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 !!!!!