The Four Habits of the Secret to Longevity

Most of us want to live longer because we want to take care of our children as they grow up and keep our minds sharp and our bodies strong for as long as possible. You might think that life expectancy is largely determined by genetics, but many analyses suggest that genes play a much smaller role than we think. A Danish study concluded that only 20% of the aging process is caused by genetics, while 80% depends on our lifestyle and physical health. In other words, you can take some control over your health and longevity through healthy physical and mental health practices. Here are four useful habits for living a long and happy life:

1. Eat a healthy diet – Eating more healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and fish, can reduce the risk of obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. Also, overeating is not a healthy practice. Research shows that reducing your daily calorie intake by 10-50% may extend your maximum lifespan.
2. Stay Physically Active – Studies show that people who exercise regularly live longer on average than those who don’t. Regular physical activity can reduce your chances of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and depression. It can even help keep your mind clear in old age. In general, it’s fine to maintain a habit of about 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week.
3. Sleep well – Getting enough quality sleep can reduce your risk of health problems and help you recover from illness faster. Taking naps during the day can also help you live longer. On the other hand, staying up late is not good for you. Getting less than 5 hours of sleep a night may increase your risk of shortening your lifespan.
4. Stay in a good mood – Staying in a positive state of mind and spirit has amazing health benefits, stress is linked to heart disease, stroke, poor lung health and other problems, while a good mood reduces anxiety and lowers blood pressure. Natural remedies such as yoga, meditation or deep breathing are effective ways to manage stress and stay refreshed.