Xie Mengxiong, a university chairman from China, is a prime example of longevity and good quality of life.
A man who is over 90 years old and still goes to work every day has shared the secret to his longevity. The university chairman from China cites a number of factors for his healthy ageing, from diet to education and philosophy.
As reported by Fiftyplus.com, Xie Mengxiong is a prime example of longevity and good quality of life. Xie, who is currently the honorary president of Shih Chien University in Taipei, has maintained a steady work pace for years.
Every day he takes on his academic responsibilities, gives lectures, and participates in philanthropic activities. His day starts around 10am, and despite his age, he retains his communication skills, mental sharpness, and enthusiasm for sharing knowledge with hundreds of students.
One aspect that stands out in Xie’s routine is his diet. Far from following a conventional diet, the doctor and educator opted for a predominantly vegetarian diet without eating rice for three years – a staple food in his culture.
As he explained, this change is due to a conscious decision to take care of his health and stay active. “Taking care of oneself is a form of self-love,” he has stated several times.
Scientific research has previously linked plant-based diets and longevity. One study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2001, found that vegetarian men live for an average of 10 years longer than non-vegetarian men – 83 years compared to 73 years.
For women, being vegetarian added an extra six years to their lives, helping them reach 85 years on average. However, the vegetarian study participants also maintain an active lifestyle and do not smoke – with study authors concluding that each individual factor could add around two years to life expectancy.
A separate study, from 2020, found that swapping out animal protein with plant protein could lower the risk of all-cause death by 10 per cent. More specifically, it was found that shifting just three per cent of calorie intake from animal protein (meat, poultry, fish, or dairy products) to plant protein corresponded with a 10 per cent decrease in death from any cause over that period, for both men and women.
Harvard Health noted: “In particular, replacing eggs and red meat with plant proteins appeared to reduce death risk by as much as 24 per cent in men and 21 per cent in women — especially in people with high intake of eggs and red meat.”
But Xie’s approach to life is not limited to diet. His deep connection with culture and art has also been a fundamental pillar in his wellbeing. From a young age, he cultivated photography, painting, and reading.
Many of his works decorate the walls of his office, which has become a veritable personal gallery. His passion for these disciplines, he says, has been key to staying emotionally balanced and away from loneliness.
He commented: “I have never stopped being busy, and that makes me happy.” Xie’s passion for education and culture is often cited as a way to lower your risk of dementia in later life.
Alzheimer’s Research UK acknowledges that there are studies showing a link between “mentally stimulating” activities and a lower risk of dementia. It says: “Other studies have found that spending more time in education is associated with a lower risk. Research is ongoing in these areas to see which brain activities might be most beneficial.”