How to Live a Long Life—Five Basics That Experts Agree Can Increase Your Longevity
Posted: Sunday, February 21, 2010
by Steve Kovacs
The Kovacs Perspective
I recently interviewed a man who said he had discovered people who have lived well past 200 years of age and one in particular, over 2,000 years. Wow! He's in the midst of writing a book about what he says he discovered. Well, this article has nothing to do with that interview or that type of longevity. It does however, have to do with traditional longevity for the average man and woman.
Five Cornerstone Tips to Longevity
1. Eat a well balanced diet. The so-called Mediterranean diet is a good model - pasta, fish, and olive oil with plenty of fruit and vegetables - has been associated with longevity in many studies.
2. Work towards being lean. Less is better when it comes to eating anything. Eat more towards a minimum amount of calories as opposed to splurging. Studies show that a minimum or almost restricted (caloric) diet is outstanding for extended longevity.
3. Moderate exercise three to five times a week for 30 minutes. What does moderate mean? Break a sweat. You don't have to climb Mount Kilimanjaro every weekend-regular and moderate exercise seems to be sufficient.
4. Psychologically speaking: Be optimistic, positive and have a purpose in your life. Continuously, believe in the possibility of things working out well-and have a zest for something in your life-writing, gardening, helping others, or some type of work.
5. Develop stable long-term relationships with friends, families, colleagues or even pets. These are major buffers against stress.
There are other things we could do which most likely would increase our chances of living a long life. Things such as not smoking and getting frequent medical screenings can only be good. However, there are people who have lived well over 100 years old, have smoked, and rarely visited a doctor. Speaking of doctors, talking to your physician should be the first step before you make any changes in your lifestyle in regards to longevity, however, the listed tips are the experts accepted "basics" of living well into what we call, old age.
Sources:
Dr Mehmet Oz: Better known as Dr. Oz-Vice chairman and professor of surgery at Columbia University , best-selling author--host of the television talk show The Dr. Oz Show
Mayo Clinic- Minnesota
Tony Broe-professor of geriatric medicine at the University of New South Wales Research Institute
Dr. Andrew Weil-Phsician and renowned author
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)Great article. Well done.You've got some great tips here. I agree that being healthy will lengthen your life, however, there is one interesting enigma. On a documentary about people over 100 there was a man called Buster. Buster was a chain smoker and drinks alcohol regularly yet has lived to over 100. How?
Then you seen all the other people who followed all of your tips and one of them done an hour workout every single day.
Hi Connor--Yeah, as I wrote there are some who seem to do many of the things that aren't good for them but yet they live to be OLD--there are other factors involved I'm sure. Some would say God has a hand in it too---but I don't want to open that can of worms with you!!!!!!!--thanks for writing my friend.Steve
I believe in exercise and healthy eating, but I'm also a firm believer in 'everything in moderation'. Experts say sex is good for your overall well-being too, but maybe that's included in # 3 & 5? Good tips!Moderation, I agree has to be one of the best things we can do in everything--thanks for mentioning it.Thanks for writing Brianna
Good friends, not being homeless, releasing stress, knowledge, beautiful undemanding women, staying away from terrorists, relaxation, a healthy diet, less sugar and more Equal, sans aggravation from your nephews, enjoyable work, humor, music, Chinese food, a hot whirlpool, a reputable doctor, living in Florida rather than Cleveland in the winter, exercise, keeping away from the IRS, proper clothes, money, imagination, hitting the lottery, not riding a bicycle in heavy traffic, an interest in life, and meditation are some ways to expand one's longevity. Another way that I find to be helpful is to talk to my mother, who recently passed away. "I always ask her the question: "Do you want me to come live with you up there?" and I hear the answer in my head "NO! It's peaceful up here now. I love you but you stay down there for awhile." I laugh, just thinking those are the words that she really said in life when I asked her everyday if she wanted me to move back from Boca to live with her in Cleveland. And I picture her talking to the right people upstairs to keep me living for awhile.Great comments Mike--thanks...
Hi Steve great article. In regards to number 5 it is because of my long term friendships that I do get stressed out half the time (lol) Thanks for sharingKeep wellHow funny and how true sometimes! Thanks for reading and commenting, I appreciate it.Steve
Optimism is the key to long life, absolutely. Napoleon said it best: "Morale is to material as 3 is to 1". Great article.Never heard the Napoleon thing --never too old to learn!---thanks Mike.
And if we desire non-longevity?Do the opposite!So simple and yet...Thanks for reading and writing Chad...
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