Do you want to know the secrets to living a long, healthy life? Stay with me and I’ll tell you more.
Forget the Fountain of Youth; Find Real Ways to Increase Longevity Instead
Longevity is something that most people desire.
In fact, I’d bet that most people, if you asked them, would love to know how to drink from the Fountain of Youth—the mystical spring that is supposed to reverse the effects of time and restore youth to anyone who drinks from it!
Truth be told…I don’t think the Fountain of Youth exists. Instead, I tend to look at the bigger picture: you can swim in the ocean of youth by making some important decisions (and changes) in your life. Now, I don’t think I have the perfect recipe for a long and healthy life, but I do think I’m onto something…and I’d like to share it with you.
Longevity is about more than diet and exercise. It’s about making sound decisions about what you eat, how you exercise, how you spend your time, the people you surround yourself with, and your overall attitude about life. In fact, I think attitude is the most important, because without it, it can be tough to fulfill the other aspects.
My 4 Secrets for a More Youthful Life
If you want to live a longer, healthier, and happier life, here are some things to keep in mind:
Secret #1: Drink Coffee Every Day
Coffee is one of the biggest sources of antioxidants in the American diet and based on the research I’ve seen, coffee can really do a body good. It might help lower your risk of diabetes, dementia, and stroke. And those are just a few of the potential benefits! Just make sure you drink it black and don’t add all kinds of creams, sugars, and flavorful syrups.
Secret #2: Don’t Juice
I know there’s a bit of a juice craze going on, and you’ve probably heard how healthy it is. Well, I have to let you in on something: juicing isn’t all that healthy. When you blend fruits and vegetables, you lose the valuable fiber content, and for the most part, get straight sugar. At the end of the day, a fruit smoothie or a glass of fruit juice is only slightly better than a can of Coke. Eat real fruit and veggies; don’t drink them.
Secret #3: Go for Long Walks
As I mentioned yesterday, nature walks can do wonders for your mental health and managing stress—a major factor in early aging. Take a long walk two to three times per week, preferably on a quiet street or through a park. This can calm your nerves and be a great source of exercise. An added bonus to the serenity: walking is a great way to reduce your risk of heart disease and increase longevity.
Secret #4: See Your Friends
Participating in activities with friends can improve happiness and make life a little sweeter. No one ever suffered from smiling, laughing, or spending too much time with good people. Making regular dates with friends and family will keep you active and keep your attitude positive.
Now, I admit these aren’t all the secrets to longevity…but hey, it’s a good place to start.
Sources for Today’s Article:
Maia, L., “Does caffeine intake protect from Alzheimer’s Disease?” European Journal of Neurology web site, July 3, 2002; http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1468-1331.2002.00421.x/full.
Santos, C., “Caffeine intake and dementia: systematic review and meta-analysis,” National Institutes of Health web site, 2010; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20182026, last accessed August 7, 2015.
Eskelinen, M., “Caffeine as a protective factor in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease,” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease web site, 2010; http://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-alzheimers-disease/jad01404, last accessed August 7, 2015.
Van Dieren, S., “Coffee and tea consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes,” Diabetologia web site, December 2009; http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00125-009-1516-3, last accessed August 7, 2015.
Odegaard, A., “Coffee, tea, and incident type 2 diabetes: the Singapore Chinese Health Study,” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition web site, October 2008; http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/88/4/979.short, last accessed August 7, 2015.
Van Dam, R., “Coffee consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes,” Journal of the American Medical Association web site, July 6, 2005; http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=201177.
Kokubo, Y., “The impact of green tea and coffee consumption on the reduced risk of stroke incidence on Japanese population,” Stroke web site, March 14, 2013; http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/early/2013/03/14/STROKEAHA.111.677500.abstract.
Gill, J., “Fruit juice: just another sugary drink?” The Lancet web site, June 2014; http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(14)70013-0/fulltext, last accessed August 7, 2015.
Blue, L., “Recipe for Longevity: No Smoking, Lots of Friends,” TIME web site, July 28, 2010; http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2006938,00.html.