Man’s quest to immortality and longevity has been as old as his existence. Even today, scientists and researchers are studying the habits of those who lived the longest and countless articles have been written on the topic based on personal bias than careful study. But this post is different. It outlines stuff based on pure research. We all wish for great health and a long life, don’t we? Read on for the 14 research-backed ways to live a long & healthy life.

BE PART OF THE CROWD

Death rates are twice as high for the most socially isolated people[1][2] compared with those with strong social ties, so friends really can help you live longer.

THE PEEL-GOOD FACTOR

Adding more potassium to the diet can lower blood pressure[3] while a diet deprived of potassium can actually raise blood pressure. Eating one banana per day provides the extra 400 mg of potassium needed to slash the odds of suffering a fatal stroke by 40%.

GIVE YOURSELF A RAW DEAL

According to studies, if you don’t consume fruit daily, your risk of stomach cancer doubles[4] or even triples, and raw is best. Munch on raw fruit and vegetables.

WEAR A COPPER

Copper is an essential supplement for reducing age-related disintegration of body tissues[5] and it is an a non allergenic material. Many people, particularly arthritis sufferers, wear ,copper bracelets for the absorption of the mineral into the skin.

HAVE A HEARTY DOSE OF ONION

Consuming half an onion a day[6], or the equivalent in juicer, raises HDL (good) cholesterol by an average of 30% in most people with heart disease or cholesterol problems, extending life expectancy and boosting health.

CURIOSITY KEEPS THE CAT ALIVE

The more curious you are, the more likely you are to live longer, say scientists who found that curious people were 30% less likely to die than people who weren’t. Research suggests that curiosity in older people is associated with maintaining the health of the aging central nervous system.[7]

OH FOR OKINAWA

Okinawans live longer than any other race on earth[8]. Their secrets include eating lots of soya products, stopping eating before they are completely full and daily exercise.

OPTIMISTIC

Optimists live about 20% longer than pessimists[9], so making yourself believe that the glass is half full rather than half empty really could enhance your health.

REST ASSURED

Rest is as important as exercise in helping your body stay healthy for longer. Regular exercise along with daily relaxation and at least one rest day a week may add years to the life span[10].

MAKE EACH MEAL SMALLER

People may be able to extend the length of their lives by cutting calorific intake[11] by just 10%, as long as they aren’t depriving themselves of essential nutrients as well.

GET SPIRITUAL

People who attend religious ceremonies regularly are likely to live significantly longer[12] than their non-religious friends, so maybe it’s time to rediscover old beliefs.

SAY OM TO BEAT AGEING

Meditation reduces stress, which is one of the major causes of the ageing process, and taking up yoga and other meditative techniques in old age has been shown to enhance quality of life. Stress is killing you[13][14].

GO BACK TO YOUR ROOTS

People who behave as if they’re younger live longer and age less quickly[15]. You don’t need to dress in the clothes you wore as a teenager, just revive a few of the things you liked doing when young.

PINE FOR YOUR YOUTH

Pine bark extract (pycnogenol) and grape-seed extract contain powerful antioxidants that can help your body counteract the damaging signs of ageing[16].

With this, we reach the end of the article. We really hope that you enjoyed it. Live Long & Healthy, Dear Readers!! Do share your feedback in the comments below.

References:

[1] Andrew Steptoe, Aparna Shankar, Panayotes Demakakos, and Jane Wardle. Social isolation, loneliness, and all-cause mortality in older men and women. PNAS 2013 110 (15) 5733-5734; doi:10.1073/iti1513110.

[2] Erin York Cornwell and Linda J. Waite. Social Disconnectedness, Perceived Isolation, and Health among Older Adults. J Health Soc Behav. 2009 March; 50(1): 31–48. PMCID: PMC2756979, NIHMSID: NIHMS133647.

[3] Cappuccio FP, MacGregor GA. Department of Physiological Medicine, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK. Does potassium supplementation lower blood pressure? A meta-analysis of published trials. J Hypertens. 1991 May;9(5):465-73.

[4] Director of Research, Hallelujah Acres Foundation, 13553 Vantage Hwy, Ellensburg, WA 98926, USA. Intake of flax seed, especially its lignan fraction, and abundant portions of fruits and vegetables will lower cancer risk. Nutrition Journal 2004, 3:19 doi:10.1186/1475-2891-3-19.

[5] Dr. Loren Pickart. Copper - Your Body’s Protective and Anti-Aging Metal.

[6] Kalus U, Pindur G, Jung F, Mayer B, Radtke H, Bachmann K, Mrowietz C, Koscielny J, Kiesewetter H. Influence of the onion as an essential ingredient of the Mediterranean diet on arterial blood pressure and blood fluidity. Arzneimittelforschung. 2000 Sep;50(9):795-801.

[7] Swan, Gary E.; Carmelli, Dorit. Curiosity and mortality in aging adults: A 5-year follow-up of the Western Collaborative Group Study. Psychology and Aging, Vol 11(3), Sep 1996, 449-453. doi: 10.1037/0882-7974.11.3.449.

[8] The Secret of Life Okinawans, the world's longest-lived people, have a lot to teach Americans on the art of reaching 100. From The Boston Globe, May 22, 2001

[9] Giltay EJ, Geleijnse JM, Zitman FG, Hoekstra T, Schouten EG. Dispositional optimism and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in a prospective cohort of elderly dutch men and women. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004 Nov;61(11):1126-35.

[10] Lee IM, Hsieh CC, Paffenbarger RS Jr. Exercise intensity and longevity in men. The Harvard Alumni Health Study. JAMA. 1995 Apr 19;273(15):1179-84.

[11] Richard Weindruch, Ph.D. and Rajindar S. Sohal, Ph.D. Caloric Intake and Aging. N Engl J Med. 1997 October 2; 337(14): 986–994. PMCID: PMC2851235. NIHMSID: NIHMS182771.

[12] McCullough ME, Friedman HS, Enders CK, Martin LR. Does devoutness delay death? Psychological investment in religion and its association with longevity in the Terman sample. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2009 Nov;97(5):866-82. doi: 10.1037/a0016366.

[13] From Boston Globe. By Karen Weintraub. Globe Correspondent. Meditation can aid function in aging brains. April 14, 2013.

[14] Alex Hankey. Studies of Advanced Stages of Meditation in the Tibetan Buddhist and Vedic Traditions. I: A Comparison of General Changes. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2006 December; 3(4): 513–521. Published online 2006 July 31. doi: 10.1093/ecam/nel040. PMCID: PMC1697747

[15] Robin Hansen. Act young to live longer. From Overcoming Bias. Published on April 10, 2011.

[16] Khalid Rahman. The interplay between free radicals, antioxidants, and co-factors is important in maintaining health, aging and age-related diseases. Clin Interv Aging. 2007 June; 2(2): 219–236. Published online 2007 June. PMCID: PMC2684512