Dr. Gladys McGarey, who still practices and regularly rides around on a tricycle in her hometown of Scottsdale, Ariz., has revealed her secret to living a long life, and it’s not some secret superfood or power ingredient. Instead, the main thing she suggests is that people drink plenty of water. She went on to explain that not hydrating properly can lead to a myriad of problems down the line. “Our body is largely made of water, and it needs water to sustain itself,” said Gladys. Without sufficient water, we can experience memory issues, confusion, and other health issues. Gladys also advised that there’s no one “bad” food that she would advise everyone to avoid. “There’s no one-size-fits-all; if someone hates something, it won’t serve them,” she said. As a holistic medicine doctor, Gladys takes the patient’s mind, body and spirit into account during treatment. She co-founded the American Board of Holistic Medicine and had a family practice for more than 60 years. Today, the mother-of-six continues to work as a consulting doctor and writer. As for her own routine, Gladys said she starts the day with stretching and prayer, followed by a healthy, high-fiber breakfast and a cup of coffee. For lunch she has a salad, before taking an hour-long nap. “At some point along the way, I try to get my 3,800 steps in with my walker, which I often do just walking around my home.” For dinner she has a light meal, so she doesn’t go to bed with a heavy stomach. Bedtime is at 8 p.m. to ensure she gets the rest she needs. She also receives a full-body massage each week, believing that everyone needs some sort of safe and comforting touch from others, even if that means just curling up with a pet. Of course, she also rides her tricycle around her property regularly, riding slowly and enjoying every minute. Gladys says that every aspect of her routine is geared to lining up her purpose and keeping things moving.
