Live healthy, live longer!

Making just a few changes in your lifestyle can help you live longer. A recent study found that four bad behaviors—smoking, drinking too much alcohol, not exercising, and not eating enough fruits and veggies—can hustle you into an early grave, and, in effect, age you by as many as 12 years.

Protect Your DNA

As you age, the ends of your chromosomes become shorter. This makes you more likely to get sick. But lifestyle changes can boost an enzyme that makes them longer. Plus, studies show diet and exercise can protect them. The bottom line: Healthy habits may slow aging at the cellular level.

Play to Win

An 80-year study found people who are conscientious — meaning they pay attention to detail, think things through, and try to do what’s right — live longer. They do more for their health and make choices that lead to stronger relationships and better careers.

Make Friends

Here’s another reason to be grateful for your friends: They might help you live longer. Dozens of studies show a clear link between strong social ties and a longer life. So make the time to keep in touch.

Choose Friends Wisely

Your friends’ habits rub off on you, so look for buddies with healthy lifestyles. Your chances of becoming obese go up if you have a friend who adds extra pounds. Smoking also spreads through social ties, but quitting is also contagious.

Quit Smoking

We know giving up cigarettes can lengthen your life, but by how much may surprise you. A 50-year British study shows that quitting at age 30 could give you an entire decade. Kicking the habit at age 40, 50, or 60 can add 9, 6, or 3 years to your life, respectively.

Embrace the Art of the Nap

A siesta is standard in many parts of the world, and now there’s scientific evidence that napping may help you live longer. Those who have a regular snooze are 37% less likely to die from heart disease than those who rarely steal a few winks. Researchers think naps might help your heart by keeping stress hormones down.

Follow a Mediterranean Diet

It’s rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and fish. The plan can also put a serious dent in your chances of getting of metabolic syndrome — a mix of obesity, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and other things that make you more likely to get heart disease and diabetes.

Eat Like an Okinawan

The people of Okinawa, Japan, once lived longer than any other group on Earth. The region’s traditional diet is why. It’s high in green and yellow vegetables and low in calories. Plus, some Okinawans made a habit of eating only 80% of the food on their plate. Younger generations have dropped the old ways and aren’t living as long.

Get Married

Married people tend to outlive their single friends. Researchers say it’s due to the social and economic support that wedded bliss provides. While a current union offers the greatest benefit, people who are divorced or widowed have lower death rates than those who’ve never tied the knot.

Want to learn 8 more? Visit The Original Source Here