To Your Health
August, 2023 (Vol. 17, Issue 08) |
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24 Extra Years
By Editorial Staff
The younger generations might not appreciate it, but those of us with a few years behind us recognize and appreciate the power of longevity. No one wants to die before "their time," and while you can't completely control your destiny, the decisions you make – or don't make – can play a significant role in where your future takes you ...
including how long you live. So, how about an extra two-and-a-half decades? That's how many extra years you can enjoy on this planet if you're willing to do the work.
What type of "work" do we mean? Lifestyle choices that can add up to 24 extra years to your life compared to not making them. According to researchers, who presented their findings at the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting in July 2023, adopting these eight specific habits by age 40 can increase your lifespan by up to the aforementioned 24 years:
- Being physically active
- Eating a healthy diet
- Managing stress levels
- Avoiding smoking
- Getting good sleep
- Positive social relationships
- Avoiding binge drinking
- Avoiding opioid addiction
Lack of physical activity, opioid use and smoking have the biggest impacts on lifespan, increasing the risk of early death by 30-45%. And even if adopting all eight healthy habits seems a bit daunting, adding just one or two still adds anywhere from 4-7 extra years to your life compared to adhering to zero of the seven. What's more, even adopting these behaviors at a later age (50, 60, etc.) can be beneficial; according to the researchers, the gain in lifespan years only declines slightly.
OK, so here's the important part of the story: How many of the eight do you prioritize? If your answer is in the 6-8 range, give yourself a pat on the back – and then work on achieving the remaining ones. If it's fewer – especially much fewer, then talk to your doctor about what you can do about it. The effort is well worth the reward.
