Even if it might be in your genetics to get a rare disease and be at risk of certain health conditions as you get old, that genetic makeup only consists of 20-30 percent of your longevity. Therefore, the other 70-80 percent of your longevity in life is due to your lifestyle choices and how you decide to live your life health-wise. According to research (and people who have lived past the age of 100), there are a few ways you too can live to 100 and beyond while staying healthy and happy.
Here’s some advice to follow from the old and wise on how to live a long life:
RELATED: 3 Surprising Things You Can Do In Your Spare Time To Live Longer Eating fruits, vegetables, protein with healthy fats, and whole grains is very important if you want your body to function normally and to live longer. If you’re focused on eating overly-processed food high in sugar, saturated fat, and sodium, it can be really bad for your health and cause you to be more prone to things like high cholesterol, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more. Lucia DeClerck, the oldest resident of New Jersey, was interviewed by The New York Times in February 2021 and revealed that she has lived through the Spanish flu, two World Wars, and a COVID diagnosis she has had 105 years of life. Her advice to live a long life included living each day one step at a time, avoiding junk food, and nine gin-soaked raisins a day after soaking them for nine days. RELATED: 10 Healthy Foods That Make You Happy (& Are Healthier Than A Pint Of Ice Cream) Beryl Netto from New York told Glamour magazine in 2015 when she was turning 100 that exercising every day was the key to success. “Take care of yourself. Exercise is the main thing. I still try before bedtime for about a half-hour. I do leg-lifts and work my arms,” said Netto. The Department of Health and Human Services reports that the benefits of being physically active are maintaining a healthy weight, heart, and it helps with managing stress. They also recommend getting 30 minutes of aerobic exercise five days a week such as taking a walk, going on a bike ride, or swimming, whatever form of exercise you enjoy. RELATED: 5 Stress-Relieving Mental Health Benefits Of Exercise Paul Hitch from Savannah, Georgia celebrated his 100th birthday in March 2021 and told Eating Well that he works with his stocks almost daily to keep up. “It’s challenging and keeps me up to date with what’s going on in the world.” RELATED: The Stealth Threat Of Dementia: How To Preserve Memory Research actually proves that staying in a more positive mindset during your life can help you live longer. Being optimistic is actually linked to lower blood pressure and cholesterol which is what you want because, on the other hand, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are risk factors for heart attacks, strokes, and heart diseases, all of which you can die from. Arlena Labon, a 108-year-old from East Cleveland, Ohio said in an interview with Fox8 News in 2016, that the secret to longevity is having a positive outlook, loving one another, and treating one another good. However, old age runs in her family, as she had a cousin who lived to be 114. RELATED: 25 Positive Attitude Quotes To Share With Someone Who Needs A Pick-Me-Up Research has shown that sleep deprivation and sleeping less than five hours can lead to major health problems. These include but are not limited to, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Make sure you are getting at least six to eight hours of sleep each day. Kermit Hongo, who was the world’s oldest person in 2003, died at the age of 116 and was known for her unique sleep habit which consisted of sleeping for two days straight and staying up for two days straight. Her grandson said they even fed her in her sleep. RELATED: 6 Techniques That Will Give You The Best Sleep Of Your Life (With No Pills!) 107-year-old Louise Signore from New York City also agreed and told reporter Jessica Layton in 2019 that the secret to her old age was never getting married. “I think the secret of 107 [is] I never got married. I think that’s the secret. My sister says, ‘I wish I never got married!’” Now they both might have a point because constant stress from marriage and relationships can definitely age a person, according to research, and no marriage ever is stress-free. RELATED: 8 Ways To Celebrate The Single Life — Even If You’re Tired Of Being Alone RELATED: Live Carefree & Go With The Flow In 5 Easy Steps Megan Hatch is a writer at YourTango who covers news & entertainment, love & relationships, and internet culture. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
