How to Life Longer and Healthier!
Science is very clear about how to improve your chances to live longer. Of course, following all of these to the letter will not mean you will live longer, but it will definitely improve your chances.
These are not easy - and that is probably why we do not usually follow them. That is one reason why the US at least is hypertensive, too heavy, diabetic, don't exercise and have a life expectency ,
As a matter of fact, America has the lowest life expectancy at birth among comparable countries.
Thirteen Ways to Life Longer
1. Avoid overeating. Calorie restriction may help reduce body weight and abdominal fat - both of which are associated with shorter lifespans.
2. Add Nuts to your Diet. They are rich in protein, fiber, antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds; they have lots of vitamins and miners such as copper, magnesium, potassium, folate, niacin and vitamins.
Studies of over 350,000 people show that those who ate nuts had a 4-27% lower risk of dying early; eating one serving of nuts a day had the greatest effect.
3. Turmeric may be a great addition to your diet - as long as you are not on anticoagulants. It has great antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties; some animal studies show it increases lifespan.
Turmeric has a mild anti-coagulant so do not use if you are already on anti-coagulants.
4. Eat more healthy plant foots like fruits, vegetables, seeds, and beans. There are many studies linking a plant-rich diet to a lower risk of premature death, reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, depression, and brain deterioration.
5. Stay physically active. Being physically active helps you live longer adding years to your life span. As few as fifteen minutes of exercise a day helps, and each15 minutes of exercise more a day reduces your risk of premature death by 4%.
6. Don't Smoke! Nuff said. Smoking is strongly linked to disease and early death. People who smoke lost about 10 years of life and are three times more likely to die prematurely than those who never smoke.
It is never too late to stop smoking, though.
7. Limit alcohol intake - heavy alcohol consumption is linked to liver, heart, pancreas disease and increases risk of early death.
8. Prioritize Your Happiness. Feeling happy can significantly increase life longevity. Learn to be happy in your current situation, be grateful for the blessings you have and you will more likely live longer!
9. Avoid Chronic Stress and Anxiety. This is the opposite of #8 - feeling chronic stress (like being a doctor!) can reduce life expectancy.
The chance of premature death is up to three time greater for anxious or stressed men compared to their relaxed counterparts.
10. Have Healthy Social Network - have friends! Belong to clubs, churches, have social outlets, join a gym with other people, etc. Just having three social ties (as with good friends) decreases your risk of early death by more than 200%.
It also turns out that giving support to others is more important than receiving support. It is better to give than to receive.
11. Be Self Disciplined I think most of us here have self-disciplines. This includes being organized, efficient and goal oriented.
Children who were considered persistent, organized, and disciplined lived eleven percent longer than their less conscientious counterparts.
Conscientious people have lower blood pressure and lower risk of diabetes, heart, and joint problems.
12. Drink Coffee or Tea. Both of these are linked to a decreased risk of chronic disease. Coffee drinking is linked to a lower risk of diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancer,
13. Develop Good Sleeping Patterns. Sleep is crucial for your health; longevity is linked to regular sleeping patterns such as going to bed and getting up at the same time every day.
Sleeping less than 5-7 hours or more than 8-9 hours a night can reduce your life expectancy. Too little sleep promotes inflammation and increases risk of diabetes, heart disease and obesity - all of which produce a shorter lifespan.
Summary
Of course, everybody has to follow these with their own health at heart - especially do not start exercise without discussing with your doctor.
But most of these are pretty obvious - yet, most American do not follow these simple rules - and then we wonder why we die early.
It does not matter that America spends far more on its health than other countries, yet we tend to die earlier.
Hope this helps us all live better, longer, happier lives!
Dave.
Recent Comments
80
Yes! These are such good tips and are accessible to anyone. Everyone I know could be better about taking care of their health. Many people who eat healthy food still wear themselves out and get way too little sleep.
People who get lots of exercise might think they can eat whatever they want because they exercise and don't understand the body needs nutrients, not just fat burning to be healthy. They also may consume way too many energy drinks and burn themselves out.
Thanks for your comments - we all can do better with our health issues. There is always something to work on!
You still have to have a good diet even if you exercise!
Dave.
Yeah, Doc, smoking killed my husband, my Dad, my grandpa, and many others before them. I don't smoke but got bad genes. Eating healthy is great but I still got bad genes and nothing can be done about it, all of the above healthy choice is great but it your DNA is screwed up like mine is, all that will not help me to live longer, its the stupid genes that cut people's lives short. Science, Doctors, and writers, all can come up with the secret to living a long healthy life but one thing they just can't change your DNA blueprint. There you are damned. Like Faust would say.
Thanks for the comment. You surely can't change your DNA but you can make the best of what you are dealt. I have high cholesterol and triglycerides but they are well controlled with medication for example.
Anyway, thanks again!
Dave.
Doc, right, sometimes medications do not work either. Treatments are only short lived then you die. Our bodies are a just temporary vehicle. We in it for the ride. Eventually, it dies and gathers dust. Dust to dust you shall return. Sorry to be such a pessimistic person but that's how it is. Nothing can be done about it. Im on heart meds that do not even work, so this week, I will have to undergo nuclear myocardial stress test, just to find out if my heart muscle is viable or not and insurance demands it one step before an angiogram. That totally sucks. True, we need to make "the best of what can be dealt," like you said.
Thank you for this post, Dave.
Sleep may be the one area that is up and down for me.
Take tonight for example.
Got home, had dinner, took a nap and am now up (12:30 a.m.) working and studying into the wee morning hours.
So, only about 4 hours of sleep - broken.
I will work on getting that regularised and consistent.
Great info.
Cassi
See more comments
Great advice
Not one is extra hard
We unfortunately don't always follow
And out outside influences take down a different road with all the advertising for many of the wrong habits
Great Post
I At 69 AM much better now than ever in my life at having these as part of my habits and my reduction in meds and tremendous weight loss over the past eight years can attest to the truth of these great words of wisdom
TIM
Thanks for your comment. Sounds like you are doing the right things to live a longer, healthier life!
Dave.