Gunda Harangen, Norway’s oldest resident, died at the age of 109. Every day, the Norwegian drank a glass of brandy and lived alone, without a man to irritate him. This, he admitted, was the key to his longevity. Gunda Harangen’s cousin announced her death to the Norwegian media. On November 25, the long liver died in her sleep, according to him.
Gunde Harangen was only a month away from turning 110. The woman was the eldest of seven siblings and was born on December 28, 1898. Women who want to live a long life may benefit from the Norwegian’s advice to avoid relationships with the opposite sex. However, as British scientists discovered, the situation is different for men.
The findings of the study, which concluded that polygamy is the key to male longevity, were published in August 2008. After accounting for socioeconomic differences, the researchers calculated that men over the age of 60 in 140 countries with polygamy lived an average of 12% longer than men in 49 countries with monogamy.
Scientists list the presence of children and a good education as factors that help people live longer lives. Children not only make parents’ lives more varied, chaotic, and stressful, but they also force adults to be more cautious and live healthier lifestyles. When it comes to the impact of education on life expectancy, men and women with tertiary education are only half as likely as those with primary education in the same age group to die.
Stormy family scenes, according to researchers, are another way to extend life. According to scientists, spouses who prefer to resolve the issue peacefully and do not allow their feelings to be expressed are twice as likely to die young as those who express their feelings in some way.