10 tips to a longer, healthier life
Just the other day we lost an amazing visionary, Steve Jobs. He changed the way we live through his innovation, passion and energy. His passing at such a young age got me thinking about how a lot of people abuse their health and don’t appreciate the gift of a healthy body. I decided to come up with a list of a few little things people could do to help prolong their lives. Most of the things on the list are simple, easy, and don’t take much to incorporate into your life. Also know that these are not substitutes to counter-balance an unhealthy lifestyle as that should be the first thing you should change.
1. Smile more
Smiling enhances our mood, reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and enhances the release of endorphins (feel-good hormones). It also stimulates the release of serotonin that offsets depression and yes, smiling helps us live longer too according to a research at Wayne State University. Smiles reflect positive emotions that can be linked to physical and mental well-being. Put on a smile and enjoy your life.
2. Get some ZZZZZzzzzzzzzssssss
Everyone is different and the amount of sleep an individual needs varies. It’s a general rule that the average person needs eight hours of sleep. Inadequate sleep increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity and other psychiatric problems like depression. It leads to decreased performance/alertness, memory/cognitive impairment and stress. In the US, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that each year, drowsy drivers lead to 100,000 crashes, 71,000 crashes and 1,550 fatalities.
3. Each chocolate
This doesn’t mean to just go out and stuff your face with just any chocolate bar. You have to look at the percentage of cacao. The higher the percentage of cacao, the more antioxidants there are, meaning eat dark chocolate and not your average Snickers bar. Harvard research showed that people who ate chocolate just once a month lived longer then abstainers. Cacao is full of flavonoids, which act as antioxidants that protect the body from free radicals. Flavonoids also reduce blood pressure by production of nitric oxide and have been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol by up to 10 percent. So go and enjoy some chocolate in its pure form and not the ones packed with sugar, cream, caramel, etc.
4. Relax: Meditate, yoga, tai-chi…….
The International Journal of Neuroscience found that daily meditation added a “full 12 years” on average to the span of senior citizens. Their study of 2,000 senoirs who did daily relaxation exercises had 87 percent fewer heart attacks than the norm for their age group, 55 percent fewer cancerous tumors, and 87 percent fewer nervous disorders.
5. Have some fun under the covers
Sex has tons of benefits other than just the pure satisfaction of the act itself. It relieves stress, lowers blood pressure and improves heart function. One study from the University of Bristol showed a 50 percent decrease in mortality risk of heart disease with frequent intercourse. It boosts immunity through the release of immunoglobulin-a, which can protect you from colds and other infections. Frequent orgasms by men reduce the risk of prostate cancer. During intercourse oxytocin surges, endorphins increase, and pain declines, so sex helps with headaches, arthritis or PMS. Just make sure to be safe when you play.
6. Massages
Massages are known to relax and calm down its users. The reduction in stress has a ton of benefits in itself. Massages increase circulation and allow our body to bring more oxygen and nutrients to our tissues. It stimulates the flow of our lymphs, the body’s natural defense system to toxic invaders. It helps detoxify the body and it also releases endorphins. Think of your body as a car and every once in a while you need to bring it into the shop to buffer out the dents, change the oil, and get everything aligned.
7. Dink some green tea
Maybe this is the reason behind the Japanese having the longest life spans compared to any other country. Green tea has been shown to reduce the risk of esophageal cancer by 60 percent. University of Purdue found compounds in green tea that inhibit the growth of cancer cells. It has also been shown to lower cholesterol, fight infections, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, increase immune system function, and help in weight loss. The secret behind green tea is that it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is a very powerful anti-oxidant.
8. Have a glass of red wine
Don’t get too excited because only in moderation is red wine helpful in longevity, meaning only a glass a day. Red wine has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, blood clots, atherosclerosis, kidney stones, and Alzheimer’s disease. Red wine is full of flavonoids, which are antioxidants, and in particular resveratrol. Resveratrol is the key ingredient to its health benefits and can be found in pill form. But a glass of wine among friends or family is much more fun.
9. Brush and floss daily
When you don’t brush or floss your gums become inflamed and bacteria grows, which ends up harming you. The bacteria will get into your arteries, which will cause plaque buildup and lead to cardiovascular diseases. Also in the end, you don’t want to be walking around with bad breath too.
10. Stay positive
Some research shows that having a more positive outlook affects how long you will live, and positive attitudes can increase life span up to 7.5 years. Optimists are more likely to outlive pessimists and in a study of 100,000 women, the ones who had optimistic answers on a personality test were 9 percent less likely to develop heart disease. Living longer isn’t the only benefit as a positive attitude should make your life more fun too.
