A legacy of health: Soong Mei-ling – longevity and fight against can.cer

Soong Mei-ling, widely known as Madame Chiang, was a highly influential political figure who shaped Chinese politics and international relations during the first half of the 20th century.

She was the second wife of Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek, but long before their marriage, she was accustomed to a privileged life. Born into a wealthy and accomplished family, Soong Mei-ling received an excellent education and moved comfortably within elite social circles.

At just 40 years old, she was diagnosed with cancer—a prognosis that would have ended many lives at the time. Remarkably, she overcame the illness and went on to live until the age of 106, passing away in 2003. Her extraordinary longevity fascinated people around the world.

Wikipedia

Much of the attention surrounding her long life focused on her disciplined lifestyle and deep respect for Traditional Chinese Medicine. She believed that health was built through consistent daily habits, balanced nutrition, and mental engagement.

Soong Mei-ling maintained a strict sleep schedule, going to bed at 11 p.m. and waking at 9 a.m. each day. She devoted about two hours daily to creative pursuits such as reading and drawing, activities she believed helped keep her mind sharp and calm.

Each morning began with a glass of cold water mixed with lemon. Her diet emphasized fresh fruits, particularly kiwis, pineapples, and lychees. Celery was a key vegetable in her meals, prized in traditional Chinese medicine for its nutritional value. Rich in proteins, carbohydrates, carotenoids, and B vitamins, celery was also easy and inexpensive to grow. It was believed to support heart health, protect eyesight, aid weight management, and combat free-radical damage.

Spinach was another dietary staple. Packed with protein, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and vitamin B2, spinach was thought to slow aging, enhance brain function, and support digestive and pancreatic health.

One of Soong Mei-ling’s most notable habits was her approach to eating. She preferred small, frequent meals—five per day—and stopped eating when she felt about 70 percent full. This practice left her in a constant state of light hunger, a method she believed promoted longevity and overall wellness.

Even today, many women seeking better health or weight loss continue to draw inspiration from Soong Mei-ling’s disciplined lifestyle and mindful approach to food.

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