These 8 Lifestyle Habits Promote Longevity, According To Science
Life seemingly hangs in the balance when you realize that you are aging progressively this the quest for longevity and believe it or not, there is only very little that genetics has to do with it. Instead, your daily practices, as well as your environment, are the most important. Here on are eight habits that scientists have proven to promote longevity. Almost expectedly, these are focused around lifestyle and diet, which indeed have a direct effect on human health.
Longevity is a holy grail that every man sought after. Amazingly, doing as little as modifying your sleeping and eating habits can be the secret to rejuvenating your body system and prolonging your life.
Practice these eight habits for a healthier lifestyle and ultimately, longevity:
1. Incorporate healthy plant foods into your daily meals
You've heard it before, and we are saying it too! Eating veggies will do you a horde of good.
These include but are not limited to leafy vegetables, seeds, whole grains, and beans, which are known to decrease your chances of contracting a disease in turn, promoting longevity.
According to research studies, consuming a plant-rich diet lowers the risk of untimely death, cancer, heart disease, and other fatal disease conditions.
Overall, eat as many plant foods as you can daily!
2. Start an exercise regime – and keep to it!
Staying physically active has been proven by scientists to help people stay healthy and live longer.
Unlike what some may think, an exercise regime doesn't have to be as complicated or as tasking as extending over several hours. It can be as short as a 15-minute exercise and as simple as merely walking on the spot.
You can consult a physical therapist or fitness trainer for explicit guidance as regards this. However, diligence is essential, so make sure you keep to it!
3. Lower your calorie intake
A research study reports that a "10–50% reduction in normal calorie intake may increase maximum lifespan."
Thus, the advice that you should lower your daily calorie intake to stay healthy, reduce your chances of getting sick, and promote longevity.
However, the association between lowered calorie intake and these benefits needs more studies to be fully understood.
4. Eat more nuts
Nuts are one other food item to incorporate into your daily meals. They are labeled "nutritional powerhouses" by scientists because they are rich sources of protein, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
This is why they are beneficial to the body organs and are known to generally lower your risk of developing life-threatening diseases like heart disease, high blood pressure, inflammation, diabetes, etc.
5. Avoid chronic stress and anxiety
You know that feeling of "aging within mere minutes" because you are overly stressed out, physically, or emotionally? Well, scientists say that actually happens and if chronic, it can negatively impact your lifespan.
According to a study report, women suffering from stress or anxiety were twice more likely to die from heart disease, stroke, or lung cancer. In the same vein, untimely death is about three times higher for anxious or stressed men compared to their more relaxed counterparts.
So, always take is the time out of your busy schedule to relax. If this is difficult to achieve, incorporate intentional activities like meditation, yoga, etc. into your daily life.
6. Do not smoke
Science has proven, a thousand times and over, that smoking is strongly linked to debilitating diseases and premature death.
According to a study, people who smoke may lose up to 10 years of life and be three times more likely to die prematurely than people who don't smoke.
So, work hard at getting off of cigarettes. If you'll require the help of a therapist to do so, then go for it!
Better late than never!
7. Lower your alcohol intake
Like smoking, alcoholism is a terrible habit that is commonly linked to organ failure and premature death – yep, it's also backed by science!
However, moderate consumption of alcohol has been proven to lower the chances of developing fatal diseases. Overall, only take moderate amounts of alcohol and even better, limit it to only wine!
8. Prioritize your happiness
As mentioned above, subjecting yourself to emotional stress can shorten your lifespan and cause you to develop diseases like high blood pressure.
Counter that by making happiness your biggest priority. A 5-year scientific study reports that happier individuals had a 3.7% reduction in early death over a 5-year study period.
So, happiness not only works to elevate your mood and productivity, but it can also help you live longer!
Be happy!
