Caring
8 surprising things that increase life expectancy
We all want to live long, healthy and happy lives, but it seems there’s so much conflicting information out there when it comes to boosting your longevity. While healthy eating and exercise are no-brainers, what about the not-so-widely-known secrets to increasing life expectancy? We take a look at eight that might surprise you.
- Living in a well-off neighbourhood – Even if you’re not as cashed up as Bill Gates, simply living in the same area as others who are could make you live longer. This is due to better medical care on offer and less pollution.
- Flossing – while its effect on oral health is still being debated, flossing regularly actually has quite the positive impact on your arteries. Yep, your humble dental floss removes the bacteria, which, if absorbed into the bloodstream, triggers inflammation and restricts blood flow. In fact, some experts believe flossing could add 6.3 years to your life.
- Socialising – Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, the verdict is in. People who maintain strong friendships live longer than those who don’t – 7.5 years in fact. This is because people who socialise more tend to be more active, have better mental health and lower levels of stress. So organise a catch-up with your girlfriends now!
- Being born in spring – It sounds strange, but those born in September, October and November are more likely to reach 100 than people born in any other month. Scientists believe this is because spring babies are less likely to be exposed to infectious diseases common in other seasons.
- Having faith – Researchers aren’t sure why, but people who practice a religion are found to live longer than those who do not. It could be that churchgoers socialise more (see above) or have a stronger sense of meaning in their lives.
- Having healthy friends – We tend to be a reflection of the people we spend our time with, so it makes sense that having slim, healthy friends encourages us to be the same. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people with obese friends had a 57 per cent higher risk of also becoming obese.
- Doing chores – Sorry, but it’s true! Vacuuming, washing windows and dusting are fantastic methods of passive exercise, and Swedish researchers found that people who kept active around the house over 60 lowered their risk of heart attack and stroke by 27 per cent and their risk of death by 30 per cent.
- Living among nature – City-slickers be warned – your urban pad may be doing damage to your health. A report published in Environmental Health Perspectives discovered that those who live in areas surrounded by greenery had a 12 per cent lower risk of death, thanks to less pollution and higher levels of physical activity.
Tell us in the comments below, how many of these can you tick off the list?
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