The Hunza: the oriental tribe of eternal youth

In the north of Pakistan, more than a thousand meters above sea level and between mountains covered by glaciers, live the hunzakuts, known as "hunza" in western countries.

These people not only look more like Caucasians than the rest of the inhabitants of the country, but something is attributed to them that has given hundreds of articles over several decades: the tendency to live more than 110 years and reach old age in very good health.

In addition, the first stories that reached the West about the Hunza suggest that the possible explanation for their good health was not found in their biology, but in their habits. The fact that the Hunza maintain a vegetarian diet provided a clue: "we are what we eat." Could it be possible to extend our lives by so many decades by modifying our behavior?

Hunza: an oasis of youth

The valley of the Hunza River, located in a territory that is difficult to access and isolated from its surroundings by the high mountains, presents the characteristics that any romantic can associate with Eden. A natural and little explored territory, some primitive peoples living in it according to traditions, away from the production machinery and processed foods of technologically advanced societies. advanced.

In fact, The Hunza are said to be descended from soldiers in the army of Alexander the Great. that they got lost crossing the territory and created a society isolated from the others; this would explain why the language they speak could not be related to any of the great linguistic families of Asia.

So we have it all: a charming natural environment, an origin that tells us about Westerners re-educating themselves to reconcile with nature, a vegetarian diet (and therefore more culturally linked to "goodness" than one in which meat is eaten) and health levels unheard of. Or, at least, that's how it would be if it weren't for the fact that the attribution of extreme longevity to the Hunza is a myth based on various coincidences.

In reality, none of the beliefs that were passed from mouth to mouth and from article to article had a scientific basis: the town of eternal youth was a myth born of exaggerations and misunderstandings.

Exaggerations and myths about this tribe

The tribes living in the Hunza River valley were not blameless in popularizing their ability to hold on to youth and age so slowly. john clark, a researcher who spent several years living with these people, pointed out that the way in which the Hunzakuts They attribute age not so much to do with the time elapsed since their birth as their level of wisdom. That is why the most respected elders can go so far as to say that they are 145 years old: in their cultural framework, that is totally normal and does not arouse surprise.

Besides, It is also worth remembering that the myth of the Hunza has had an impact on their societies.. For several decades, they have been able to capitalize on this myth, which leads them to continue spreading the hype themselves.

And what about the diet?

Hunzakuts follow two types of diet: one linked to the summer and the other linked to the winter months. In general, both are basically made up of raw vegetables and the occasional dairy product. In addition, given the lifestyle they follow, which does not depend too much on the use of advanced technology, even elderly people maintain habits in which exercise is common. Also, as they are usually Muslim, they avoid alcoholic beverages and substitute tea instead..

In short, it is a society in which many of the characteristics of what we would call "healthy living" occur and which, in addition, can attract many followers of the paleo diet. This led some researchers, such as Sir Robert McCarrison in the 1920s, to credit hunzakuts with surprisingly good digestive health.

Unlike what happened at the beginning of the 20th century, however, today the state of health of the population of the Hunza river valley is well known, and it has been recognized that the hunzakuts have as many diseases as the rest of the surrounding population. In fact, much is even known about their genetics: everything points to the fact that it is not even true that they are descendants of Balkan settlers. What a disappointment!

Longevity in question

Despite all this, nutritionists point out that many aspects of the Hunzakut diet are better than that of most Westerners: absence of foods rich in sugar, practically no red meat, lots of vegetables and, of course, a combination of all this with exercise physical. To take note.