Walter Breuning 113 years old

[JohnR41]

He is the world's oldest man and is said to be in execellent health. He has been eating 2 meals a day for 35 years. He recommends to stop eating when you're still hungry. And he has been the same weight for 35 years (125 lbs.).

I tried to find out what he's been eating but I couldn't find anything. But he has been living in an assisted living center for 30 years and I think they probably serve one meal per day. So it seems he makes his own breakfast and then a meal in the common dining room.

It sounds like a great plan to stay young and healthy but I wonder how he is able to maintain his weight (His BMI is 19). I eat 3 meals per day, I eat 'til I'm full and that seems to be what I need to maintain my weight (My BMI is about 18 1/2). Although I know that I would feel better if I ate less, I also know that it's not recommended to go below a BMI of 18.

How does he do it? The only thing I can think of is that he must be eating some foods that are much higher in calories. Perhaps the volume of food is low but higher in fat.

Only two meals per day and he leaves the table while still hungry; and he maintains a steady weight at 125? (Also, he claims to be active so that means he's burning calories.)

[pendulum]

I think it is quite possible to live on two meals a day, provided that these two meals include some sort of animal protein, and to eat in moderation. But one thing that has crossed my mind while reading your post was: was this man able to keep his natural teeth? Does he have to wear dentures? If so, is he still able to chew well or does he have to eat bland food only? Actually, how long can anyone keep their natural teeth in function? I have heard that some old people are able to digest milk again, perhaps as a compensation for their missing teeth...

[JohnR41]

Originally Posted by pendulum

I think it is quite possible to live on two meals a day, provided that these two meals include some sort of animal protein, and to eat in moderation. But one thing that has crossed my mind while reading your post was: was this man able to keep his natural teeth? Does he have to wear dentures? If so, is he still able to chew well or does he have to eat bland food only? Actually, how long can anyone keep their natural teeth in function? I have heard that some old people are able to digest milk again, perhaps as a compensation for their missing teeth...

I assume that he does eat some meat so that might explain why he can get by with just two meals. A big portion of meat can keep one satisfied for a long time. That's a good observation.

I'm sure that it's possible for some people to keep their teeth to age 100 and beyond. I once asked my dental hygenist about this and she said she has customers that are near one hundred and they have all their own teeth. My mother died at age 83 and only had one tooth missing. Her dentist said that "hard enamel" is the reason why she only had a few cavities in her lifetime. Even so, she could have lost her teeth to gum disease but didn't. She never had that problem.

Otherwise, without teeth, a person might have to eat meat that has been slow cooked for several hours. Then, as they say, it melts in your mouth.

[writeleft]

Hats off to Walter!

However, I would not be quick to try and adopt his eating plan of his last 35 years, which he started when he was 78 years old...

I wonder what Walter did for a living, and how he lived the first 78? I have to think that Walter had heredity going for him, was of slim stature, and had an active life, eating down home meals... (just guessing, of course, due to the era he lived in).

My own father, who is in his mid-eightieshas lost his appetite recently for many foods, a common thing in older people. He has reduced his food intake, because he doesn't need all that food anymore. He eats healthy meals, because my mother makes sure of it, just way less than before....

As far as the teeth, some folks are blessed with good hard teeth, I think it is genetic as well, look at the mummies!

GO WALTER!

[tjlhb]

Originally Posted by JohnR41

I'm sure that it's possible for some people to keep their teeth to age 100 and beyond. I once asked my dental hygenist about this and she said she has customers that are near one hundred and they have all their own teeth. My mother died at age 83 and only had one tooth missing. Her dentist said that "hard enamel" is the reason why she only had a few cavities in her lifetime. Even so, she could have lost her teeth to gum disease but didn't. She never had that problem.

Not eating a lot of sugary things (particularly sticky sugary things, or eating sugary things slowly) can help minimize tooth decay. Reasonable brushing and flossing habits, along with occasional visits to the dentist to scrape off hardened plaque, will help keep gum disease away.