Stay Younger And Live Longer
Posted on Dec 1st 2009 4:15PM by Men's HealthRepeat After Us: "There is Life After Retirement"
+7 1/2 years
Or at least that's what you'd better believe if you want to live that long. In a Yale University study of older adults, people with a positive outlook on the aging process lived more than seven years longer than those who felt doomed to deteriorating mental and physical health. Already envisioning decades of decrepitude? Volunteer for a cause you're passionate about: Selfless actions can put a positive spin on life and distract from unhealthy obsessing, reports a study in Psychosomatic Medicine.
Add 22 Years To Your Life
Provided by Men's Health
Repeat After Us: "There is Life After Retirement"
+7 1/2 years
Or at least that's what you'd better believe if you want to live that long. In a Yale University study of older adults, people with a positive outlook on the aging process lived more than seven years longer than those who felt doomed to deteriorating mental and physical health. Already envisioning decades of decrepitude? Volunteer for a cause you're passionate about: Selfless actions can put a positive spin on life and distract from unhealthy obsessing, reports a study in Psychosomatic Medicine.
Good genes go a long way when it comes to longevity, but your DNA isn't the only thing that will determine whether you make it into your 60s or become a centenarian. The small changes you make to your lifestyle now could give you an extra 22 years. Check out these five easy steps to living a longer, healthier life.
Next Time You're Asked "Soup or Salad?" Order the Salad
+2 years
Italian researchers found that eating as little as one cup of raw vegetables daily can add 2 years to your life. Why raw? Cooking can deplete up to 30 percent of the antioxidants in vegetables.To eat your quota, fill a ziplock sandwich bag with chopped red and green peppers, broccoli, and carrots. Toss the bag into your briefcase, along with a packet of dressing -- the fat will boost your body's absorption of certain nutrients.
Learn the Law of Lard: The Fat You Carry Today Could Kill You Tomorrow
+3 years
University of Alabama researchers discovered that maintaining a body-mass index of 25 to 35 can shorten your life by up to three years. (Excess body fat raises your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and colon cancer.) If you're allergic to exercise, sweat with your significant other. A Duke University study shows that sedentary men are 50 percent more likely to work out three times a week if their partners participate.
Crack Open a Fresh Can of Nuts and Extend Your Expiration Date
+3 years
When Loma Linda University researchers tracked the lifestyle habits of 34,000 Seventh-Day Adventists -- a population famous for its longevity -- they discovered that those who munched nuts 5 days a week, earned an extra 2.9 years on the planet. Pick up the Planters NUT-rition Heart Healthy Mix: It contains all five key nuts, including walnuts, which are usually left out of nut mixes. Aim to eat two ounces a day.
Never Forget that Your Buddies Have Your Back -- Even When It's Hunched Over from Osteoporosis
+7 years
In a study of seventy-somethings, Australian researchers found that those with the largest network of friends had the longest lease on life. For the average guy, this could add up to seven additional years of existence. Yes, some buddies may encourage risky behavior from time to time, but friendship ultimately provides more protection than peril. So try to learn a few new faces at work, trade lifting tips at the gym, or simply say "hey" to that neighbor you've never met. You can all thank each other later.
