Matthew McConaughey's mom, 93, says her key to aging well is avoiding stress
Matthew McConaughey's mother, who's 93, says a positive attitude helps her stay well at her age.
Kay McConaughey told Austin Lifestyle that she tries to avoid stressful situations.
She makes a conscious effort to keep her mind active by reading and keeping up with current events.
Matthew McConaughey's mother, Kay McConaughey, is 93 and says she's still in great shape thanks to being stress-free.
In an interview with Austin Lifestyle, McConaughey — born Mary Kathlene McCabe — said she's able to lead a vibrant life because she eats well, exercises regularly, and has a positive attitude.
"But the biggest thing for me is I don't stress. Like, if you and I were really good friends and, and you were talking to me and you had a situation, I would listen to you and I would give you advice and if you didn't take it, then that's it. I wouldn't stress over it," McConaughey told Austin Lifestyle.
She also tries to avoid getting into stressful situations.
"If I see that's where I'm headed, I back off. I'm not going to let people do that to me," she said.
And McConaughey said that she "never really had any reason to" be stressed when she was younger, either.
"I was really popular and I had a zest for life, and stress is not a word I can apply to me, ever," she said.
She also does Pilates four times a week and eats a "very healthy breakfast" consisting of yogurt and "lots of different fruits," she said.
"My father was very healthy, and he taught my sister and I that you are what you eat, and you are what you think, and I've tried to live by those two things, really and truly, because if you think you're dumb, guess what? You're probably dumb. If you think you're smart, then you're probably smart," McConaughey said. "So I have always thought I am what I think, and that's why I think positive."
While her family doesn't have "any sweets in our house, ever," she said, she enjoys drinking wine every day — one glass at 5 o'clock and another glass when she goes to bed.
She acknowledged that keeping her body and mind active at her age requires a conscious effort.
"I read a lot. I keep up with things. You have to work at it at my age. I keep up with current events on my iPad," she said. "I want to know what's happening in the world. I'm curious, very curious about life, still."
Research has found that chronic stress can weaken the immune system and may also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal problems.
Just 30 minutes of low- to moderate-intensity exercise each day, like walking, can stabilize mood and improve sleep.
Practicing "micromeditations" for less than a minute daily can also help lower stress levels and improve mental health, Dr. Kien Vuu, a physician who specializes in antiaging and regenerative medicine, told Business Insider previously.
One technique involves a simple exercise of focusing on your breath as you inhale for a count of four, hold for a count of seven, and exhale for a count of eight, he said.
Business Insider reached out to Kay McConaughey via a representative for her son. They did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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