Healthy Habits to Reach Your 90s
By Sara Butler
Want to live to be 90? Well, a study that began in 2003 at the Clinic for Aging Research and Education has uncovered a few keys to longevity. Researchers gathered information to gain insight into why some people live so long -- and what people can do to reach the same milestone. Here are a few of the healthy habits shared by many participants in the study.
One to Two Alcoholic Beverages a Day
This is one of the most astounding traits discovered by the study -- that people who drank moderately, or had one to two glasses of wine or beer per day, had nearly 20 percent less of a chance to die prematurely. This supports other research that has found alcoholic beverages such as red wine promotes brain and heart health.
That doesn’t mean you should go on a bender each night (that’s certainly not healthy), but a glass of red wine with dinner is probably worth it.
Get a Hobby
This study also found hobbies to be beneficial to longevity. People who spent a couple of hours per day on a hobby had lower rates of stress and a lower heart rate. That translates to a reduced chance of dying prematurely. Finding something you enjoy doing to keep your neurons firing and growing in your brain and to keep your stress levels low will pay off, no matter how long you live. Though, it’s safe to say you’ll probably live longer and be happier if you can find time to devote to something you really love doing.
Exercise
This one shouldn’t take anyone by surprise! Even just 20 minutes of moderate exercise per day can lengthen your life too, according to this study. That’s because exercise helps to strengthen your cardiovascular system, helps you to maintain a healthy weight, and lowers stress. Even something as simple as walking after dinner each night can have a big impact on your health.
It’s safe to say that taking up knitting while drinking a glass of red wine after going for a run may be the key to a long and healthy life. It’s certainly worth your time to explore things you enjoy to make your life healthier and happier, no matter how long you live!
The secret to a long life may not be that much of a secret at all. It turns out that being happy, being active, and controlling stress will start you off on the right foot!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Gahanna, Ohio.