1 Proudly brought to you by Mazda. Tonight on Sunday ` do you have the killer gene? Huntington's disease ` the ticking time bomb in your brain. And there's just nothing you can do cos it's going to get worse. Like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's rolled into one. I've seen what it's going to end up like. Would you want to know if you were carrying it? There was a 50% chance that I could have this. All of a sudden, it felt like 98%. But do Kiwis hold the key to this incurable disease? You believe there's hope for these families? I don't believe there's hope. There is hope. I think the earth has everything we need, if it's used properly. Live long and prosper. We all want to, but how? Does science hold the answer? What if I told you that all you needed for health and prosperity was a single pill? Unlocking the secret to the fountain of youth. What I'm offering here is a programme that not only gives you more years to your life, but also more life to your years. And a brush with history ` the remarkable woman adding colour in an age of black and white. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. Copyright Able 2017 Kia ora, I'm Miriama Kamo. What did you inherit from your parents? Dad's looks? Mum's humour? Well, for some Kiwis, their inheritance is a life sentence ` Huntington's disease. It's a cruel and incurable illness, slowly destroying the brain, and it's passed down from generation to generation. But a team of Kiwi researchers is determined to lift this genetic curse. And, if they do, they'll make medical history. This from Jehan Casinader. And a warning, his story contains confronting material. This is some of Pat's art. It's really cool. It's bright, it's graphic. He had a really fantastic way of looking at light and shadows. Pat Hanly was one of our most celebrated artists. To Michael, he was much more than that. He was my grandad. What was Pat really like? He was a pretty kooky guy. A bit out there, a bit weird. He used to do all sorts of funny things. He was very noisy. (WHISTLES) He'd be like 'marvellous, marvellous, wonderful'. A lot of movement. He would always be moving around the place. He didn't really sit down. These weren't just the quirks of a creative genius. They were the signs of Huntington's, a brain disease that slowly robbed Pat of his ability to think, speak and even paint. He realised he wasn't able to paint as well as he could do, and so he decided to give up. Pat died at 72. The Hanly's thought he was the only one in their family with this disease. Had you ever talked about Huntington's? Yeah. When we talked about it, it was like 'Phew, we're lucky we missed that.' And so we had prepared ourselves for just a normal life. (LAUGHS) A life filled with colour. Michael's parents run a glass art business. Do you love what you do? Sure, it is a lot of fun. Dad is like a master craftsman. He can literally build anything. But last year, Michael began to see subtle changes in his dad, Ben. I had noticed just how much smaller he was, just looking at his arms and his legs. Two of those. His movements were a little bit shaky. He was slurring his words. A test confirmed Michael's fears. That's not the right size. His dad has Huntington's and will gradually lose control of his body and his mind. What was it like for you, when you realised that Dad had it? It's not just an immediate realisation. It's wave after wave of small realisations. It meant that at some stage, Mum was going to have to be his carer. He was probably not going to live as long as he would have. If she doesn't have him, they can't work, so their income is gone. Huntington's has no cure. It's hard to see your parents uncontrollably sobbing, (SNIFFS) and there's just nothing you can do... because it is going to get worse. But for Michael's family, there's hope in the hands of a young scientist at Auckland University. So, here we have sections of human brain tissue. This is real tissue that's been donated by people who have bequeathed their brains to science, giving such a huge gift to us. Dr Malvindar Singh-Bains is a neuroscientist ` a brain detective. This is the house of memories. This is the house of a personality. In some cultures, this is considered somebody's soul, and I'm allowed to conduct world-class research on it. Huntington's is a brain disease that causes the death of brain cells. From the moment of onset of the disease, which is normally mid-life, you have 10 to 20 years to live. Malvindar wants to find the cause of this devastating illness, and this is her most precious tool. The University's brain bank, which houses the brains of 150 Kiwis who have died from Huntington's. How do you feel when you're handling a brain? I always have the hairs on the back of my neck standing up because I realise that this is the end product of, in some cases, of a lot of suffering. OK, way you go. Now it's in your mouth. Rachel Rypma was diagnosed with Huntington's at 24. She inherited it from her dad. (VOCALISES) Whoops. Got it? Rachel's mum, Denise, has always been by her side. You never know how strong you are until you've got no choice but to be strong. READS: The adorable twosome donned matching outfits for their trip from New York. Now, you've been to New York, haven't you? Yeah. Rachel travelled the world before the disease took away her independence. She now lives in a Christchurch Care Facility for people with Huntington's. She always said she wouldn't go into care. Initially, it was really, really difficult. She didn't want to be here. She tried absconding over the fence numerous times, and I mean, that was awful to see. Rachel says he wants to die, and last year tried to starve herself to death. And I found that really hard because although I know she's going to die of this disease, it was sort of, like, all of a sudden, it was imminent. They look lovely. Yeah. She survived and is still alert. You're what? But she's becoming trapped in her own body. (VOCALISES) It will come to the stage where all she does is virtually grunt, or just not be able to verbalise anything at all. When you can't lift your chest to breathe, or you can't swallow anything or bring any food down anymore, that's eventually what kills you. I had no idea that it could get to that point. When Michael was born, his parents had no idea that this genetic curse was running through their family. If a person doesn't know their genetic status and they go on to have children, they don't know that they've passed that gene down. And what is the impact of that? It's spreading from generation to generation, and it's increasing in numbers all over the world. Michael inherited his family's creative streak, but he may have also inherited the Huntington's gene. What it's it like knowing that you may be carrying this killer gene? It's very frightening. I still don't fully comprehend what this thing's gonna do. If your parent has the gene, you have a 50-50 chance of getting it. I can't even put myself in the position of what it's like to have this ticking time bomb. But Malvindar is optimistic. I always say that Huntington's is the most curable incurable disorder. A lot of these other degenerative conditions, for example Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, we still to this day don't 100% know what is the trigger for the condition. (RACHEL VOCALISES) With Huntington's, researchers know the specific gene that causes the disease. When a Huntington's patient dies and donates their brain, It arrives at the University just hours after their death. We're able to get a lot of information about what that patient went through, which is really unique to New Zealand-based work. But if you think these brains are completely dead, think again. When your brain shuts down, not all of your cells die at the same time. Some of them are in a state where they have metabolic activity. It means they're still functioning in some way. We take a tiny piece that might only have one or two good brain cells in there. Those cells are carefully nurtured with chemicals. And eventually, after a couple of days, from that tissue, cells start growing. So what we're seeing are thousands and thousands of little brain cells lining the bottom of the flask. These cells have been grown from dead brain. This is remarkable because part of that person is living in a dish. Using those cells, researchers can trial new drugs that could break this genetic curse forever. You believe there's hope for these families? I don't believe there's hope. There is hope. Coming up ` Malvindar has a breakthrough. We're trying to cure a condition that's affecting real life people. So you do feel that pressure? Oh yeah. Plus ` if you were going to get the disease, would you want to know? What did that test result say? 1 There we go. There's Mum and Dad when I was first born. Dad thought I was gonna be a boy, didn't he? Yes. (ALL LAUGH) Hey, Mum. (LAUGHS) It's the most precious day in any parent's life ` the birth of their first child. And what do you remember about that moment, Janelle? Oh, my memory's not really good at the moment, but, yeah, I have the photos. You can't remember it? No. At 61, Janelle is succumbing to the devastating effects of Huntington's. Its changed our relationship dramatically. She's my mum, and I love her to pieces and she loves me as well. Yeah, we'll make you look pretty. Mm. But we definitely don't have those heart to hearts that mothers and daughters usually have. Here put your foot down. There you go. The disease has already killed three members of Leanne's family. Grief is not just when someone passes away. Every time we go through a decline or we see Mum decline, we go through that grief process. Now, Leanne is worried about her own future. Get in there, Mum. She and her sister Vicki each have a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. You'll forget something or you'll mess up your words or you'll drop something, and you're like, 'Oh, I do have it.' It is upsetting, and it does bring that flash of what your future's gonna look like. Leanne and Michael are part of the first generation that has access to genetic testing, allowing them to find out early whether they're carrying the Huntington's gene. But it's a dilemma. You might have to become a carer for a family member who's going through this deterioration, and you yourself are battling with whether or not you'd like to know whether you're going to be in that position. The amount of people who tell you you should get tested is unreal. Everyone thinks you should get tested. That's one of the things that can get quite overwhelming. The disease is talked about so little, that we don't even know how many Kiwis have it. People don't know what it is. They're like, 'Oh, that's a shame, whatever that thing is.' Malvindar has set up a support group for young people aiming to break the stigma and silence. Malvindar is the kind of person that's all in. All in doesn't mean she's just spending all her time in the lab trying to find a cure, but she's actually out trying to raise awareness of this disease as well. I know how difficult it is and how strong you are, and how strong you are to come forward and talk about it. It's not easy. Nobody to be singled out; nobody likes to be isolated; nobody likes to feel alone. Malvindar is a third generation Kiwi-Indian. She grew up in West Auckland, where she often felt out of place. I was called a 'curry muncher' and I didn't understand the significance of that. I ate curry a lot at home, but I didn't realise that made me different. I would say I was bullied for being a little bit nerdy. I would retreat and do something constructive to counteract the bullying. Her hard work and curiosity paid off. At high school, she was Head Girl and Dux. My pride in who I was increased as I became stronger through my parents. They've never told me, 'You must be a medical doctor and go to med school and do this, 'or you must become an accountant.' I was never pushed to do any of those things, but my parents were extremely supportive of anything that I've ever done. But she has faced opposition within her community from those who believe the human brain is sacred and should not be touched. I think a lot of people freak out at the idea of brain donation because it could stop you from moving to your after life or moving to the other side because you're not completely whole. Those beliefs haven't held Malvindar back. I do think science and religion can coexist quite nicely and one strengthens the other. In the lab, her research has led to a breakthrough. I've discovered that brain cells in certain parts of the brain that die off lead to certain symptoms. That was my big discovery, and it was published in one of the top five clinical neuroscience journals in the world. Her findings open the door for new drugs that can reduce the symptoms of the disease and delay the onset. Already, Malvindar's work is having a big impact around the world in Huntington's disease. It's shown people that a simple genetic disease actually is much more complex. She was even a finalist for Young New Zealander of the Year. Why are you doing this work in New Zealand? I've built a relationship with so many of these families. Why would I want to leave? I want to help these guys here, and I want to give them hope. When Rachel dies, she will donate her brain to Malvindar's team. If they can find a cure and somehow stop what causes it to happen, that's what she wants. She doesn't want other people to go through this. Michael doesn't know if he has the Huntington's gene ` he has not yet been tested. I've wanted to do it a few times, but I think it would have been too hard on the people who love me, and it probably wouldn't have been a right time. But Huntington's has made him appreciate the life he has. It really makes you evaluate what's important to you. You can't take anything with you when you die. This is it, so enjoy it. Come on, Leanne! Back, back. Leanne wanted to know what her future holds. I decided to get tested when I was in a serious relationship. I wanted him to know what was in store. What did that test result say? It was negative, which means I don't have the gene. My family were all in the room with me. We just celebrated, hugged each other. It was just like a weight had been lifted all of our shoulders. I can buy a house and know that I can settle down with a family. If she has children, they won't have Huntington's either. There's no chance of them being able to have the gene. It doesn't skip generations. Adding to the relief, Leanne's sister Vicki took the test, and she's also in the clear. We beat the odds. We literally beat the odds. No one was more thrilled than their mum. We don't see her smile that much any more. Her smile just beamed from ear to ear. And I think that will be the moment that sticks with me for the rest of Mum's life. Malvindar's charity is called 'The Huntington's Disease Youth Organisation.' If you'd like to donate, head to our Facebook page. We have links for other support services there too. Now, if there's one message we can take from that story, it's to not take life for granted because you never know what's around the corner. So, how do we take the best care of our bodies? After the break, we meet some people who think they have the answers. What if I told you all that you needed for health and prosperity was a single pill? I think the earth has everything we need if it's used properly. What I'm offering here is a programme that not only gives more years to your life, but more life to your ears. I look good for 104, don't I? (LAUGHTER) 1 Welcome back to Sunday. Life is a precious gift. The question is, how to make the most of it; how to make it last longer. Scientists reckon they have the answer. But is it even simpler than science? Denham Hitchcock travelled to Greece to the place they call the 'Island of the Immortals' to find out what their secret is, if indeed it is a secret. OK, girls. Let's get this party underway. # Can't touch this. # Can't touch this. These ladies aren't old. Can't touch this. They're old school. # Can't touch this. # And they've learned a thing or two about how to live a long and healthy life. If you want my advice, I say keep moving and don't become a couch potato. Good food and good wine helps to keep me young. Have a happy outlook on life. No point being morbid and sad. Nobody's gonna listen to you. Everyone has an opinion, but is there a magic bullet? Tonight, we are about to find out. Our trip will take us around the world, from the rustic farmlands of an idyllic island... I think the earth has everything we need if it's used properly. ...to cutting-edge science in New York. What if I told you all that you needed for health and prosperity was a single pill? I'll even put my body on the line with an extreme diet. Don't think I've ever gone this long without food. The hope? To unlock a fountain of youth that exists in every one of us. What I'm offering here is a programme that not only gives more years to your life, but more life to your years. There is no way that I could do another hour. (WAVES LAP GENTLY) Life is good. Why wouldn't you want more of it? But what are the secrets to a long and happy life? Well, that's why I'm on a boat in the middle of the Mediterranean to find out. Ahead is the island of Ikaria, a place with so many people over the age of 100, they call it the 'Island of the Immortals.' (LIGHT MUSIC) Hello, Denham. How are you? (LAUGHS) Welcome. Thank you very much. Nice to see you. Nice to see you. I think I've come to steal your secrets. Once you learn our secrets though, you can't leave. You have to stay. OK? I think I'll be all right with that. Sounds good. (LAUGHS) (RELAXED MUSIC) What's the difference between the outside world and this island? Wow. Completely different. Completely different philosophy, lifestyle, food,... pastimes, a lot of difference. Thea Parikos has lived on Ikaria for more than 20 years. Her home is in one of a handful of remarkable regions around the world known as 'Blue Zones' where inexplicably, locals live longer than the rest of us. So, it looks like you're about to make me work for my lunch. On the island, the recipe for longevity is fresh, organic food, a strong community spirit, and exercise, any way you can get it. Been told the best way is to catch a chicken is to sneak up on her. (GRUNTS) Ah-ha! (LAUGHS) Sorry, buddy. It's lunch for you. So, of the ingredients that you're using in all these dishes,... Mm-hm. ...which are the ones that are going to make me live a long and happy life? They all contribute something though, don't they? You have onion, you have pepper, zucchini. Everything that's in here adds something. But I have all of these at home,.. Yeah. ...so why aren't we getting the same results as you're getting on this island? That's a good question. Maybe you need to come to Ikaria for a while. (LAUGHS) The man to answer this question is the man who started the Blue Zone study ` Dan Buettner. Dan. As the man with the secrets to longevity, you'd be expected to live a long and happy life. I look good for 104, don't I? (BOTH LAUGH) Dan is an author and explorer. He's circled the globe looking for the mythical fountain of youth, and he believes he's found it. Five places where people live the longest, the so-called 'Blue Zones'. Sardinia and Ikaria are the first two. Then, over to Okinawa, Japan; Loma Linda in the United States, and number five is the Nicoya Peninsula. So, the organising principle in all Blue Zones is that people don't try to live and be 100. We tend to think of health and longevity as something we're gonna buck up for ` be disciplined, schedule a workout, eat our veggies. But in Blue Zones, people have no idea how they've made it to 100. They never said at age 50, 'Well, darn it, 'I'm gonna get on that longevity diet and live another 50 years.' (LAUGHS) While we were in Greece, we decided to ask them ourselves. Mr and Mrs Plakas have been moving and laughing for almost a century. If there was one thing that is the secret, what is it? (SPEAKS IN GREEK) TRANSLATOR: 'As long as you keep doing something, you exist. 'Moving makes you alive.' But they're teenagers compared to the unstoppable Ioanna Proiou. (SINGS IN GREEK) She made some time for us, but not too much. There's work to do, a shop to run, students to teach. I've brought you a small gift. I'm not sure` I don't want to ruin your figure, but... (EXCLAIMS, LAUGHS) (SLOW PIANO MUSIC) TRANSLATOR: And my mind is working, and my body feels good, and I feel good, and that's it. Is there a retirement age on Ikaria? No, of course not. There is the age where you retire from your work in order to do what you've always wanted to do and enjoy your life. But we don't think of it as retirement, in the sense that, 'I'm going to stop.' For us, it's 'Oh, now I have more time to do what I've been wanting to do.' Cos Nikolas the fisherman, he's still going in his 90s. Yes. Of course. Isn't it time to let the young people catch the fish when you're 90? No. No? You can catch them better. (BOTH LAUGH) There's one last thing ` one lonely little secret ` and it's near the top of their list. It's red wine. For breakfast? For breakfast. Red wine for breakfast? Yeah. (SPEAKS GREEK) Wine, get water and blend. He's excited about that. Yes. Dr Katas is also excited. As the main doctor on the island, she knows her patients are special. When you examine these patients that are over the age of 100. When you listen to their hearts, what do you hear? 40 years younger? Yes. In here? Yes, yes. That's amazing. She said, in her words, it's a miracle what she's listening to. If you notice the lifestyle of older people there, they're not just sitting around. They're not recipients of healthcare. They're not waiting for someone to take care of them. They're actively involved, and families are actively involved in the economics, and they're still having fun. You know, with these big parties at 3 in the morning, you'll see these 90-year-olds and 100-year-olds out there dancing with everybody else. In fact, their health and vitality is the result of a series of fortunate events. A remote location has meant farming practices have hardly changed in generations. It's organic, free of chemicals and preservatives. There are very few roads and plenty of hills, so lots of exercise, and that includes dancing into the early hours. A community that celebrates the good life, together. No early bedtime here, just a 90-year-old beekeeper tearing up the dance floor, and putting me to shame. Eat, drink and be merry ` the Ikrarian recipe for long life is delightful. But it's not the only one. (LAUGHS) (LAUGHTER) OK. (LAUGHS) There's a lot of money in secrets, especially when those secrets promise a youthful and a longer life. So, a long way from here at the frontiers of science, in labs and under microscopes, they are redefining everything we know about aging. Which is what brings me to Milan, Italy, to meet a scientist who's convinced we can all have a longer life by doing the exact opposite of what goes on in Ikaria. Valter Longo believes what we need to do every now and then is to simply stop eating. What did you do to these little guys? Well, these are mice that have been put on a fasting diet for the purpose of rejuvenating them, killing bad cells, replacing them with good cells. Brand new cells created simply by putting the mice on a strict diet. They live about 11% to 18% longer. 11 to 18? 18% longer, yes. So that's mice. What about humans? Valter and his team have come up with a five-day diet for us. An amount of food so small it mimics fasting ` something he says our bodies are designed to do. If you take a bacteria and you starve it, the bacteria will live longer, become stronger. The extreme diet causes something extraordinary to happen within the human body. It kills off the damaged cells we all carry ` damaged cells that create diseases like cancer. The body gets rid of damaged cells, simply to save energy. The next step is just as remarkable. Valter claims when a patient begins to eat again, new stem cells are created. The body's building blocks, stem cells can become any cell in the human body. Rebuilding the liver, rebuilding the muscles, rebuilding the immune system. So you're rebuilding yourself stronger, healthier? Yes. Every thing that's needed for the diet is within this box. I could ask a hundred questions, but it wouldn't be as good as doing it myself. Have you got any advice for me? Just stick with it, and the first time is much tougher on people. So, here I go. I'm doing the diet under the watchful eye of a GP. These blood tests will let me know if there's been any change in my biology. There's 4L of blood in the human body. Trillions of cells that hold the very secret to how we age. Now, this is a little uncomfortable right now, but I got a feeling it's gonna get a whole lot worse. Well, after the break, we'll see just how well Denham handles his diet, and how tough it really is. But more importantly, whether or not it makes a difference to his health. I am starting to feel angry already just looking at the size of this sad little breakfast. Stomach is in knots. Don't think I've ever gone this long without food. My heart is racing, and I'm extremely hungry. (SIGHS DEEPLY) I haven't eaten any solid food for four days. Just gotta deal with it. Deal with it. Welcome back to Sunday. As Forever Young continues, reporter Denham Hitchcock is about to undergo an extreme diet, which in theory, is supposed to slow the aging process. But does living longer have to be that tough? Not according to those scientists who say they've got the secret to a long, healthy life in a pill. Let's see how Denham gets on. I've been all over the world, searching for the secret to a long, healthy life. But the journey isn't over yet. I made a promise to try the fasting diet pioneered by Professor Valter Longo in Milan. All the way from Italy. This box has everything I need, supposedly, for the next five days of fasting. This is my apartment. Welcome to my world for the next week. So this is what's going to replace my meals... (CHUCKLES) for the next five days. Day one... is very light. Before I begin the fast, we need to take some measurements to find out if this diet really works. So, you're on a DEXA scan machine. It's gonna measure your total weight body mass, fat mass and bone density. Any changes we see from this diet will be absolutely picked up by this machine. Any change in my weight, we'll see here. But blood analysis before and after will be the big test. Is it possible to grow new stem cells from something as simple as fasting? We'll see you in a week; we'll find out. Absolutely. Good to meet ya. Thank you. Cheers. (CELL PHONE RINGS) Day one ` it begins. I'm going to try and go about my normal routine. I need to survive on less than a third of the calories a normal person would consume. But I eat a whole lot more than a normal person, so this is gonna be tough. We've been to dinner, you and I, so you've seen me eat a couple of courses, so you know this is gonna be difficult for me. Yes, yes. You're used to some bad habits, I should say. I am starting to feel angry already just looking at the size of this sad little breakfast. Lemon tea,... an oil capsule,... and a nut bar. (ENGINE STARTS) On day one, you can expect to struggle a little bit because of your attachment to the food and the ritual of food and the food you eat. Stomach is in knots. Don't think I've ever gone this long without food. Soup. Packet soup, awesome. (SIGHS DEEPLY) So, it's day two ` had a bad night's sleep, and I woke up with a stomach in knots. Think I was a little ambitious with the surf yesterday, so today I'm gonna take it easy. Couple of little soups during the day. It's all you need. Oh, shit. ALL: Whoa. Just for you, mate, specially prepared from the kitchen. (LAUGHTER) (LAUGHTER CONTINUES) On day three, we get very different results. Some people may get euphoria. They feel on top of the world and everything is clear. And some people feel very tired. So, it's really interesting how it can go either way. OK. So, I'm starting to feel a little bit panicked. My heart is racing, and I'm extremely hungry. And they gave me this, which is to test my blood glucose levels. And this will tell me if it's in a dangerous zone. (EXHALES) 4.3. (LAUGHS) 4.3 means that it's all in my head. Just gotta deal with it. Deal with it. So, you expect for something following this diet, to get an extra 10 years of life and an extra 10 healthy years? I think that that is the potential. But more so, I think that to a percentage of people, this could make a difference between getting cancer and not getting cancer. Or getting cardiovascular disease and never getting cardiovascular disease. Or getting diabetes or even having diabetes. (FAST ELECTRONIC MUSIC) Aside from a few crackers, I haven't eaten any solid food for four days. I'm not thinking about stem cells and longevity as much as I'm thinking about food. A few friends of mine who've fasted before told me that I'd hit a wall, and I'd crash through it, and my body would just adjust to the new normal. I feel like I've slammed into that wall, and I've just slumped against it. # Dun-dun-dun-dun-dun-dun. # Oh-ho-ho! One to go! I've made it to the final day. Day five. I never thought I'd make it this far. I'm so happy. So, five days of starvation. Was it worth it? Valter. It's good to see you, good to talk to you. Please tell me that there's some results from those blood tests. The results look good. More than good, they are remarkable. A dramatic growth in stem cells that repair and replenish diseased or damaged tissue. This sounds like a pretty good result. Yes, I think it's an excellent result, and you are healthier than you were before. And in 10 years time, will I look as good as you? Uh, better. (LAUGHS) But is extreme fasting a realistic option for everyone? How are you gonna get a city like Sydney to start fasting? 'Everybody, let's National Fast Day!' How many people are gonna, you know, walk away from the barbie and the beer and fast? It's a great idea, but the feasibility is zero. But what if I told you all that you needed for health and prosperity was a single pill? Interested? The pill is called Metformin. It's commonly used to control blood sugar levels in diabetics. But scientists have discovered an astonishing side effect. It may also reduce the common diseases that come with old age, therefore prolonging life. How does the drug work? Really very simply it repairs a lot of the alterations that we see in aging. So, when we give Metformin to animals, they live longer, and more importantly, they live healthier. When we go to humans, it will prevent their diabetes by 30%. It will prevent cardiovascular diseases, also by about 30%. Cancer is decreased by 30% ` all kinds of cancer, almost every kind of cancer. We all hope for a longer, healthier life. The answer may be in the Blue Zone of Ikaria or a radical fasting diet from Milan. Perhaps, easiest of all, an anti-aging pill. For me, I'd like to think our bodies hold the answer. That fasting, as difficult as it was, was nature's way of not only repairing ourselves, but slowing the obesity epidemic. # You can't touch this. A long life is one thing. But what's the point unless you're enjoying it? Enjoy life. Get the most out of it. I mean, you've only got a limited time. I mean, we don't know how long our limited time is. Don't waste a minute. # Music hits me so hard, makes me say, 'Oh my Lord.' # Thank you for blessing me with a mind to rhyme and two hype feet. # How fabulous. Since shooting that story, Denham says it's completely changed how he views food. Well, up next, we meet one of the women who helped colour in our heritage. In an age when black and white was the norm and landscape photos came from the Northern Hemisphere, these young Kiwi women changed all that with the stroke of a brush. I thought this was an amazing opportunity for me as a young woman to do something creative, which is what I'd wanted all my life. And I'm very proud of that. (PIANO MUSIC) Welcome back. Loading Docs is a documentary initiative that aims to captivate and inspire audiences and develop New Zealand filmmaking talent. We love them, and we think you will, too. Here's Greg Wood and Peter Alsop's film, The Colourist, about Grace Rawson, who worked for Whites Aviation, hand colouring black and white aerial photos of Aotearoa. (SOMBRE PIANO MUSIC) In the 50s, most people had on their walls prints that came from Europe and really had no relevance to New Zealand. And suddenly, Mr White came along with his scenic series. (SOMBRE PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES) Colour photography was just in its infancy, really, and at this time, Leo White was looking for hand colourists because he was producing all these beautiful photographs of New Zealand, and I thought this was an amazing opportunity for me as a young woman to do something creative, which is what I'd wanted all my life. So, I joined the team of young girls that had set up the art studio in Auckland to do the hand colouring for Whites Aviation. (PIANO MUSIC) What people don't realise is that every single Whites Aviation photograph is an individually hand-coloured original. They were not prints. And that made them very special. (PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES) (MUSIC CONTINUES) When each of the pictures was actually finished by the girls, Mr Stewart, who was our supervisor, would come along with his white pen and ink and sign the paintings 'Whites'. Then you would know they were a Whites original. When we got married in 1958, we travelled all over New Zealand and found all those places, where we camped exactly where the photograph had been taken from. So, when you've actually seen the place that you're colouring, I'm there. I'm there in my mind, and that's a great difference. I had no idea there were going to become the iconic portraits that they are. But now, when I look back at what we did as young girls, it's wonderful to have been able to shine a light on the art and photography of that era in our time now, and I'm very proud of that. (PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES) My name is Grace Rawson. Now I'm 83, and I worked as a hand colourist for Whites Aviation in the '50s. (PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES) And Loading Docs is made with the support of New Zealand on Air, along with the New Zealand Film Commission and Te Mangai Paho. To watch the past collections and to find out more, check out loadingdocs.net. That's our show for tonight. Do join us on Facebook and Twitter, SundayTVNZ.