Signs That You Will Live Longer

Who doesn't want to live a longer, healthier life? Below is a list of signs that suggest you may live longer.

Your mom had you young. If your mom had you before the age of 25, you are twice as likely to live to the age of 100 as someone who was born to an older mom. Scientists at the University of Chicago suggest that, moms' best eggs go first to fertilization, that leads to healthier offspring.

You drink tea. Black and green tea to be specific. They both contain catechins that help your blood vessels relax and protect your heart. Just 1 or 2 cups a tea will do good things for your heart. However, bottled tea's that are ready to drink do not offer the same benefits. When there is water added to the tea, the catechins degrade.

 You floss your teeth. Only 5-10% of Americans regularly floss their teeth. Flossing your teeth every night removes bacteria that causes inflammation. Inflammation in the gums can increase your risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Floss your teeth every night to add 6 years to your life.

You skip soda. Yes, even diet soda! Drinking even just one soda a day doubles your risk of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of conditions such as high blood pressure, excess fat around the waist, and elevated insulin levels. All of these your risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Have sex. Regular sexual activity may lower your blood pressure, help you sleep better, boost your immune system, and protect your heart. Also, it helps with a healthy marriage and can burn up to 200 calories! Add 3-5 years to your life.

You eat purple foods. Foods like blueberries, red grapes, blackberries, even red wine all contain polyphenols. Polyphenols keep your blood vessels and arteries healthy. These reduce the risk of heart disease and may protect against Alzheimer's disease.

You were a healthy weight as a teen. Being overweight by the age of 14 increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes when you are an adult, according to a study in The Journal of Pediatrics. Those who have diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to develop heart disease than those without.

You pass on the burgers. A few serving sizes of beef, pork, or lamb every so often is not a big deal. It is when you eat more than 18 ounces of red meat per week when it becomes an issue. Consuming this much red meat increases your risk of colorectal cancer, the third most common type of cancer. It is unclear why red meats are harmful, but it is suspected that carcinogens form when the meat is cooked.

You have good friends. Having people close to you can reduce your stress. Having people to support you keeps you healthy, both mentally and physically. Chronic stress suppresses your immune system and ages cells more rapidly. All of this shortens your life by 4-8 years.

Source:
Health & Weight-loss Breakthroughs 2010. Rodale, 2010. Print.