The thermodynamic theory of aging, as formulated by Professor Georgi P. Gladyshev, helps explain why mountain people live extraordinarily long lives, as borne out by the centuries of human experience. Longevity is connected above all with two factors. The first factor - genetic or hereditary - derives from natural selection and the human body's long-term adaptation to highland conditions. The genetic aspect took root over long periods of time stretching across the lives of hundreds of generations. The second factor of longevity is related to the environment determined by climatic conditions, the nature of the diet, and physical conditioning. The effects of this factor depend on the adaptational capacities of the body and is observable during short periods of time - much shorter, indeed, than the individual's length of life. The thermodynamic theory of aging says that the nature of the food consumed has a major effect on the process of aging and the quality of life. The theory helps predict the principles of diet formulation that include "evolutionally young" products of vegetative and animal origin. These diets prolong life and improve the quality of life. The gerontological factor of a natural food product depends on its chemical content and supramolecular structure. In scientific terms, the chemical composition and supramolecular structure of a food product depends on its ontogenetic and phylogenetic age and on the habitat of the organism that provides the product. The magnitude of the Gibbs function of formulation of its supramolecular structures is an important quantity characteristic of the natural food product's usefulness in the fight against aging. Scholars have worked out recommendations for production companies: to put out food additives (vitamin complexes and other compositions) containing all physiologically important ingredients of living tissue. The doses of the components should ensure a concentration in the patient's tissue as close as possible to the concentration of these substances in the tissue of a young organism. Mountaineers in their eighties promise to live long lives

Mountain people are blessed with good health. Many of them live very long lives. Lukyaeva Koekkoez lived to 110 years Ohokka Zalikhanov, legendary highlander who climbed to the peak of the Elbrus 209 times lived to 116 years Academician, Professor Husein Chokkaevich Zalikhanov, member of a family blessed with long life. Founder of the Kabardin-Balkar Mountain Reserve and the Prielbruse National Park. Distinguished mountaineer and mountain explorer. Organized many triumphant ascents and expeditions. Merited Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation. Honorary member of a number of international societies and academies