8 'longevity' secrets supported in 2017

As we age, we start looking for “longevity pills.” Meanwhile, many lifestyle habits have been found to influence longevity more than genetics, suggesting that the real “longevity pill” is made up of healthy eating and exercise.

Previous research has shown that the key to longevity lies in habits that improve health and well-being. Healthy habits are defined as those that benefit our physical, mental, and emotional health. While they can be difficult to achieve and require a change in our mindset, over the past year, science has unlocked some of the secrets to living longer.

Optimistic

The right attitude and mindset can help us achieve "longevity". A recent study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that optimistic women had a significantly lower risk of dying from several major diseases, including cancer, heart disease, stroke and respiratory disease, than pessimistic women.

Researchers believe that the more optimistic we are, the more likely we are to adopt healthy behaviors. They speculate that optimists are also more likely to eat better; exercise more; and sleep better. Optimism may directly affect the body's biological functions.

Japanese style dining

Japanese people are considered very healthy for many reasons: they have the third highest life expectancy in the world, and have an obesity rate of just 3.5%. Their superior health can be attributed to their diet rich in plants, fish and vegetables.

In March, a study by the National Center for Health and Medicine in Tokyo found that people who followed Japan's recommended dietary guidelines were 15% less likely to die from all causes, including heart disease and stroke, than those who did not follow the guidelines.

Eating certain calorie-dense foods can help you lose weight because they make you feel fuller for longer. For example, the Japanese typically eat a diet high in carbohydrates such as rice and vegetables, but low in fat.

Eat cheese

A good aged cheese could be the secret to a longer life and a faster metabolism. A study in November looked at why the French tend to live long and healthy lives despite eating a diet high in saturated fat, a phenomenon known as the “French Paradox.”

The French have low rates of coronary heart disease and an average life expectancy of 82 years, while they consume up to 24kg of cheese per year.

Eight science-backed tips, from eating cheese to playing Pokémon Go, that will help you live longer

Researchers believe that fermented dairy products like cheese may contribute to longevity and health through butyric acid. Higher levels of this compound have been linked to reduced obesity and improved metabolism. Higher butyrate levels have been linked to lower cholesterol.

Play racket sports

Regularly playing racket sports like tennis may prevent death. A study by Oxford University and researchers in Finland and Australia found that people who played racket sports were less likely to die during the study period.

Playing sports reduced individual risk by 47% compared to those who did not exercise. Swimming also reduced the risk of death by 28%, aerobics by 27%, and cycling by 15%.

Researchers believe the difference may lie in the social aspects, such as clubs and organized activities outside of tournaments, that sports like tennis and squash create. Overall, this research suggests that any regular physical activity can help us be healthier and live longer.

Play "Pokémon Go"

Pokémon Go fans can rejoice—the game may be adding to our average lifespan, as long as we keep playing indefinitely. The study, conducted by Microsoft and Stanford University, found that playing the game “added a total of 144 billion steps,” to the daily step count of the general population. That’s an additional 192 daily steps per user.

If players (aged 15-49) continued participating at this rate indefinitely, “it would be associated with an additional 41.4 days of life expectancy.” Of course, there's a big “if” here.

Read a book

People who read books have a "significant longevity advantage" over those who don't.

A study in Social Sciences & Medicine found that people who read books for up to 3.5 hours a week were 17% less likely to die during the 12-year study period than those who did not read books. The study also found a similar, but weaker, association among people who read newspapers and magazines.

"People who reported spending as little as half an hour a day reading had a significant survival advantage over non-readers," said Becca R. Levy, a Yale University lecturer and lead author of the study.

Use Facebook

Our online and offline relationships may contribute to good health. In November, researchers at the University of California, San Diego found that Facebook use increases longevity, but only when it is used to maintain and improve real-life social connections.

Facebook users live longer than people who don't use social networks.

Over the course of a year, Facebook users are 12% less likely to die than non-users.

People who use medium or large social networks – meaning those in the top 50 to 30% – live longer than those in the bottom 10%. This result is also consistent with previous research on offline relationships and longevity.

Late childbearing

Having children later in life may increase a woman's chances of living to 90. The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, found a link between a woman's age at giving birth and the number of pregnancies she had, and her life expectancy.

Women who have two to four full-term pregnancies are also more likely to live to age 90 than those who have only one full-term pregnancy.

Apply these eight science-backed tips in 2017 for a longer, healthier life.

According to Dantri