The Scenic Route to a Longer Life

THE SCENIC ROUTE TO A onger LIFE There are certain widely accepted paths to good health and a longer life. But if quitting smoking, eating a balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy weight aren't your thing, what's an aspiring centenarian to do? Luckily, studies are released seemingly every day that tout some new way to extend your life. Though they're not without their drawbacks, here are a few of the most unlikely keys to longevity. Interesting though the results of these studies are, do bear in mind that you're likely to get much more suitable advice from your GP or the NHS. WHAT TO EAT rd DRINK ALCOHOL COFFEE Drink up! Among older adults, moderate drinkers may actually have a lower risk of mortality than those who abstain from Keep your caffeine fix. Recent studies suggest coffee can protect women against heart disease and other ailments. drinking altogether. INCREASED RISK OF MORTALITY COMPARED TO MODERATE DRINKERS WOMEN WHO DRINK 2-3 CUPS OF COFFEE A DAY ARE 25% LESS LIKELY TO DIE FROM HEART DISEASE COMPARED TO THOSE WHO DON'T DRINK COFFEE. WOMEN'S RISK OF DEATH FROM HEART DISEASE COFFEE DRINKERS NON-COFFEE DRINKERS 45% 51% Drinkers Non-Drinkers 25% LESS LIKELY CHOCOLATE GARLIC Those who eat a moderate amount of chocolate live longer Load up on it. Garlic and the vegetable family it comes from have been linked to a host of different health benefits. than those who eat it several times per week and those who never eat it. GARLIC'S SUPERPOWERS LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE IMPROVES CIRCULATION BOOSTS IMMUNE SYSTEM HELPS REGULATE BLOOD-SUGAR LEVELS CHOCOLATE 3+TIMES A WEEK MODERATE AMOUNT OF CHOCOLATE (LONGEST LIFE) NO CHOCOLATE AT ALL THE BIG PICTURE LOVE YOUR MUM START SCHOOL LATER People who have close relationships with their mum have a dramatically smaller risk of disease by midlife. School can wait. Beginning school at an earlier age can lead to increased risk of mortality. STARTING FORMAL SCHOOLING BEFORE THE AGE OF6 IS A RISK FACTOR FOR EARLIER MORTALITY. 91% of people who weren't close to 70 their mum developed a serious disease by midlife. Fo/ of people who had a close 4h% relationship with their mum developed a serious illness. CHOOSE THE RIGHT SPOUSE DEVELOP A STRONG HANDSHAKE Wed wisely. Companionship has links to longer life over time, but who you choose to marry also makes a difference. Get a grip. Grip strength is a suggested indicator of longer life. People with greater physical capabilities are likely to live longer. LONGEVITY IS AN INHERITED PHENOTYPE ACROSS THREE GENERATIONS. CHOOSING A SPOUSE WHOSE GRANDPARENTS ARE STILL ALIVE CAN HELP YOUR CHILDREN IN ONE GROUP OF STUDIES, THOSE WITH A WEAK HANDSHAKE WERE BETWEEN 2 AND 3 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE DURING THE PERIOD OF STUDY. LIVE LONGER. LIVE IN THE COUNTRY OWN A PET Leave the concrete jungle. According to the Office for National Statistics, people who live in rural areas typically live longer than people who live in cities. Pets heal the heart. Owning a pet decreases loneliness, limits depression, encourages laughter, and prompts exercise. Studies suggest they also have an impact on heart health. WOMEN'S AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY W. SOMERSET 84 YEARS MANCHESTER 76 YEARS Survival rates for heart-attack victims are 12 percent higher for those who own a pet than for those who don't. EVERYDAY LIVING BE POSITIVE LISTEN TO YOUR DENTIST Think happy thoughts. People with a positive outlook are usually less stressed and better able to deal with challenges. That positive outlook has been linked to decreased mortality risk. Floss every day. Poor dental care has been linked to a host of serious illnesses later in life, including heart disease. BACTERIA THAT LIVE IN THE MOUTH CAN CAUSE A PERSON'S ARTERIES TO SWELL AND CAN LEAD TO GREATER RISK OF HEART DISEASE. 1/2 FULL 1/2 EMPTY OPTIMISTIC PEOPLE LIVE ABOUT 12 YEARS LONGER THAN PESSIMISTS. MEDITATE MORE SURROUND YOURSELF WITH INDOOR PLANTS Stock up on super plants. Indoor pollutants are responsible for more than 1.6 million deaths each year. Certain plants can significantly improve the quality of indoor air. Free your mind. Meditation is a powerful healing tool for stress, which can lead to increased risk of disease later in life. BEST PLANTS FOR REMOVING AIR POLLUTANTS: 15 MINUTES OF MEDITATION CAN PRODUCE A MUCH MORE RELAXED STATE OF MIND THAN 1 HOUR OF DEEP SLEEP. Purple Waffle Plant Waxy Leaved Plant (Hemigraphis alternata) (Hoya carnosa) Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus) English Ivy (Hedera helix) GET UP EVERY HOUR JUST RELAX Sitting could kill you. The average person should take roughly 10,000 steps a day. Taking fewer than that could have an impact on your risk of death. Chill out. Letting stress roll off your back is one way to live a healthier and longer life. Anger is typically linked to high blood pressure and can cause increased risk of certain ailments. MEN WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PEOPLE WHO SIT FOR 4 HOURS A DAY OUTSIDE WORK HAVE A 50% GREATER RISK OF DYING | ANGER IN RESPONSE TO STRESS ARE... Three times more likely to develop premature heart disease. Six times more likely to have a heart attack by age 55. THAN THOSE WHO SIT LESS THAN 2 HOURS A DAY. SOURCES: MSN, FORBES, TIME, "ALCOHOLISM: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH," DAILY MAIL, HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, IVILLAGE.CO.UK, EXAMINER.COM, THE LONGEVITY PROJECT, DIGITAL SPY, MAYO CLINIC, JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY. Confused.com