Abkhazians are famous for living a long time. A census in 1970 found that 40 percent of the people were over 90 years old.

Khfaf Lasuria, a resident of Kutol village, Abkhazia, worked at a tea plantation until she was 128, and continued to smoke a pack of cigarettes and drink wine after she turned 130. She was still performing native folk dance in a local troop when she was 133. [Source: Alexander Leaf M.D., National Geographic, January 1973]

Lasuria told National Geographic in 1973 that her father lived 100 years and her mother was 101 or 102 and she was 50 when she married for the second time; was 52 when her 82-year-old son was born; and started smoking in 1910 when her younger brother died at the age of 60.

Osman Bzheniya, a resident of the village Lykhny, Abkhazia, continued to work part time on a collective farm at the age of 120. Temur Tarba, continued riding horseback and smoked heavily till 100. Kostya Kashigm, who was probably around 90, spent four months living in the high mountain pastures, scrambling over rugged mountain trails, sleeping in a simple wooden lean.  He cooked his meals outside- abista (traditional meal made of corn flour), cheese which he made by himself and sour goat’s milk.

Reasons for Long-Living

 Among the reasons that have been suggested for the longevity of the Abkhazians are their high levels of physical activity even for people over 100; low cholesterol (less half the rate of Americans); low calorie intake; being married late; living in a culture that gives high social status to the elderly; a sense of usefulness and having parents or other relatives [Source: New York Times, Alexander Leaf M.D., National Geographic, January 1973]

 Many Abkhazians centenarians had at least one relative that lived 100 years or more; had many children.  Many of them drank alcohol, although less than younger people. At large feasts old people still drink wine although their portions tend to be smaller than younger people. One study found that only 2.5 percent of the centenarians were childless while 44 percent had four to six children; 23 percent had two or three children; 19 percent had seven to nine children; and 5 percent had 10 to 15 children

Some Abkhazians continued to take long horseback rides and winter swims after they reached 100. Most of the centenarians lived in rural areas. The men worked as hunters, shepherds and farmers. One 117-year-old farmer, who still working outside half a day, told National Geographic the secret to his long life was “active physical work”. A 108-year-old former shepherd said he took long walks and “had no worries” and “never had a single enemy.”

 A Soviet study of 1,000 people over 80 in Abkhazia, including more than 100 centenarians, in the 1970s found that old people consumed around 1,800 calories of food a day; 60 percent was eating milk, vegetables, meats and fruits with 70 percent of the calories from vegetables and grains and 30 percent from milk and meat. Milk was the main source of protein and sour milk and cheeses were widely eaten throughout the year. He told National Geographic, “The constant physical activity improves cardiopulmonary function...”