Cigars and sex 'boost Cuba lives'

[DoYouEverWonder]

4 October 2006

Cuba's high number of centenarians say their longevity is down to laying off alcohol, but indulging in coffee, cigars and sex.

The findings are the result of a study that looked into the lives of 54 out of the more than 100 centenarians who live in Villa Clara province.

More than 60% of them had parents who also lived to be over 100.

Cuba, with a population of 11.2 million, has about 3,000 people who have lived for more than a century.

<snip>

None was alcoholic, and they said they loved coffee and cigars, which they consumed in large quantity.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5407636.stm


Darn, I hate coffee and cigars. Does that mean I should have more sex to make up the difference?

[bananas]

1. caffeine tablets and lobelia tea might substitute. nt

[Judi Lynn]

2. Interesting! Considering the proportions, that's a whole lot of really OLD

people for such a small population. It speaks well of something going on there! From the article:

Most of the centenarians were mentally alert, had a good lifestyle and did manual labour in rural areas.

Almost all ate a diet which included fish, eggs, milk, white meat and vegetables, cooked with little salt and natural seasonings.

The life expectancy in Cuba is 76, but in Villa Clara province, where the study was carried out, it is 78.
(snip/)

[dipsydoodle]

6. Nice pictures

Are they library shots or did you take them ? My son and also some friends have been over there on package holidays but then that's easy for us in the UK - no issues at all.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Found the photos in google images.

I envy your son's experience travelling to Cuba.

By keeping Americans out, it's extremely easy for our propagandists to spread almost any kind of outrageous, extreme rumor about Cuba, and a lot of people will swallow it, having no way to compare it to personal knowledge. Funny how that works, isn't it?

If the travel ban is lifted BEFORE a right-wing American pResident can invade Cuba and gain control, a whole lot of Americans are going to see INSTANTLY just how profoundly we've been duped.

Our right-wing controlling interests' best hopes involve gaining control, and taking credit for the actual health and well-being, and educational level of the Cuban people before the crowds of American tourists start arriving. This threat is absolutely abhorent even to Cuban "dissidents" who have been saying for years and years the best thing that could happen is that the U.S. relaxes the travel ban, and real communication between the two populations can be acheived, and everyone becomes acquainted.

I trust your son's trip(s) was (were) interesting and worth the effort to him.

[Poppyseedman]

3. Sex and

Most of the centenarians were mentally alert, had a good lifestyle and did manual labour in rural areas.

Almost all ate a diet which included fish, eggs, milk, white meat and vegetables, cooked with little salt and natural seasonings.

[Deja Q]

4. Not sure on coffee, but sex is better than any anti-depressant medication

It's a well known and documented fact. When you're with someone you care about and vice versa, it's relaxing and healing. Especially during times of increased ambient stress. Not to mention exciting.

(Also note how there's nary a single psychiatrist yet most of their patients are. :rofl: )

[Porcupine]

16. Yeah, but try getting Blue Cross to cover your prescription......

not a freaking chance. Plus they would probably demand that you use the generic alternative to the fresh name brand sex which works so well.

[dipsydoodle]

5. The saga continues

Some years ago I recall being somewhat less than amused to read that USA companies were trademarking recognised Cuban products on the basis they could no longer be sold in the USA.
This is a very old link but the issues still remain unresolved. Such companies deserve a high listing in the book of How To Be A Complete Bastard.

http://www.christusrex.org/www2/fcf/trademarkbaccub.html

If I hear anyone ask for Bacardi and Coke in a pub I ask if the oil contamination issue has been resolved with the B*cardi and also point out that I use C*ca C*la for cleaning extremely dirty banjo parts.

In answer to your last question - chocolate might be less tiring and have less effect on your playing. :pals:

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. Hey, my fiddle playing

needs all the help it can get.

I'm sure my hubbie would do whatever it takes if it improves my playing. :-)

[dipsydoodle]

10. On the subject of which

if Tom does decide to do some concerts in Washington DC after Dec 4th then please let me know. I have friends in VA who may be interested. :)

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. No problem

I believe he's already over here but was going to be out of touch for a few weeks. I hear he doesn't drive? Oh my.

I'll ask next time I hear from him and let you know.

[Recursion]

7. This reminds me of a joke:

A researcher goes to Cuba to investigate the claims of extreme longevity. Stopping in a village, he walks up to the most wrinkled, wizened, ancient-looking man he sees sitting on a porch.

"Sir, I'm studying human aging and I was wondering if you would tell me the secret to your longevity?"

"No problem, senor: every day, I smoke 3 of the finest Havana cigars. I also drink a bottle of Vodka with breakfast, and another with dinner. All my meals are the fattest pork available. And every night, I go to bed with a different woman."

Astounded, the researcher says, "That's amazing! And this is what has let you live to the ripe old age of... how old are you?"

"Twenty-seven"

[Mika]

9. Castro forces them to do it (sex, cigars, & longevity).

Just ask DU's Cubaphobes.

[Say_What]

12. LOL that's funny

and so true about those DU *Cuba experts* ;-)

:bounce:

[Judi Lynn]

14. Oh, yeah! Well, Pat Robertson's not going to like this one bit when

he finds out! They can kiss their longevity goodbye!

[samsingh]

15. sounds that way for sure.

[Buchananfan]

17. The anti-tobacco nazis don't want this to be known

Their sponsors have a big business in getting people hooked on patches, pills, and gum.