How to Live Longer
I watched this really interesting segment on 6o Minutes about people who live long lives (i.e., 90 years).
There’s this retirement community in Southern California where residents filled out an extensive questionnaire asking about lifestyle. A neurologist discovered the data (going back to 1981) and not only has her team analyzed what they found, they are tracking every single resident who is still alive to determine what is the secret to longevity.
Here are the links to the video clips. It’s a fascinating watch.
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/living-to-90-and-beyond-part-one-2/ http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/living-to-90-and-beyond-part-two-2/ Here’s a quick synopsis of the research. The following factors contribute to longer lifespans:- 45 minutes of exercise a day. 45 minutes is better than 2 or 3 hours. Doesn’t have to be consecutive and doesn’t have to be taxing. Simple activities like walking or gardening are fine.
- Consumption of alcohol every day (i.e., 2 glasses of wine, 2 martinis, 2 beers, etc.). Does not matter what kind of alcohol.
- Consumption of caffeine (the equivalent of 2-3 cups of coffee per day).
- Being social.
- Later on in life, it is better to be a little bit overweight than it is to be underweight.
Where am I on the longevity spectrum? I don’t exercise nor do I drink caffeine. I don’t have wine every day, but several times a week I have a glass of wine. I am fairly social. Plus I am underweight vs overweight. MAJOR FAIL. Maybe I’ll live to 70?
How do you line up?
This post How to Live Longer appeared first on Dear Vixen - Catherine Gacad.
