95-Year-Old Attributes Longevity to Diet

At 95, David Scott routinely visits the gym to maintain his muscle strength, marking the latest phase of his lifelong commitment to health.

He exercises at Planet Fitness in Dover, New Hampshire, three times a week, focusing on weight machines to strengthen his shoulders, arms, legs, and abs. For cardiovascular fitness, the U.S. Army veteran also walks several times a week.

“It makes me feel good,” Scott shares with TODAY.com about his fitness routine. “Maintaining blood circulation is crucial, especially if you become too inactive. Plus, it's beneficial for mental health.”

Scott and his 86-year-old wife, Lydia, live independently in their Dover home. Both have always loved sports—they first met on a bus in Lydia’s native Italy while on their way to ski in the Alps and started talking on the ski lift.

“When we reached the top, she said, ‘Let's go,’ and disappeared down the slope, skiing faster than I could. But I eventually caught up with her,” Scott recalls. “For me, it was love at first sight.”

“It was for me too. Two weeks later, we were engaged,” Lydia tells TODAY.com. They’ve been married for 62 years with three children.

Scott reports being in excellent health as he nears 100.

Here’s what you can learn:

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Scott and his wife adhere to a Mediterranean diet, known for its heart and brain health benefits.

Their meals often include home-cooked dishes rich in fruits and vegetables, some chicken and fish, and ample olive oil.

The couple grows their own produce, including salad greens, carrots, zucchini, string beans, edamame, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and various herbs.

Lydia is the main cook at home.

“I prepare lots of soups that I freeze for winter. Plus, we enjoy fresh vegetables throughout the summer,” she says.

“I also make jams from our homegrown fruits and freeze lots of berries for smoothies.”

David’s preferred dish is “the spaghetti my Italian wife makes,” he says, adding, “I’ve never eaten better since getting married.”

Pasta dishes rich in vegetables are a delicious, healthy element of the Mediterranean diet.

For a long life, Scott advises steering clear of fatty foods and minimizing alcohol intake, opting for a touch of wine over hard liquor if you choose to drink. He stopped consuming alcohol about two decades ago.

For dessert, Scott enjoys dark chocolate, rich in polyphenols, beneficial plant compounds.

Partner Wisely

When asked about his longevity secret, David Scott quickly responds.

“A good wife,” he says with no hesitation. “She understands my needs and supports me.”

Research indicates that married individuals tend to have a longer and more active life expectancy—free from disability—compared to their unmarried peers, with men particularly experiencing the health-enhancing effects of marriage.

Married men generally have better eating habits, exercise more, and receive regular medical care compared to single, divorced, or widowed men, according to Harvard Health.

Being married can even increase the odds of surviving cancer, studies suggest.

Stay Positive

However, Lydia Scott attributes her husband's long life to more than their enduring marriage.

“The secret lies in having a positive mindset, a good sense of humor, and accepting life as it comes, without too many complaints,” she remarks.

Studies show that optimists tend to live longer, possibly because optimism fosters healthier habits and emotional regulation during stressful times.

Be Adventurous

Scott attended Harvard at 16, enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17 in 1945, and returned to Harvard after WWII to earn a degree in Greek philosophy.

He pursued an MBA at Harvard Business School and worked for several companies before deciding to move to Europe.

“I wanted to go to Italy because I loved skiing,” he remembers. While working in a U.S. factory in Milan, he met his future wife on a bus to the ski slopes.

He spent two decades living in Italy and traveled to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Nigeria for work before returning to the U.S., documenting his experiences in a book titled “My Twenty Years in Italy: How Opera and Skiing Changed My Life.”

Stay Active

Scott recalls being inspired at age 10 by a magazine article about a muscular man who claimed others could achieve his physique by following a structured exercise routine.

Building strength became a priority for Scott, especially growing up in a “tough neighborhood” in Chicago.

He has always enjoyed sports, participating in football and wrestling in college. Both he and Lydia love skiing, and Lydia also practiced fencing and represented Italy.

In later years, she engaged in tai chi and qigong, activities that emphasize the mind-body connection.

“Sports have always been important to us,” Lydia notes. “Our family has always been very active, and our children are equally passionate about sports.”

Source: today

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.