10 Simple Ways to Increase Your Life Span, According to Science
While it is certain that we won’t live forever, we can most certainly enhance not only the quality of our lives but also a number of years that we live by changing our habits for the better. And thankfully, you don’t need to do anything outlandish to accomplish this, instead, it’s quite simple.
1. Take More Walks
Walking, even if it’s only a thirty-minute walk three times a week can “basically reverse your physiological age by about ten years,” according to Gareth Jones, who works as the director of the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging in London, Ontario. His words are backed by a study that was conducted over three years, which looked at 220 retirement-age men that hadn’t exercised previously. After just one year, the group showed a 12% increase in aerobic power and a 10% increase in strength compared to what they would have lost had they never exercised at all.
2. Eat Chocolate
According to Dutch scientists, eating just 4g of cocoa per day could cut your risk for heart disease in half.
3. Train Your Brain
Not to sound cliche’ but if you don’t use it, you will lose it. Read books, learn new languages, and partake in the crosswords. Keeping your mind engaged will keep it alert, and young.
4. Indulge In Blueberries
Blueberries have been referred to as a superfood, due to the fact that they are packed with antioxidants and can prevent a plethora of chronic diseases. Various studies have found that by drinking blueberry juice, you can improve memory and reduce depression.
5. Cut Out on the Social Media and Truly Connect
People that have ties to others socially are less prone to mental health issues and because of that, they tend to live longer.
6. Own a Pet
According to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, seniors that own a pet are less likely to be depressed than those that don’t. Furthermore, dog owners walked about 30 minutes more per week than those who didn’t.
7. Have Yourself a Drink
According to researchers, drinking a glass of wine per day could add 5 years to your lifespan. However, don’t take this as a reason to over indulge as that would obviously be counterproductive.
8. Enjoy Sex
A number of studies have found that having people who frequently had orgasms could live up to two years longer. Sex causes people to experience a rush of hormones which can lower stress levels, provide you with better sleep and even aid in pain relief.
9. Kick Stress to the Curb
Enjoy peaceful music, meditate and take a walk. Don’t let everything overwhelm you, and don’t worry about things that don’t matter. We all need a little peace in our lives, and by reducing our stress levels, we add valuable years to our lives.
10. Laugh More Because It Truly Is the Best Medicine
A study conducted by the University of Maryland found that just 15 minutes of laughter could improve blood circulation and blood flow to the heart, which would lower your risk for heart disease.