The 101-year-old Chinese great-grandfather’s unusual diet has drawn attention for its mix of seafood, Coca-Cola, Sprite and a steady routine. Lu Shizeng lives in rural Zhejiang province in eastern China. His love of fizzy drinks contrasts with low-sugar advice. His story does not prove soft drinks promote longevity.
Seafood Trips And A Strong Appetite
Lu goes to a town market once every five days by rickshaw, purchasing fish, shrimp and crab, along with pork and vegetables. He was said to have been using a tricycle to get to town until last year. He slowed down after falling and his family stopped him from riding. He was cared for by a nanny and his two sons.
The nanny reports that Lu’s appetite is still good. He can eat half a bowl of rice and a full plate of crabs at one meal. Now he gets some assistance at home but is still quite independent.
Coke, Sprite and A Fixed Routine
Lu has Coke and Sprite at home and likes to drink them cold. He enjoys adding a little white wine to Sprite, he says. The amount of sugar he consumes in the drinks does not have an exact amount per day as specified in the report.
He has a regular day. He eats dinner about 5 pm and goes to sleep at about 8 pm. He gets up at approximately 6 am, after spending two hours stretching or relaxing in bed, waking up around 4 am.
Lu says he feels good after the fall, remembers his youth, rarely catches a cold and has relatively low blood pressure. These are self-reported and not a complete medical examination.
What His Story Does And Does Not Tell Us
Lu’s age is remarkable, but one person’s experience cannot show what causes longevity. Genetics, health history and living conditions all matter. The report says centenarians in Zhejiang receive an old-age allowance of 800 yuan a month. A striking story should not be treated as a health plan.
The World Health Organization advises keeping free sugars below 10% of daily energy intake and says reducing them to below 5% may offer extra benefits. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also links frequent sugary-drink consumption with health problems such as weight gain, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
For readers, the lesson is not to copy Lu’s fizzy-drink habit. His seafood meals, appetite and sleep routine are interesting, but the report does not prove that any one habit explains his long life. A balanced diet, moderation and advice suited to a person’s own health remain safer guides than a viral exception.
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