HOW TO LIVE LONGER
At a recent geriatric convention an expert on aging gave the following tips to increase life expectancy. This was based on statistical studies on aging that have been shown to increase longevity even though, obviously, these factors have not been studied extensively.
- Getting 7-8 hours of sleep a day. By giving parts of the body adequate rest, it helps regenerate and rejuvenate the cells to help it function better.
- Decreased weight. The mortality rates in obese people are higher than those who are thinly built and who are in good shape.
- Exercise. This has been shown to not only increase the quality of life, but also prevent medical problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
- Decreased alcohol intake. This works by taxing the liver less as well as the brain cells, even though it has been shown that 1-2 glasses of red wine increases the good cholesterol, that is the HDL, and has been shown to reduce heart disease, there is no reason to start drinking if one is a tea totaler. Increased or excessive amounts of alcohol is certainly detrimental to health.
- Breakfast Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and this gives all the energy that is required for the start of the day. It is unclear how eating breakfast can make you live longer, but it supposedly does.
- Seldom snacking. People who snack often end up gaining a lot of weight and fat, which can in turn lead to medical problems. One of the more popular snacks is potato chips, which also has a high salt content.
- Optimism. Optimists generally have been shown to lead less stressful lives and this may be the reason why they seem to live longer.
- Marriage in males. It is unclear how this increases life expectancy, but married men have been shown to live longer than their unmarried counterparts.
Of course, the above is based not on scientifically validated studies, but a combination of statistics, scientific research, and conjecture. However, the experts feel that the above increase life expectancy by seven years in males, and eleven years in females. |
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