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Photograph by Getty Images
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You know the biggies: Don't smoke, stay out of the sun, and go easy
on the processed food. But if you really want to maximize your chances
of living forever (or, okay, if not forever than just for a really long
time—and healthily), you need to pay attention to some lesser-known
culprits, too. Here are 8 habits to start avoiding:
Obsessing about your age.
Does the thought of
another birthday make you bristle? Believe us, you aren't alone. But
it's best to check your attitude, because dwelling on it can have
serious implications for the aging process. Fixating on the negative
parts of getting older, like mental decline, could actually make you
feel older, according to research from Purdue University. The good news?
The secret to feeling younger is within your control: it’s as easy as
believing that you are younger. (Need age-embracing inspiration? Check
out
what dozens of women have to say about the best parts of getting older.)
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Photo by Mitch Mandel
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A nut-free diet.
Unless you're allergic, you may want to add nuts to your snack
rotation. Results from two long-term Harvard studies show that daily
nut-eaters were less likely to die of cancer, heart disease, and
respiratory disease—in a 30-year study follow-up they were found to be
20% less likely to die overall. Whether it's walnuts, almonds, peanuts,
pistachios, or another variety (preferably unsalted), a handful or two a
day will do the trick.
Acting stingy.
Here's one more reason that it's better to give than receive: Altruistic acts could promote longevity. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health suggests
that helping others reduces stress and, ultimately, lowers your risk of
dying. Generosity really is the gift that keeps on giving.
Sitting all day long.
If you spend most of the day in the seated position, it's time to take a stand. A study published in journal
BMJOpen
found that sitting for more than three hours a day can reduce life
expectancy by two years. But what if you have a desk job? Do your best
to
get up periodically throughout the day
to take a quick walk, get on your feet while you take phone calls, and
see if your company can provide you with a standing desk. Every little
bit helps.
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Staying up all night.
Whether you work the graveyard shift or just happen to hit your
stride when the sun goes down, there's a dark side to rising with the
moon. Sleeping too little or consistently sleeping against your body's
biological clock raises your risk of type 2 diabetes,
obesity,
heart attack,
and stroke, all to varying degrees. Less sleep is also thought to
accelerate the brain’s aging process, according to research from
Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School's Center for Cognitive Neuroscience.
And the list of reasons to catch more zzzs continues. (If you have
trouble sleeping,
these 20 simple tips can help.)
Being down in the dumps.
A lingering gloomy
attitude isn't just a bummer—it could also endanger your health. Women
who are jealous, anxious, or moody and distressed in middle age may be
at higher risk for developing Alzheimer's later in life, according to a
nearly 40-year study published by the American Academy of Neurology. The
silver lining is that reducing your risk is as simple as working on
your attitude. If you can't get out of a funk yourself, consider talking
to a therapist.
Walking slowly.
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Pounding the pavement at any pace is a great form of exercise, but a
study of 39,000 walkers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
found that over a decade, the death rate was highest among the slowest
strollers, even if they expended the same amount of energy as someone
walking briskly for a shorter time period. You want to aim for 23
minutes per mile or faster to lower your mortality risk; use a pedometer
on your next walk to pick up the pace.
Living with sexual frustration.
A study published in Biological Psychology
found that people who recently had sexual intercourse had lower blood
pressure than those who didn't. And a study from the University of
Michigan Health System suggests that sex could be one of the secrets to
youth, well-being, and a longer life. In the study, male fruit flies
that were exposed to the sexual pheromones of their female counterparts
without the opportunity to mate experienced increased stress and
ultimately lived shorter lives. Granted, this study was performed on
fruit flies, so we can't make any promises. But isn't it worth a try?
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