There are plenty of jokes going around the internet about how a 109-year-old woman says the secret to her living a long life is by not getting married and avoiding men. If that were really the case, then you would never find a married couple living past 100 years of age, and it has happened.
What it boils down to is that you’d had to meet a lot of the science-backed criteria that are indicative that you have a high chance of living to be 100. Let’s look at 15 of those now.
#15 – You Don’t Drink Soda
Soda is full of chemicals that are not at all healthy for you. Even though diet soda, for instance, has no sugar, it can still lead to weight gain and diabetes by other chemicals that it has. It is best to just stay away from soda. Do you want to drink something fizzy? Then mineral water is a good and safe replacement.
#14 – You Have Friends And Family To Count On
Those who are engaged with friends and/or family will not just be more content but they will be healthier. Humans are social creatures and need to have connections with others. Science has proven that living in isolation for years can be detrimental to your health.
#13 – You Stay Active
Staying active, meaning even taking a half-hour brisk walk a day can improve your chances of living a long life. Exercise helps you stay fit and it is also good for your mind as it has been said to lower your chances of developing dementia a well.
#12 – You Take A 30-Minute Siesta
Most people do not get even 6 hours of good quality sleep a night. The ideal number of hours to sleep each night is 7 to 8 hours. Lack of sleep can have detrimental effects on your health. However, if you take that half-hour catnap during the day, then that can help reduce a lot of health problems you could run into by not sleeping enough.
#11 – You Stick To A Plant-Based Diet
You don’t only have to eat fruits and vegetables but if it makes up most of your diet, then you have a good chance of living up to 100. Fruits and vegetables have the key nutrients to help your immune stay strong and healthy and provide you with antioxidants for keeping your cells strong.
#10 – You See The Glass Half-Full
Studies have shown that those who are natural optimists and joyful have a good chance of living to 100. That is because these traits help to reduce stress which can be a silent killer in itself. Therefore, those who have a sunny disposition and don’t stress over the small things have a big health advantage.
#9 – You Eat Plenty Of Fish
Fish is very good for you as it has the necessary fatty acids to keep your brain strong and it is good for your cardiovascular health as well. In fact, those who eat fish as opposed to only taking Omega-3 supplements have a better chance of living a long life.
#8 – You Stick To The Mediterranean Diet
The Meditteranean diet consists of fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, legumes, whole grains, and olive oil. These foods all are rich in the nutrients that you need to be in optimal health, and they help keep you at an optimal weight as well. It is not a surprise by sticking to this diet you would be most likely to live a long life.
#7 – You Have A Sense Of Purpose In Life
If you feel you have a sense of purpose, then you will be willing to make some friends and pick some hobbies. This gives you a sense of fulfillment and it helps you develop a positive attitude that you already know is great for your body.
#6 – You Don’t Have A Lot Of Belly Fat
It is important to be of optimal weight. However, it is the most important that you are trim around your waist. If you have too much belly fat, then that increases your chances of diabetes and heart disease. Do some push-ups each day to help keep your waist trim.
#5 – You Hang Around Motivating People
Motivating people will help you stay healthy as they will encourage you to exercise, stick to eating healthy, and will build you up. If you hang around those who prefer living a sedentary lifestyle and prefer to eat junk, then you can see how that influence can be detrimental to you.
#4 – You Drink Plenty Of Green And Black Tea
Green and black tea have a lot of potent nutrients that will help you stay healthy as it promotes strong immune function, good heart health, and a healthy brain. It has plenty of antioxidants as well.
#3 – You Do Your Own Chores
Perhaps it is a good thing that you don’t have the money to hire a cleaner as cleaning your own home will help keep you healthier in the long run. It keeps your activity level up and you burn a lot of calories by doing your own chores.
#2 – You Eat Natural Purple Food
If you eat purple grapes, purple cabbage, blueberries, and so on, they are full of polyphenols which help reduce cardiovascular health and dementia. You will be happy to know that red wine counts as well but drink that in moderation such as once per day.
#1 – You Feel Younger Than You Are
If you are 50 but you feel as if you are 60, then that is not a good sign as it means you really are aging at an accelerated rate due to poor habits for the most part. If you stay fit and keep up with a good and healthy lifestyle, you’ll feel a few years younger.
Longevity can also be in the genes. However, if you take up every bad habit possible, then it won’t matter. Those are the 15 secrets to living up to 100.
