Why the Rockefellers Live to 100

The Rockefeller clan is not just oil, banks, and multi-billion-dollar fortunes. It is also an example of amazing longevity that is passed down from generation to generation. The founder of the dynasty, John D. Rockefeller, lived to be 97, his grandson David Rockefeller lived to be 101, and the younger members of the family also surpass the eighties and nineties. The simple "luck of the genes" secret does not work here. The long years of the Rockefellers are due to a strict regimen, a well-thought-out diet, access to the best medicine, and a special world view. We analyze the factors in order.

A "clockwork" regimen — the legacy of John Rockefeller

The main recipe for a long life that the founder of the dynasty formulated in the late 19th century. The New York Times newspaper published a detailed analysis of the billionaire's lifestyle in 1937, immediately after his death. Doctors called the main cause of his 97 years "punctual, clockwork habits." Every day of John Rockefeller's life was scheduled to the minute: wake up at 7 am, go to bed at 9 pm. Meals were at the same time with precisely measured portions. Even time for rest and recreation was fixed in the schedule.

There were no spontaneous decisions — only a predictable, stable rhythm that allowed for saving energy and avoiding stress. This pedantry applied to everything — from the number of steps to the minutes spent driving. Even elevators were installed in the Rockefeller's house so that the elderly host would not waste energy climbing stairs.

A vegetable diet: 75% vegetables and control over every product

John Rockefeller was one of the first in the world to introduce a personalized approach to nutrition. His diet was about three quarters vegetables. And not just any vegetables — greens were grown in their own greenhouses in the estates of New Jersey, Florida, and Tarritown. When the billionaire moved from one house to another, baskets of fresh salad and other greens were sent with him on the trip. Broths and soups were only made from lamb raised on his personal farms. Milk was also "own" — from cows whose health was monitored by veterinarians.

In his later years, John drank a lot of special fermented milk products. At the same time, doctors meticulously counted his calories and vitamin balance for him. Such a diet helped maintain a normal weight and avoid avitaminosis in old age.

Prudent approach to physical activity

Older Rockefeller loved golf, but over the years doctors limited his game, replacing it with a more gentle load. In his old age, instead of golf, he took half-hour rides in a specially designed car — half-open, half-closed, with heating. Wrapped in blankets and protected from the wind by a paper sleeve that reflected drafts, he went out for half an hour every day. When this became tiring, he was carried by his nurses or used a wheelchair to avoid wasting extra calories. Every day of his life was subordinate to saving energy.

Million-dollar medicine

The Rockefellers always had the best doctors and access to the most advanced methods. Their estates had equipment for a small clinic — devices for measuring the basal metabolic rate, fluoroscopes, oxygen cylinders, which they even took with them on trips. Several doctors monitored their health, regularly calling each other to compare results and adjust diet or medication. David Rockefeller, the founder's grandson, went even further. He underwent six heart transplants. The first operation was performed at the age of 61 after a serious accident, the last at the age of about 99. Each new transplant added years to his life and, according to his own words, a sense of "rebirth." Besides the heart, he also received kidney transplants.

The psychology of a longevity: no stress

All the Rockefellers knew when to step down from their duties. John Rockefeller retired from managing Standard Oil at the age of 58 when doctors warned him about his health — he switched from the pursuit of profit to gardening and golf, shifting his attention from money to pleasures. David Rockefeller left his position as the head of Chase Manhattan Bank at the age of 66, dedicating the rest of his life to philanthropy, travel, and hobbies. For example, he collected a collection of 40,000 beetles — one of the largest collections of insects in the world.

David himself said that the secret of his longevity was "love for life, simple things, playing with children, time with close friends." He did not focus on age, actively traveled, and maintained curiosity about the world. John Rockefeller, on all questions about the secret of longevity, replied with a smile: "I just go to bed early and laugh a lot." And added that rest is not wasted time, it helps to do more during waking hours.

Genetics, money, or character?

Despite all the regimens and operations, it is impossible to ignore heredity. John Rockefeller's father lived to be 86, which was also a lot for the second half of the 19th century. However, experts emphasize that almost a century of life cannot be explained by genes alone. In the case of the Rockefeller clan, a complex worked: strict discipline, access to the best medicine, financial ability to change the climate, eat organic products, and undergo multiple organ transplants. However, the family members themselves attribute the decisive role to a positive outlook on life and the ability to "slow down" in time. Not for nothing David Rockefeller, who lived to be over a hundred, always replied to the question about the recipe: "Just love what you do and don't forget to rest."

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