The longevity secrets of deceased leaders

Recently, former Vice Minister of Health Gu Yingqi revealed the longevity secrets of leaders like Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping in his book. Deng Xiaoping maintained a positive mindset and lived long through optimism. Chen Yun was strict with himself, limiting himself to just one small dish of thirteen peanuts per meal.
Experts including Gu Yingqi compiled the “Red Health Book,” revealing that Mao Zedong was famously non-cooperative with doctors, making it difficult for his physicians to change his habit of working late at night. Mao reportedly took sleeping pills for thirty years. As for the rumor that Mao loved braised pork, it was actually only when he won a major victory or completed a difficult task that he would treat himself to a bowl of braised pork.
Zhu De, who once served as Red Army Commander-in-Chief, never smoked or drank alcohol. He valued physical activity throughout his life, continuing to walk daily after liberation. His walking standard was to avoid panting, fatigue, and a pulse rate exceeding 100 beats per minute.
Deng Xiaoping paid close attention to daily health care. He bathed in cold water all year round. When he could no longer endure cold water in old age, he switched to warm water. Every Saturday, he took a hot bath with a basin of soy milk added to the water—this helped care for his dry skin.
Compared to the others, Chen Yun, who lived to 91, had the weakest constitution. Yet his longevity stemmed largely from being one of the few central leaders to quit smoking early. Chen Yun practiced strict dietary restraint: his meals centered on greens and tofu, with everything strictly portioned. Even peanuts were limited to thirteen per serving, walks to thirteen minutes, and meetings to three minutes.
Secondly, his wife, Ruomu, was a renowned nutrition expert who insisted on the principle of “five fruits as auxiliary,” requiring Chen Yun to eat two bananas or another fruit after every meal.