Here’s 6 ways to live longer.
Simple steps by making just a few changes in our lifestyle
can help us live longer.
A recent study found that four bad behaviors— drinking too
much alcohol, smoking, not exercising, and not eating enough plant fibers;
fruits and veggies—can cause you into an early grave, and, in effect, age you
by as many as 12 years.
Fortunately, you can do something to correct these and other
unhealthy behaviors. Adopt the following six habits to keep your body looking
and feeling young.
Eat fruits and vegetables
Eating less than three servings of fruits and vegetables a day can put our health at higher risk. Nutritional powerhouses filled with fiber and vitamins, fruits and veggies can lower your risk of heart disease by 76% and may even play a role in decreasing your risk of breast cancer.
As an added bonus, the inflammation-fighting and circulation-boosting powers of the antioxidants in fruits and veggies can banish wrinkles.
Switch off the TV
Too much time spent in front of the tube can take a serious
toll on your health. In fact, a 2010 study found that people who watched four
or more hours a day were 46% more likely to die from any cause than people who
watched less than two hours a day.
Even cutting back a little can help; each additional hour
you watch increases your overall risk of dying by 11% and dying from heart
disease by 18%.
Keep away from the
sun
Avoiding too much sun can reduce skin cancer possibility,
and it can also keep you looking young by preventing wrinkles, fine lines, and
saggy skin.
It’s never too early—or too late—to add sunscreen to your
daily skin-care regimen (look for an SPF of 30 or higher). And don’t focus only
on your face. Sun damage spots and splotches on your chest and neck will also
make you appear older.
Focus on fitness
Daily exercise may be the closest thing we have to a
fountain of youth. A 2008 study found that regular high-intensity exercise
(such as running) can add up to four years to your life, which isn’t surprising
given the positive effects working out has on your heart, mind, and metabolism.
Even moderate exercise—a quick, 30-minute walk each day, for
example—can lower your risk of heart problems.
Quit smoking
Quitting smoking is perhaps the single most important thing
you can do for your health—and your life span. A study published in the
American Journal of Public Health found that women who quit smoking by age 35
add roughly six to eight years to their lives.
It’s never too late to kick the habit. Quitting can slow
disease and increase survival odds even in smokers who have already caused
significant damage to their lungs, like those with early lung cancer.
Don't overeat
If you want to live to 100, leaving a little bit of food on
your plate may be a good idea. A study found
that In Japan, the oldest Japanese people stop eating when they are feeling
only about 80% full.
Another study also have confirmed that eating less helps you
age slower; in a 2008 study they found that limiting calories lowered
production of T3, a thyroid hormone that slows metabolism—and speeds up the
aging process.
Stay Healthy.
Prevention is always better than Cure!
