The Rockefeller clan is not just oil, banks, and billion-dollar fortunes, but also an extraordinary longevity passed down from generation to generation. The founder of the dynasty, John D. Rockefeller, lived to ninety-seven, his grandson David Rockefeller lived to one hundred and one. It's not just \"luck of the genes\" here. The strict regimen, a thought-out diet, access to the best medicine, and a special worldview stand behind the long years of life of the Rockefellers. In this article, we have gathered ten main health rules adhered to by John D. Rockefeller, which allowed him to live almost a century.
The main recipe for a long life that the founder of the dynasty developed at the end of the 19th century. His day was scheduled to the minute: wake-up at exactly seven in the morning, go to bed at nine in the evening. Meals were at the same hours, time for rest and walks were strictly fixed. Doctors called the main cause of his longevity \"punctual, clockwork habits\". No spontaneous decisions - only a predictable, stable rhythm that allowed saving energy and avoiding stress. His pedantry concerned everything - from the number of steps to the minutes spent in a car.
John Rockefeller was one of the first in the world to introduce a personalized approach to nutrition. His diet was about three quarters vegetables. And not any vegetables - greens were grown in their own greenhouses in their estates. When the billionaire moved from one house to another, baskets of fresh salad and other greens were sent along with him. Broths and soups were only made from lamb raised on personal farms, milk was \"home-made\".
Rockefeller knew what he could eat and did not touch what could harm him. His pastor noted that \"however much he wanted a piece of candy, he would not touch it,\" and he never ate tomatoes or cucumbers because he found that they did not suit him. He left the table with a slight feeling of hunger, always chewed his food carefully and did not hurry during meals. \"I'm not on a diet. I eat what I love, but always moderately,\" he said.
\"I never worry. Days of worry for me are over. I do not allow anything to worry me,\" Rockefeller confessed at the age of eighty-six. This philosophy of \"not worrying\" became one of the main pillars of his longevity. He believed that \"there are enough troubles in the world, and if I can spread a little sunshine, it helps me, and I hope it helps others.\"
Rockefeller conducted a kind of \"diagnosis\" of his health every morning. Just as we look at a thermometer to note a rise or fall in temperature, so he checked his health every day. If he found dangerous signals, he never ignored them. \"If he feels a bit unwell after waking up, he does not say to himself: 'Oh, I'll be fine tomorrow,' like most of us. He starts taking action to fix the problem before it overcomes him.\"
Rockefeller senior loved golf, but as the years went by, doctors limited his game, replacing it with a more gentle load. Instead of golf, he made daily half-hour rides in a specially designed car. When this also became tiring, he was carried by his attendants or used a wheelchair to avoid wasting extra calories. He even installed elevators in the house so he wouldn't have to climb the stairs.
The Rockefellers always had the best doctors and access to the most advanced methods. Their estates were equipped with equipment of a small clinic - devices for measuring the basal metabolic rate, fluoroscopes, oxygen cylinders. Their health was monitored by several doctors who regularly exchanged information about the billionaire's condition. David Rockefeller, the founder's grandson, underwent six heart transplant operations.
Rockefeller hired Dr. Hamilton Fish Baggott full-time. He was paid to keep John D. feeling healthy, happy, and active. Dr. Baggott developed a philosophy of longevity for the billionaire that included avoiding worry, moderation in food, and daily walks in the fresh air.
Rockefeller believed that the best way to maintain health was to live in a way that supports it. He never overate, did not indulge in harmful habits, did not drink or smoke. According to him, \"overeating is harmful to anyone. I discipline myself to eat moderately, and I have found that it pays off.\" Even with his love for sweets, he never allowed himself too much.
After retiring from business, Rockefeller dedicated himself to philanthropy. He donated huge sums to medical research and education, creating funds that are still working today. David Rockefeller said that the secret of his longevity was \"love for life, simple things, playing with children, spending time with close friends.\" He actively traveled, collected beetles, and continued to work for the benefit of society until his old age.
The longevity of the Rockefellers is not luck, but a systematic approach. The main lessons that can be learned from their experience are simple: a strict regimen, control over nutrition, absence of stress, careful attitude to health, and the presence of a personal doctor. As John Rockefeller himself said: \"I live to live, and I will not think about death until I am a hundred or more.\" Although he did not live to be a hundred, his rules of health are still an example for everyone who aspires to a long and active life.
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