Health Practices That Could Help You See 100


Man Playing Golf

How the Centenarians Do It

It is certainly true that our genes play a role in how well we age, but, another vitally important factor is how well we live our lives. For example, studies have shown that the risk of stroke can be cut in half by subscribing to four distinct actions: be physically active for 30 minutes per day, eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, don’t smoke or use tobacco products, and don’t drink to excess.

While those steps might seem a bit obvious, research that has followed centenarians and their day-to-day habits shows that they tend to share some additional traits related to how they eat, move around, cope with stress, and generally go about their lives.

Habits of The 100+ Set

  1. Don’t stop working.
    Evidence has shown that when people stop working suddenly, such as in retirement, the likelihood of chronic ailments goes through the roof. However, among those who continue some form of work even after retirement, such as volunteering on a regular basis, or cultivating a large garden spot, the incidence of health issues drops dramatically.

 

  1. Practice good oral hygiene.
    Brushing your teeth is only one piece of the puzzle. Flossing every day has been shown to reduce the levels of bacteria that cause gum disease; the same bacteria which have been observed in clinical studies, entering the bloodstream and causing damage to the arteries, which is a leading factor in heart disease. In fact, flossing twice per day is ideal, so do it morning and night.

 

  1. Keep active.
    Daily exercise is like performing routine maintenance on your automobile – you don’t have to do it, but, your car certainly will provide many more miles of excellent service when you do. Gym membership isn’t necessary; simply walking around your neighborhood for 30 minutes in the evenings after dinner is enough to help extend your years. Mobility can become an issue as we age, and even when simple walking is still a pleasure, climbing stairs can be painful. Many people who have problems with stair climbing opt to have a stairlift installed in their home. There is a great deal of data, including stairlifts prices, available online for those interested in researching this as an option.

 

  1. Sleep for at least six hours.
    If you think giving up precious hours of sleep to squeeze more hours out of your day is a good idea – think again. Sleep is one of the bodies most important means of repair, so by getting an adequate amount of sleep, you’re adding more years to your life. Research shows that the minimum amount of sleep necessary to allow for time spent in the healing REM phases is about six hours.

 

  1. Stick with healthy routines.
    One of the strongest traits observed across the spectrum of elderly who have lived into their 100s is the fact that they all follow strict routines; eating the same meals, sleeping and waking at the same times, and participating in the same activities, all of their lives. Observing routines helps to keep the bodies equilibrium in balance, and the immune system strong.

 

  1. Maintain connections.
    Keeping in contact with friends and family is essential to avoiding depression which can be especially difficult to treat in older people. Additionally, regular contact with close loved ones provides ample opportunity for any changes in behavior or health to be observed, and dealt with, before they become serious problems.

Make these practical habits a part of your life to extend your health and happiness, and give you as much time as possible with friends and family, doing the things you enjoy.

This guest post was written by Marianne Sullivan for Stairliftadvisor.co.uk who invite you to visit their website for curved stairlift prices and additional information regarding stairlifts.

Published in Health & Medicine, Sport