Facing The Golden Years (7-12)

"Todos deseamos llegar a viejos, y todos negamos que hayamos llegado." QUEVEDO

WHAT SPECIAL FOODS CAN ELDERLY EAT?

Around the world, a number of traditional societies reserve certain foods for the elderly, Diamond reveals in his book. In Nebraska, only senior members of the Omaha Indians eat bone marrow — they believe that if young men do so, they will sprain an ankle. Similarly, the Iban of Borneo advise that only old men eat venison because, if the young taste it, it could make them timid. In Siberia, the Chukchi believe that reindeer milk will make young men impotent and young women flat-chested, so it’s reserved only for older people.

The group with the strongest food taboos: the Arunta Aboriginies, who live near Ayers Rock in Australia. Eating certain foods can lead to a “series of dire consequences for young people,”. The Arunta believe that eating parrots will create a hollow in a young man’s head, and a hole will grow in the chin. If young Arunta men eat wildcat, they will develop painful and smelly sores on their head and neck. According to societal belief, young women who eat kangaroo tails will age prematurely … and go bald. Meanwhile, quail consumption will lead to stunted breast development, and conversely, eating brown hawks will lead the breasts to swell and burst, without even producing milk.

THE BEST CONTRIES TO GROW OLD

4.- NETHERLANDS

Over 90% of the Dutch population aged 50 and over said they have relatives or friends they can rely on when in trouble. According to the Global AgeWatch, this is in part due to the country’s good road and highway infrastructure. More elderly residents in the Netherlands were satisfied with the country’s roads and highways than any country in the world. According to The Economist, health care costs have been rising in the country. Nevertheless, most older residents can still afford care. As of last year, the country had the fourth-highest GDP per capita among the countries measured by Global AgeWatch.

"Age is a very high price to pay for maturity. " PAULO COELHO Grandma's Funny Dance!