The fourth oldest man in the world is a Barbadian; he is 111-year-old James Sisnett who joins a list of more than 30 centenarians in Barbados.
Have you ever considered what has contributed to Barbados having so many centenarians? Many say it is hard work, a diet of ground provisions and a firm belief in God.
Today’s health focus comes straight from the horse’s mouth.
Sisnett toiled in Barbados’ sugar industry in the early part of the century which he has outlived. Given the changing diets in the world and here in Barbados, Sisnett’s diet remains similar to what it was decades ago.
His favourites are rice and peas, ground provisions, vegetables, as well as chicken, lamb and fish. Throughout 11 decades of his earthly journey, these are the foods that have helped him rally to this mind-boggling age.
For him, rice must have in pigeon peas, lentils or black-eyed peas and he likes soup with some type of meat in it. When it comes to provisions, he has consumed his fair share of sweet potatoes, eddoes, yams and breadfruit.?He lists okras, beans, carrots, beets, tomatoes and chinese cabbage among the vegetables he enjoys. Some hot peppers need to be in there too!
Having raised various livestock, he and his family benefited from their milk straight from the cow or goat. However, if there’s a drink this centenarian savours more than any of those, it must be brandy. His liking for “a little one” – the code phrase when he wants a “strong drink” – is legendary in family.
Though Sisnett has “no explanation” for his longevity, he is certain of one thing: God’s grace in prolonging his life.
In the case of Janetha Bend, who celebrated her 100th earlier this year, the alert and vibrant centenarian still has her wits about her and keeps all in her company on their toes with her witty remarks.
The vibrant birthday girl still has all her faculties and makes a daily task of cleaning, washing and tending to several fruit trees in her yard. She does not wear glasses, can thread a needle and does her own mending.
She is also an avid writer and reader who, as she puts it, “does not lie up much”. Some may say eating healthy does the trick.
Bend, who still enjoys an ice-cold beer, has her memory intact, can effortlessly recall important dates and has no medical problems.
A more subdued Grace Worrell, who celebrated 100 in 2010, thinks her longevity has to do with her genes – her great-grandmother lived to be 105 and she also had relatives who lived into their 90s.
The church played a major role in her her upbringing.
“I came up in the church, my grandmother who raised me from a child and most of my relatives were preachers in the Pentecost Mission and they taught me about Jesus from early,” Worrell said.
She eats well, loves pumpkin soup – which she has every day – and chicken is also a favourite.
“I do not eat the sweet potato as I used to,” said Worrell, who has several health issues including irregular heartbeat, hypertension and very limited sight.
Sylvia Maughan has had a hearty appetite for as long as her relatives can remember and has always been very active in the church.
Maughan knows everyone by sight, plays dominoes, cards and draughts with her caregiver and still finds time to do crossword puzzles.
She has no major health issues, but her son said: “She has a slight trace of sugar, takes medication for irregular heartbeat, and has some issues with short-term memory.”
Asked what contributed to her longevity, Maughan credited a hearty appetite and a love for cou cou and red herring, which she asks for regularly.
The very active Euretha Ramsay, who celebrated her 100th last year, still attends church every Sunday and even fusses when she cannot attend.
With all of her faculties intact, Ramsay also has a keen appetite and eats and drinks well.
It was a morning of cake and celebration yesterday for Barbados’ latest centenarian Sylvia Norville.
When asked what contributed to her longevity, Norville said: “I did not do it by myself – the Lord helped me.”
Norville said she was going to 112, a declaration made ten years ago. Viola Nicholls, 106, is still in great shape given her age.
She is looking forward to celebrating her 107th birthday in August.?She is blessed to be at that age with only arthritis in her knees and bad eyesight due to cataract.
Viola hears well and has an excellent memory, as well as appetite. She is still a member of the Providence Methodist Church, although she has to be visited these days but she contends that the secret to longevity is “good food”.
Professor Henry Fraser, retired Dean of the Faculty of Medical Science at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus, said there were five main factors that contributed to the longevity of people in Barados and the region.
These factors were identified as a healthy diet of grains, fish and vegetables and limited meat, eggs and dairy products; low-stress lifestyles; a caring community where elderly are traditionally respected and well cared for; higher levels of activity; and late retirement and spirituality.
