Longevity

"If you don’t take the time to be well, you will have to make the time to be sick." - Kathryn Savage

Longevity means long life.  We all strive for longevity.  I've heard the saying that if you want to live a long life, choose the right parents.  Although genetic factors do affect our longevity, we are now finding that lifestyle can play a significant role as well.  The Danish Twin Study found that less than 25% of how long the average person lives is dictated by genes...the rest is up to you.

There are hundreds of well-respected studies showing that diet and exercise influence a number of health-risk factors, such as blood cholesterol levels, hypertension, and obesity. Those who take moderate levels of exercise (expending more than 2000 extra Calories a week on vigorous physical activity) may live up to two years longer than sedentary people who expend less than 500 extra Calories per week.

Living longer doesn't just have to do with our physical bodies.  Research shows that the state of one's mind is as important (if not more) than the state of one's body.  People with a close-knit support system who have found some higher purpose, be it though spirituality, religion or even volunteering, live longer than the average person.

Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones has 5 Tips for Happiness:
1.INVEST IN YOUR HEALTH – Health is a prerequisite to happiness. In other words, You can't be happy if you're unhealthy. 

2.CREATE QUALITY FRIENDSHIPS – When it comes to a social network, quality is more important the quantity. Having two good friends who care about you is more important than a huge network.

3.EXPLORE YOUR RELIGION – World surveys show that religious people are more happy than non-religious people. Religious people are more likely to have a strong social network and to be at peace with their lives and mortality.

4.SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR HOBBY – Spend time engaged in activities wherein you are optimally challenged, you get immediate feedback, you lose sense of time and you do it because it's intrinsically rewarding.

5.IF YOU'RE UNHAPPY, MOVE – Where you live has a bigger impact on your happiness than your marital status, income, or even education level. If you are not happy where you are, consider moving.

It's never too late (or too early) to start developing good habits that will pay off later in life.  Check out the link above to learn about the habits of a 114 year old man who recently passed away.


Disclaimer:
The information presented in this blog is for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems. In addition, although I am an affiliate physician of Cenegenics Medical Institute, the views represented in this blog are my own and may or may not represent those of Cenegenics Medical Institute.