Although many studies show that the increase of the elderly population across the globe correlates directly with an increase in healthcare costs, people can continue to live healthy, active lives into very old age, as evidenced by 95-year-old Huang Li-chuan (黃立全), who completed a 5km walk held by the Hondao Senior Citizen’s Welfare Foundation on Sunday without any assistance.
The foundation held the event on Sunday morning in Dajia Riverside Park in Taipei City’s Zhongshan District (中山), inviting all elderly people to take some exercise in the open air.
The event was divided into two sections, a 3km stroll and a 5km walk.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
More than 4,000 people showed up at the event, with more than 3,000 people who were over the age of 60 participating.
Huang, a former marine, had signed up for the 5km walk, and with the help of a cane, he walked the entire length of the course unassisted.
Huang said he often walked in the park near his home and walked at least 2km per day, adding that aside from eating less meat and more vegetables, less salt and more vinegar and exercising a lot outdoors, he did not have any special tricks on how to keep healthy.
Huang said that eating less meat and more vegetables gave him a healthy digestive system, adding that it aided his body to metabolize away most harmful things.
Less salt and more vinegar also prevented him from developing hyperlipidemia, hypertension and hyperglycemia, Huang said, adding that exercising outdoors exposed him to sunlight and prevented osteoporosis, as well as keeping him fit.
Huang said that all that walking keeps his legs in shape, adding that he thought most older people’s aches and pains started from the legs.
Huang also keeps himself up to date on technology.
He says he uses Facebook and a computer to edit and organize photographs and videos, as well as dubbing music from his granddaughter.
Huang joked that his life just started when he hit 70 and he is currently just 25.
In another event that was held in Miaoli County, 99-year-old Kuo Ting-hu (郭廷虎) participated in a marathon on Sunday, starting from the Miaoli County Gymnasium and running along the No. 72 east-west expressway.
According to the Taiwan Triathlon Association, Kuo often participates in all sorts of events across the country, adding that Kuo is always able to keep pace from start to finish of any race.
Meanwhile, first lady Chow Mei-ching (周美青) also made an appearance at the Hondao-hosted event, despite having hurt her leg earlier. She signed up for the 3km stroll.
Chow did not make any comments to the media yesterday, but always had a smile for the other participants who greeted her. Chow also stood at the end of the event for a group photograph, despite her injuries.
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