MSNBC published an article on “12 Surprising Signs You’ll Live to Be 100.” The original article will appear in Prevention magazine.
Summary
Basically, it seems that the old tried and true health recommendations really DO work. Eating a high nutrition low calorie diet, aerobic exercising at least 5 hours per week, being sociable and friendly with loving family and associates, staying engaged with the times and thinking “young” are highly important factors contributing towards living to be 100.
Here are the original 12 in a nutshell, with links to the original articles beneath.
1. You’re very sociable.
Evidently being the “life of the party” has its rewards – outgoing people are 50% less likely to suffer from dimentia which manifests as sever loss of memory, cognition, thinking ability.
2. You like to run at least 5 hours per week.
Aerobic exercise keeps the immune system “younger.” Runners live longer and function at a higher “rate.” Keep that blood flowing!
3. You get good amounts of fiber in your diet.
The article mentioned raspberries in your cereal – but as they can be very expensive, hard to obtain and have higher levels of pesticides, we’re not sure we would prefer them rather than other sources of fiber.
4. You feel younger than you are. Feeling younger can mean being younger, both physically and emotionally.
5. You “embrace techie trends.”
Adopting the habits of the young, staying in tuned and in touch using current technologies such as Twitter or Facebook has youth-in-izing benefits.
6. You started menopause after 52.
The later your natural menopause starts, the more likely you’ll reach those higher years.
7. You eat lower calorie higher nutrition food.
Cut the junk and stick to the vegetables, fruits, lean meat or fish and whole grains. Less is best, and quality is key.
8. You had a baby later in life.
Having healthy reproductive organs in “later” years signals longer life potential. On the other hand, raising young children can be especially stressful in later years. Caution, here.
9. You have a slower pulse
(1 beat per second or so). Less beats per minute means less work for the heart.
10. You don’t snore.
Sleep apnea or “excessive snoring” can cause high blood pressure, loss of memory, weight gain and depression.
11. You have a relatively flat stomach after 45-50. Having a tire round the middle had a 20% higher risk of dying sooner than later.
12. You have normal Vitamin D levels. Evidently, according to some reseachers, 80% of Americans are dificient in Vitamin D. We would surmise that ALL vitamins and nutrients are important, so eating a good diet with proper supplementation might be key, here. Lately, Vitamin D is getting high exposure in the news due to the release of research reports.
MSNBC Article
Prevention Magazine
081609
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