5 Things You Can Do to Live Longer

As humans, we are mere mortals that will someday leave behind the life we once knew. But until that day comes, we want to be able to experience life and the world for all it has to offer. And the more time that we have to do so, the better.

 

Unfortunately there isn’t a magic potion that will make us live forever, but there are a few habits that will add years onto your life, making it possible to experience everything you would like.

 

So, if you would like to live a longer life, check out these 5 things that you can do to accomplish just that.

 

1. Get Moving

It’s no secret that a healthy lifestyle inclusive of moderate exercise is important. But do you know just how important it really is?

 

Exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, which is detrimental to living longer since cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

 

So, get moving! Aim for at least 20 minutes of your favorite activity everyday if you can. Even going for a brisk walk after dinner is a great way to add exercise into your lifestyle if you are especially crunched for time. You can even grab a friend to workout with to hold each other accountable.

 

Whatever it is, just have fun doing it and it will be much easier to be consistent.

 

2. Eat Well

Another important thing you can do to live longer is eat healthy and nourishing foods. A well-balanced diet consisting of protein, vegetables, fruits, and good carbohydrates can help to keep your body functioning optimally at all times.

 

Aim for healthy foods that are either unprocessed or minimally processed such as leafy greens, fruits, nuts, and other things that are full of antioxidants which tackle the free radicals in your body.

 

And don’t forget to drink well, too! Cut sugary beverages out of your diet and go for purer alternatives like white tea or green smoothies.

 

3. Kick Your Addictions to the Curb

For some, the deteriorating lifestyle of drugs and alcohol is all too real. If you want to live a longer and healthier life, you must escape your addictions, no matter how scary or difficult it may be to do so.

 

An estimated 2,002,016 potential years of life are lost every year due to substance abuse. By keeping serious drug and alcohol habits present in your life, you put yourself at risk for health related problems or even death directly caused by these substances.

 

4. Boost Your Sex Life

Sex is a natural part of life that is encouraged, when carried out in a healthy manner, if you want to live longer. Engaging in healthy doses of sexual activity has actually been shown to lower stress, improve sleep patterns, boost immunity, and also decrease your risk for heart disease.

 

Just be sure that you are protecting yourself from sexually transmitted diseases, which can potentially take years off of your life due to their sometimes destructive nature. Use the motto, “Safe sex is smart sex,” and you’ll be living a healthier and longer life in no time.

 

5. Adopt a Furry Friend

Many people grow up with pets, and they provide friendship and a bond that lasts a lifetime. But owning pets is also a good way to add years onto your life according to researchers. Having a furry friend, especially a dog, tends to reduce stress and depression, and also helps to increase exercise, all of which are great for your health.

 

There are hundreds of animals in shelters across the world, and by adopting even just one, you will not only change their life for the better but your own, as well.

 

It Comes Down to Health

You can easily incorporate all 5 of these into your life to live longer, but it is important to note that the key to longevity is good health. All of these habits lead to a better and healthier lifestyle, whose benefits include lower blood pressure and reduced stress, which will in turn add years to your life.

 

So, keep your body and mind healthy, and you will surely live a longer life full of wonderful and exciting memories.

 

Adrienne Erin is a freelance writer interested in living a healthier life. You can follow her on Twitter at @foodierx and read more of her work on Foodie Fitness.

Categories: Food, Healthy Eating, live longer

Doctor"s Orders: How Marriage Makes You Healthier

Marriage changes your whole life. From the daily challenges of living your life together and maintaining a great relationship to starting a family and beyond, tying the not can be a roller coaster of emotions, financial implications and other assorted tests. However, those who are married also enjoy certain benefits that their single friends don’t, particularly when it comes to their health.

 

 

There are a whole host of health benefits that, according to research, seem to be prevalent among married couples. One great thing is that an engagement ring can be a good investment. For more information on that aspect specifically, search L.A. jewelry district online. Marriage gives long lasting benefits ranging from disease prevention to a more positive mental outlook. It would seem that getting hitched just might be one of the best things you could do for your well-being. Here’s a few benefits it can offer:

 

 

1) Happily Married Couples Are Less Likely To Experience Major Illness

As far back as 1856, researchers have studied the correlation between a good marriage and a healthier life. According to an article in the New York Times, married couples are less likely to suffer from pneumonia, have surgery, develop cancer or have heart attacks. Further, a study of multiple causes of death in the Netherlands found that in nearly every category, ranging from violent deaths to cancer, single people were at a higher risk than married.

 

 

2) A Strong Marriage Leads to Lower Stress

It may not feel like it after an argument, but marriage can actually reduce the hormones in your body that cause stress. A study conducted by the University of Chicago published in the Journal of Stress in August 2010 concluded that those who have a long-term bond, such as marriage or a committed relationship showed a reduced reaction to stress and an alteration to the hormones that cause it. Although marriage itself can be occasionally stressful, it appears that those with a strong bond are actually able to handle outside stressors better than their single counterparts.

 

 

3) Being Married Boosts Your Brain

Those who are married also experience a huge mental health boost from a happy relationship, particularly married men. According to a study by Robert M. A. Hirschfeld titled Psychosocial Predictors of Outcome in Depression, “Depression is more prevalent among the unmarried, and the onset of depression is more likely among the unmarried. Studies have also shown a higher cognitive function for committed couples, as well as a highly reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

 

 

4) Married People Live Longer

A 2007 study by the British Office of National Statistics looked into the correlation between being married and longevity with startling results. Not only did they find that those in a committed relationship were more likely to live longer and enjoy better health, but that the mortality rate for single men between 30-59 years of age was two and half times higher than married men. Out of all groups studied, it would appear that widowed men and single mothers fared the worst in health, suffering more chronic conditions than any other group.

 

While marriage can sometimes be a stressful, bumpy ride, the health benefits are undeniable. By focusing your life on creating a happy, committed relationship for you and your family, you’re ensuring continued good health in your home for now and the future.

 

Writer Melanie Fleury is happily married with four kids and believes that marriage has long lasting benefits. If you are in love and prepared for the commitment of marriage, it can be a wonderful step in your life. Start your journey with a visit or online search of the L.A. jewelry district when you decide to take the final plunge.

Categories: committed relationship, Couples, happily married, Health Benefits, Healthier, jewelry district, lasting benefits, live longer, Marriage, married couples, married men, nbsp nbsp

Can Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements Help You Live Longer?

Most people, if questioned, would say that they want to live longer. There are all kinds of methods that people use to attempt longevity, but one that they should pay closer attention to is using vitamins, minerals and supplements.

 

Living for a long time has foundations in wellness and wellbeing; if you focus on keeping yourself healthy, you are likely to avoid the diseases that could shorten your life. More nutrients should be linked to more years on your life, as your body will be in the best possible condition. But are vitamins in the form of pills just as beneficial as vitamins that you can get from your diet?

 

As you get older, the nutrients that you need in order to keep your body healthy change, and that is when the vitamins and supplements market comes into its own. Pills can be targeted at specific age groups, be that sportsmen, teen girls or menopausal women, in order to make sure that they get the exact nutrients that they require.

 

Nevertheless, research continues to turn up mixed results about whether dietary supplements are beneficial, harmful to your body or are simply of no benefit or harm whatsoever.

 

There are some things, however, that are associated with longevity, and which could be tried if you are hoping to extend your life. Beta carotene, for example, is associated with lowering your risk of cancer, but this only works in dietary form, not when taken as a supplement. Calcium has also been shown to increase mortality, and can be taken in pill form. There are risks to taking regular calcium, however, so this should only be done so with the support of your doctor. Vitamin D also tends to work in collaboration with calcium to help keep your bones healthy and to protect you against certain cancers. Taking vitamin D supplements is widely believed to be safe.

Categories: live, live longer, longer, minerals, Mortality, nbsp, Supplements, vitamins, vitamins minerals

Long in the Tooth: Could Calcium Extend Your Lifespan?

If you take a calcium supplement to guard your wellbeing against osteoporosis, you may be helping extending your longevity in the meantime. This is according to a large new study by Canadian researchers, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, which found that taking a daily calcium supplement and eating foods rich in calcium may help women live longer.

According to the study’s lead author, David Goltzman, MD, of McGill University in Montreal, Canada, ‘Our study found daily use of calcium supplements was associated with a lower risk of death among women. Our analysis showed that total calcium intake among women was more likely to be beneficial than harmful and that the same was true of calcium intake from dairy sources, non-dairy sources, and supplements. In fact, we observed that supplemental calcium intake up to 1000 mg/d among women was associated with statistically significant decreased mortality.’

For the study, the researchers examined the health of over 9,000 Canadians between 1995 and 2007, during which time 1,160 participants died. The results of the study revealed that calcium supplement-taking women had a “hazard ratio” of 0.78. This means that their risk of dying was roughly 78% compared to women who did not take a calcium supplement. Unfortunately for men, the study found no conclusive evidence that calcium supplements had any impact on the mortality rates of men.

Goltzman explained, ‘Higher amounts of calcium were potentially linked to longer lifespans in women, regardless of the source of the calcium. That is, the same benefits were seen when the calcium came from dairy foods, non-dairy foods or supplements.’ Goltzman’s team surmised that calcium supplements have bee linked to lower cholesterol levels and a lower risk of hypertension, as well as fewer bone fractures, and so there are several possible explanations for the lowered risk of mortality.

However, before you rush out and stock up on calcium supplements, bear in mind that some previous studies have linked calcium supplements to heart disease risk. For example, a recent Annals of Internal Medicine study found that calcium and vitamin D supplements may be detrimental to health, or at least their benefits may be overstated. As it stands, wellness experts recommend that older women take vitamin D and calcium supplements to prevent fractures, but you should consult your doctor before taking any supplement.

Categories: calcium, live longer, Research

Reap what You Sow: Do Generous People Live Longer?

You may have had that fuzzy feeling when, on the odd occasion, you’ve donated your time or money to a worthy cause, or you’ve helped a friend or stranger in need, but a study has shown that when you help others, you’re giving your wellbeing more than just a warm glow. According to researchers at the University of Buffalo, Grand Valley State University and Stony Brook University in the US, being generous can protect your wellness, and even help you to live longer.

For the study, which was published in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Public Health, participants – all married couples in which the husband’s age was 65 or more – were asked how much of their time they spent helping others, and whether or not they had recently experienced stressful life events. This research was originally carried out between 1987 and 1994, and the current researchers analysed data from just over half of this cohort (846 participants or 423 couples) statistically testing the relationship between helping others, stress and mortality over time.

The results were that people who experienced stressful events had a higher risk of death, which is in-keeping with previous studies. However, the researchers also found that people who experienced stressful events and spent time helping others did not have a higher risk of death, which the investigators interpreted to mean that helping others buffers against the negative impact of stressful life events.

According to the study’s authors, there is a known relationship between social connectedness, or the amount of people you interact with in a meaningful way, and wellness. In the last 20 years, there have been multiple studies carried out in an attempt to describe this relationship more fully, but with inconsistent results. The benefit of this study is that it is the first to look at whether giving, rather than receiving social support is the source of the link.

Yet it’s important to bear in mind that though observational research can describe the associations between helping, stress and longevity, it is unable to determine whether helping behaviour directly causes changes in the risk of dying. On the other hand, giving to others is surely no bad thing so don’t let a little thing like an unproven cause-and-effect relationship stop you from being generous.

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Reap what You Sow: Do Generous People Live Longer?

Categories: Generous, live longer, people

New gene shows that active people live longer?

Have you ever spoken to an older person about their secret to a long life and had them tell you that the key to living longer is to keep busy? There may actually be something in that, as a new study has shown that the key to long life and wellness may be hidden inside a gene.

This gene - officially called the DRD4 7R allele – is a dopamine-receptor gene and appears in much higher rates in people who are over the age of 90. It is strongly linked to wellbeing and an increase in lifespan when studied in mice, too. This is the first time that a specific ‘long life’ gene has been noted, and results of the study have appeared in The Journal of Neuroscience.

A key scientist has said that this gene, which helps with the transmission of signals between neurons in the human body, is a big part of the area of the brain which is responsible for reward-driven behaviour and attention seeking.

Interestingly, people who carry this gene are not only likely to live longer, they also carry certain other recognisable social traits. Carriers of the gene appear, from the study, to be more motivated, more physical and more active. This type of gene also has a link to less positive effects, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and to people who have risk-taking or addictive personalities.

It could be the case that the gene simply makes people live more active lives, and that this way of living, in turn, increases health and gives people greater likelihood of living longer, rather than that the gene itself directly makes people live longer. It’s certainly well documented that an active lifestyle reduces health concerns and has all kinds of positive benefits. Further studies will now be put in place to identify exactly what this gene does and how to benefit from the new knowledge.

Categories: active, gene, live longer