ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — During the twentieth century, the average life expectancy went up by 30 years. Advances in education, healthcare, disease prevention and treatment are important factors, but everyday habits and past circumstances can also influence how long you live. Ivanhoe has the details.
Maintaining a healthy weight is well-known to help you live a long and healthy life, but according to the National Institute on Aging, women who are too round in the middle are 20 percent more likely to die sooner, even if their body mass index is normal. Working in two or three 20-minute strength-training sessions into your weekly exercise regimen can preserve lean muscle mass and rev up your metabolism. A healthy diet can also reduce inflammation and reduce fats stored in your belly.
“Something that is well-balanced, where there’s plenty of natural foods, plenty of vegetables,” informed Jose Santana, MD, MPH, an internal medicine physician.
In particular, purple vegetables and fruits have been found to reduce cancer risk and memory problems.
“An anthocyanin is an antioxidant that gives the food the purple color. That purple color is what’s so healthy,” explained Mary Mcalary, Certified Holistic Health Coach with New Day One Life Nutrition.
Also, a Netherlands study found that adding ten grams of fiber can reduce your risk of dying from heart disease by 17 percent. Finally, doing your own house chores for an hour can burn 285 calories, lowering your risk of death by 30 percent, helping you to reach more of those golden years.
Another key to longer life, giving up burgers. Colorectal cancer risk rises by 42 percent with every three and a half ounce serving of processed meat, such as hot dogs, bacon, and deli meats.
Contributors to this news report include: Milvionne Chery, Producer; and, Roque Correa, Editor.
KEYS TO A LONGER LIFE
REPORT #2856
BACKGROUND: The foods we put into our bodies will affect our appearance, energy, comfort, and health the rest of our life. Two out of every three Americans are overweight or obese, and diabetes and high blood pressure are on the rise as well as heart attacks, strokes, and cancer. Many factors contribute to these problems, but the basic reasons are that we eat too much, choose the wrong foods, and don’t get enough exercise. Experts say if we know why eating healthy is important and what foods to eat, we’ll find it more enjoyable and satisfying. And if we establish an overall pattern of healthful nutrition, we’ll even be able to savor the treats that matter the most to us.
(Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/Nutrition-101-Good-eating-for-good-health)
TOP WAYS TO LIVE LONGER: A Johns Hopkins study of 6,200 men and women over eight years found that those who adopted four specific behaviors reduced the chance of death from all causes by 80 percent. The first behavior is to not smoke. Smoking affects coronary arteries and lungs, and smokers also have increased rates of cancer and risk of stroke. Another behavior is maintaining a healthy weight. The healthiest people in the study maintained a body mass index of less than 25. To reach (and maintain) a healthy BMI, you must make healthy lifestyle changes. Another behavior is to get up and move. Aim for about 30 minutes of activity a day most days of the week. You can try breaking it into three 10-minute bouts of activity like a 10-minute walk in the morning, another at lunch and a stroll after dinner. And finally, make healthy food choices. The study found that the healthiest people followed a Mediterranean-style diet. This means a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, tree nuts with healthy oils, fish (less red meats), whole-grain carbs and olive oil for cooking.
(Source: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/4-top-ways-to-live-longer)
NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS OPTIMISTS LIVE LONGER: Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine, National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, conducted a study and found that individuals with greater optimism were more likely to live to the age of 85 or older. The study was based on 69,744 women and 1,429 men. Both groups completed surveys to assess their level of optimism, as well as their overall health and habits such as diet, smoking and alcohol use. Women were followed for 10 years and the men were followed for 30 years. When individuals were compared based on their initial levels of optimism, the researchers found that the most optimistic men and women demonstrated, on average, an 11 to 15 percent longer lifespan. “Other research suggests that more optimistic people may be able to regulate emotions and behavior as well as bounce back from stressors and difficulties more effectively,” said senior author Laura Kubzansky, PhD, MPH, Lee Kum Kee Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences and co-director, Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
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