With respect to the longevity of the Hunzas, many of the testimonials of the folks were supposedly "doctored" by the government in order to promote public relations. Additionally, most of the natives were illiterate, and the country had no written records, so claims about longevity were unable to be corroborated by birth records. In fact, when geologist and engineer John Clark came to aid the Hunzas in the 1950's better their farming practices, he reported that many of the Hunzacuts had diseases of deficiency, and suffered from tuberculosis, rickets, dental decay, dysentary, parasites, and goiter. He was asked by the King to set up a medical station, where he typically treated 50 persons daily! Many rarely had access to animal foods. Interestingly, raising chickens was not only against the law, but the animals were actually forbidden because they would peck at grains which were so precious in this poverty stricken area, and further destroy the poor quality high altitude terrain. Renee Taylor glorified the Hunzas in one of her books Hunza Health Secrets For Long Life and Happiness, 1964, but she was staying in the Mir's palace, dining in royal splendor. Her book is great public relations for Shangri La, but certainly not a true account of the squalid Hunza life. And as for the other long lived culture - I recall reading that many of the Soviet Georgians, living in the Caucausus would purposely take on their grandfather's name and date of birth in order to avoid the compulsory draft into military service, thereby making claims about their longevity totally bogus..... despite what Dannon Yogurt would want us to believe. Sorry to burst bubbles, here!!!! Cheers, Judy Genova, cavegirl who won't divulge her age noway, nohow !!!!!