Living a long life is partially about genetics and partially about environment.
Living a long life is partially about genetics and partially about environment. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to increase your longevity.
The first thing to realize is that even if your parents have lived long lives, they may not have had much control over their health when they were younger. Genetics play a big role in how long we live, but having good habits can help us stay healthy as we age. Living a healthy lifestyle is one of the biggest factors in aging well!
Here are some important things to remember:
Smoking is bad for you.
Smoking is bad for you. I know, it’s not exactly a revelation. But if you’re a smoker—and even if you’re not—it’s worth thinking about what smoking does to your health and how it can impact the length of your life. Smoking is linked to heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In addition to these health effects on the smoker themselves, second-hand smoke also poses serious risks for nonsmokers who breathe in these fumes with family members or friends who smoke indoors.
So let’s assume you’ve made the decision to quit smoking or at least cut back on how much you smoke each day or week (or month). It may seem like an easy fix but quitting cold turkey isn’t always possible; many people don’t succeed without some kind of support from their doctor or other medical professional who can help them along their journey toward sobriety (not just sobriety from nicotine but also alcohol). If quitting cold turkey isn’t realistic for your life right now then try cutting down instead—it will still help keep stave off some of those negative long-term health effects associated with tobacco use!
Burning the candle at both ends can lead to a shorter life.
Sleep deprivation is a serious problem, and it’s one of the biggest reasons why people don’t live as long as they could. When you’re tired, you have a higher risk of getting sick or injured. Plus, sleep deprivation can lead to mental health problems like anxiety and depression. The best way to avoid this is by getting enough sleep every night: seven hours for most adults and nine hours for teens.
If that seems like a lot—and trust us it sounds like an awful lot—there are ways to make sure you get your zzzs while still being productive during the day! Try setting aside time in the morning (or even right after school) when you can turn off all electronics so there won’t be any distractions later on at night when trying to go into “sleep mode.” Another tip might be taking short naps throughout the day if needed; just make sure whatever activities leading up beforehand aren’t too stressful because then they’ll only add onto stress rather than helping reduce it!
Be cautious around the sun’s rays.
You may be surprised to learn that sunbathing can actually lead to skin cancer and premature aging. While we’re on the subject, let’s clear up another misconception: the sun is not your friend and it does not provide a healthy source of vitamin D.
In fact, according to medical experts at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, “a little bit of sun exposure during childhood may reduce the risk for melanoma later in life by 10 percent or more. But as with most things, too much is a bad thing.” With that in mind, it’s important to remember that spending too much time in the sun even when wearing sunscreen can still damage your skin and make you age prematurely—and no one wants wrinkles! So protect yourself with SPF 30+ sunscreen (or higher) whenever possible—and always wear sunglasses when outdoors!
Stress is harmful to your health.
The second thing to stop doing if you want a longer life is stress.
I know that might sound like an odd thing to say given the fact that stress and anxiety are so common these days, but I’m serious.
Stress and anxiety can lead to depression, which in turn can lead to overeating. Stress can also cause your immune system to weaken, making it easier for you to get sick all the time. Finally, stress causes premature aging—which we all want less of!
Keep your mind active.
One of the best ways to keep your mind sharp is by taking up a new skill or hobby. Books, magazines and even classes are great ways to learn new skills and stay mentally active. When you’re younger, it’s easy enough to pick up a new language or pick up an instrument; but as you get older, this can become more challenging. Try taking dance classes at your local community center or sign yourself up for a tumbling class at your gym!
Physical activity is also critical for keeping the mind sharp: exercise has been shown time and time again to improve memory function in older adults. Researchers have found that regular physical activity increases blood flow through parts of the brain responsible for learning and memory processing — meaning that those areas work better after exercise than before it!
Finally—and this should go without saying—make sure that you’re getting adequate sleep every night! Sleep is essential for proper brain function; without adequate restful sleep each night (eight hours), we don’t have enough energy left over during our waking hours to make sure everything else runs smoothly!
Stay hydrated and eat right.
The most important thing you can do for your health is to stay hydrated and eat right.
- Drink plenty of water. This may sound simple, but it’s not as easy as it sounds—you have to remember to drink enough water every day. Try to drink at least eight glasses of water each day, especially if you’re exercising or sweating a lot. If you’re thirsty, that means it’s time for another glass!
- Eat a balanced diet with lots of vegetables and fruit in your meals. A balanced diet is one that includes both proteins (like meat), carbohydrates (like breads), fats (like butter) and vitamins/minerals like calcium or potassium in the foods we eat every day; also known as “eating right.”
Watch what you drink.
Alcohol is dangerous to your health, and here’s why: It makes it harder for your body to remove waste. This can lead to liver disease, high blood pressure and heart disease. Alcohol also increases cancer risk in women and men alike.
If you’re going to drink anyways—which you shouldn’t—it’s important that you know what beverages are the most detrimental for your body. That said, let’s take a look at some of the worst ones on the market today:
- Beer (light beer included)
- Wine
- Spirits (vodka being an exception due to its lack of sugar content)
Say no to recreational drugs.
Recreational drugs like cocaine, heroin and meth are extremely dangerous. Not only do they contain harmful chemicals that can damage your brain, heart, lungs and other organs—they can also lead to addiction or overdose.
If you want a long life (and who doesn’t?!), avoid recreational drugs at all costs!
Weighing too much or too little can affect your lifespan negatively.
Weighing too much or too little can impact your lifespan negatively.
It’s no secret that obesity is one of the biggest health problems in America, but many people don’t realize how much it affects their life expectancy. A study from 2017 found that being obese could shorten a person’s life by 14 years! And the higher your BMI number is, the more likely you are to develop diseases like diabetes and cancer.
Being underweight is also harmful for your health—and not just because of low levels of body fat. In fact, studies have shown that losing weight can reduce your risk for certain illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. So even if there isn’t enough body fat on you right now, try cutting back on eating so that you don’t end up with too few calories!
The choices you make every day can help your body work better and give you more years on this planet
Your body is the machine that runs your life. You can’t change your genetics, but you can change the way it works and how long it lasts.
The choices you make every day can help your body work better and give you more years on this planet.
