Imre Nagy: Lessons in Longevity from the Mountains of Hungary

Born in 1925 into a poor, peasant family, Imre Nagy grew up working the fields on the Great Hungarian Plain.

But after leading a very full life, Nagy didn’t find his true calling until he turned 60 years old, when a serious illness changed the course of his life.

Now, Nagy, a subscriber to Life Extension^® Magazine, continues to take active steps to maintain his health and longevity—and finds fulfillment in helping others do the same.

Changes Over the Years

Nagy worked as a border policeman for a short time after World War II, but he spent most of his adult life as a restaurant manager. During that time, he met and married his first wife, and they had one child together. They ultimately divorced, after which he re-married and had another son.

“I met my wives randomly,” Nagy said. “I never looked for a woman consciously, like today’s young people on the Internet.”

That’s not the only change during his life on which Nagy commented. Over the years, he witnessed inventions like color TV, dishwashers, computers, and even sliced bread—and in his opinion not all of them have been beneficial for our health.

“Technical development changed a lot of things in our life,” said Nagy. “Everything became faster, but people became more stressed.”

He remembers when life was simpler.

In his early childhood, he worked hard in the fields. To help his family earn extra money, he also caught pheasants by trap near his village, and then traveled to Budapest by train, where he sold them in the marketplace.

As an adult, when he wasn’t working at the restaurant, he spent his time beekeeping, breeding rabbits, raising chickens, and growing his own fruit and vegetables.

A Life-Changing Illness

When Nagy turned 60 years old, he began experiencing a burning pain in his stomach, in addition to gas, bloating, and nausea. He had developed gastric and duodenal ulcers, which are open sores that form in the lining of the stomach and the duodenum, the upper part of the small intestine.

Rather than turning to traditional medical treatments, Nagy utilized natural treatments like fasting, consuming herbal teas, and dietary changes. It was during this time that he also discovered bioenergy-increasing exercises, which are breathing exercises designed to increase the oxygen level in the blood.

Studies have shown that increasing blood oxygen levels has health benefits including creating energy, eliminating toxins, strengthening the immune system, boosting mental clarity, reducing stress, and much more.

Nagy’s own success using natural remedies to heal his ulcers inspired him to help others do the same. So, at the age of 60, he studied to become a naturopathic doctor (a doctor who uses natural remedies to help the body heal itself).

He started his own practice, and 30 years later, he still spends his days helping patients.

Treating the “Diseases of Civilization”

Nagy mostly deals with what he calls “diseases of civilization,” which include conditions like high blood pressure, type II diabetes, gastric ulcers, and the like.

And while the recommendations may vary from person to person and condition to condition, he believes every patient can benefit from fasting before and during treatment, taking various herbs and supplements, and doing bioenergy-increasing exercises.

For example, for individuals with high blood pressure, he recommends dietary changes such as cutting out pork and animal fat, and eating more fish, fruit, vegetables, and cold-pressed oil.

He also recommends specific herbal teas such as mistletoe and white horn, and supplements like lecithin, garlic capsules, magnesium, and calcium.

His work as a naturopath led him to discover Life Extension Magazine, which he finds especially valuable because, he said, “I can order products that are not available anywhere else, such as senolytics and NAD⁺.”

The Daily Climb

At 94, Nagy is still going strong.

He wakes up every morning, drinks a glass of lukewarm water, and then runs up a nearby mountain with his dog, Buksi. At the top of the mountain, he does bioenergy-increasing exercises.

Nagy explained that for these exercises, he stands by a tree with his legs spread wide apart. “I bend down and then lift up my body while I breathe in deeply. After that, I circle my arms around while holding my breath. I do 100 repetitions two times a day.”

After coming down from the mountain, he spends his days either tending to his patients, gardening, or resting. He recently returned from a health spa resort, where he spent two weeks walking, swimming, hiking, and exercising.

Nagy is proud of the fact that he doesn’t take any medicine.

The Secret to His Longevity

Nagy believes nutrition plays a key role in health and longevity. He eats mostly fruit and vegetables, drinks 2.5 liters (about 85 ounces) of water per day, and takes supplements including a multivitamin, coenzyme Q10, melatonin, NAD⁺, senolytic activator, astragalus root extract, and a cereal sprout extract.

“I think nutrition is very important, but not alone,” said Nagy. “Balance, temperance, love, getting enough sleep, and bioenergy-increasing exercise are also essential.”

He admitted that he does enjoy a glass of brandy on occasion—but stresses that it is “within bounds.”

He also emphasizes the importance of being socially active, which studies have consistently shown contributes to a longer life.

That’s why he regularly visits the Naturopath Club in the nearby town of Keszthely, a club Nagy established 25 years ago. Nagy himself still gives lectures for the members, although he often invites different naturopaths and doctors to speak as well.

To those wanting to stay healthy and fit well into their 90s, Nagy has a few key pieces of advice.

“It is essential to eat healthy, to cleanse the body regularly, and do bioenergy-increasing training every day,” he said. “But love and faith are the most important things. Individuals should learn how they can be content in life no matter what the circumstances.”

Nagy has accomplished a lot in his 94 years, but when he thinks back to what he’s most proud of, it comes down to three things: “My cured patients, my family, and my long, healthy life.”

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Imre Nagy is a naturopath practicing in Gyenesdiás, Hungary, helping people to heal themselves using natural remedies. He is a founder of the Naturopath Club in the town of Keszthely.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension^® Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.