?
To answer that question, I went through the most amazing life stories of those centenarians who were willing to share their wisdom on the net. To be honest, many of those stories were different and I was not able to make any final conclusion at first about the “secret” I was looking for. I found many different answers and they confused me even more.
For example, Emma Morano from Italy lived 116 years, and she explained that the reason for her long life is staying single. She said: “I didn’t want to be dominated by anyone”
So, after her divorce at the age of 38, she spent the rest of her life single. She even won the battle against anemia by eating two raw eggs a day her whole life.
Another life story about Mushatt-Jones tells about eating fried bacon every single day. A California centenarian said that his secret was eating one donut a day…Then I found out about the life story of Clarice Emley, who was born and raised on a farm.
She explains that her entire family ate only what they grew and caught. She is still physically active, working out every day together with her friends. Then, I found out stories about centenarian twins and their secret of getting older together and that being close to each other was the main reason for their long life.
Hunza people and the secret of longevity
The myths like the one about the Holy Grail, or the Fountain of Youth are still found quite interesting even after all these years. But, it is no secret that there are myths that many people live longer than the rest of us.
Confused as I was, I continued searching for the “secret” of longevity. An article about the Hunza people grabbed my attention and I thought that I was closer to my answer. The people or Hunzas are a population in a mountainous valley in the region of Pakistan.
Unfortunately, there are myths and truths interwoven to create a unique picture of these people. One assumption was that the Hunza people are descendants of Alexander the Great, which is the only speculation. Anyway, I am here to separate the truth from fiction.
First of all, let’s debunk the myths.
Hunza people do not generally live to be anywhere near the age of 150 years old. This is a myth. In fact, the Hunza people are only documented at living around the age of 100. Speaking of documents, how do we know how old these people are? The Hunza people do not even keep birth certificates!
Yes, the Hunza people can give birth after the age of 60, and this is because the people aren’t considered adults until after 50. This would make the act of older birth quite normal.
The Hunza lifestyle is simple. They catch the own fish, hunt their own meats, and raise their own vegetables.
The Hunza people do not eat processed foods. They also eat lots of apricots which is said to have cancerous tumor eradication properties.
They also work hard on their lands in the valley, usually all day long.
The literacy rate is rather outstanding with a 90% rate. Most Hunza people have a high school education.
The Hunza region is home to people of four ethnicities.
The Hunza people are of two different religions and divided because of them.
With these myths and facts, you can clearly see how to live a longer and healthier life.
Here are the basic longevity tips learned from simpler people.
5 thoughts on “The Hunza People; Here’s Their Secret.
1. You do need to get an education in life
You can start developing a healthy mind during your youth, and you should never stop reading and thinking actively. Clarice Emley was a teacher, almost all Hunzas are educated, so we can say, we need a healthy developed brain to have a healthy life.
2. Maintain healthy relationships
A “Healthy relationship” can sometimes mean a good connection with yourself, knowing and acknowledging all those hidden feelings, and helping them dissolve into healthy energy, no matter how contagious they can be. Using self-learning techniques and meditation can help you develop a better understanding of your needs and wishes, which can lead to a bigger and wider loving atmosphere for yourself and everyone around you.
Don’t hesitate to express your feelings, for suppressing them can sometimes lead to an abyss. Expressing your feelings can make your relationships “grow in a healthy direction. So don’t stay away from marriage, but be able to “jump out” of an unstable and unhealthy one. At the end, it is your life that matters most, and the lives of those you love.
3. Avoid stress!
Yes, stress is a silent killer, the modern “exterminator” of your life force. Nowadays it is hard to ignore those stressful situations like hard working days, paying the rent etc. But, if you somehow manage to survive these modern obligations and complications, you can retire and slow down in a peaceful place. Here, you can reconnect with nature and try to live a calmer life.
4. Try to eat organic, natural food, and grow it yourself!
Maybe this is something you hear every day or even think of it often, but look at the Hunza people -they eat only what they grow, and they are healthy! They don’t even know what cancer is! Although they don’t live to be 150, like previously thought, they do live a long life.
Maybe they don’t know what pizza is, but they appreciate nature and raw foods. They may even get to witness things that some of us don’t get to see. So think about that the next time you reach for a fast food snack!
5. Don’t skip the physical activity!
Think of all the working hours on the fields that Hunza people endure each day! It’s hard but keeping your muscles “warm” can never be a bad thing. Clarice Emley (we mentioned before) exercises every day, and she is 105! So, if she won’t give up her regime to be sedentary, why should you? You will not get younger, only older!
Ignore the myths~ there are many inspirational things we can learn from the Hunza people.
Getting older is hard. Sometimes we have to give up things to change our life’s direction, but we do it for ourselves. Why not try these things? Maybe they will help you after all? Perhaps you will live longer than anyone in your family. Who knows, maybe you will be the first one that can live for 200 years! One day you could be telling us your secret. But till then, let’s continue to be inspired by great stories of people who truly lived life to the fullest!
Good luck, and have a long and healthy life!
References:
http://biblelife.org/hunza.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
https://link.springer.com
Thoughts on The People 0f HunZa!!!
They eat organic non processed food only, they drink glacial water and fast on apricot juice? That the main reason. But the Himalayas they live long lives. It’s altatatuid for sure.
Populations living at altitude are generally “healthier” and “hardier” than those at sea level, though it likely has to do with more than altitude alone. It’s possible that because towns are generally smaller, “you walk or bike and are more active in daily life,” she posed.
It may also be a matter of survival of the fittest — often health conditions drive people to lower elevations where oxygen levels are higher, and living is easier.
But for those of us who choose to stay at altitude, is there an advantage? Baysden said the benefits are often mental as much as physiological.
“According to a lot of athletes that I’ve talked to, when they’re dealing with training here, it makes them mentally tough because it’s always hard — even easy days are hard,” she said. “But that gives them a competitive edge because they’ve got this mental edge from competing at high altitudes.”
And that statement is backed by statistics. According to a 2011 Colorado Springs Gazette article — “Air Force study: Altitude acclimatization takes longer” — research has shown that since 1968, 95 percent of medalists in the Olympics or world championships in events longer than 800 meters “have been exposed to altitude.”
So next time you’re hiking a peak or riding single track or running a hill — huffing and puffing along the way — think of how much tougher you’re becoming. Take a breath of that thin, cool air and savor its freshness. Look around and absorb the beautiful scenery, and you might start thinking, “I could get used to this.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHQyJpVO1pU