JEAN PHILIP DE TENDER

I want to live long — but in the best possible condition. That’s what longevity gurus like Peter Attia (Outlive) and Eric Topol (Superagers) mean by longevity: not just the length of life, but the quality of life.

Some people are naturally gifted with longevity, but you only find that out when you die. Better not to gamble. Better to take some control. That’s what I’m doing — and I’ve written about this before.

Data are a gold mine, so I track my life in multiple ways. Day One and my Apple Watch are important companions.

Recently, I noticed a small increase in my blood pressure. Nothing serious — mine is usually on the low side — but it was worth discussing with my Swiss doctor, Arno. He asked: Are you stressed? Sleeping badly? Stopped exercising?

I considered the impact of alcohol. I have a busy social life, so drinks are never far away. These spirits are always around me — was I drinking too much? I decided to test it: no alcohol between two doctor’s appointments. Eight weeks. Surprisingly, it didn’t take much effort. I realised I can easily do without it.

It’s a change of habit, and often more about convincing your drinking mates than convincing yourself. You do need to break ingrained patterns: coming home from work and having that glass of wine “to transition,” going to a reception and automatically picking up a glass of wine instead of apple juice, choosing wines that pair perfectly with the menu, having a spritz to celebrate the start of summer… Sounds familiar? I still wanted a glass in my hand, so I found alternatives: non‑alcoholic beers (excellent), kombucha (healthy), kefir (even healthier). Non‑alcoholic wines were not an option.

I just left the doctor. Alcohol didn’t seem to have a significant impact on my blood pressure — but the experience was great. I can’t go back to my previous drinking habits. This was a recalibration. A reset. A switch from drinking by default to drinking deliberately. And since I’ll be drinking less, I can afford to choose the best wine on the menu.

And thanks for those who championed me.