Living Longer
Humanity seems to be on the right track for having long lives as more and more people are making it to their 90s and even over 100. Some scientists say that humans can live to be 130. That’s great as long as we are reasonably healthy physically and mentally.
But what is the secret to a long life? We all know the basics, don’t we? Don’t smoke, maintain a healthy weight, make good food choices, drink alcohol in moderation, and get moving. If everyone was committed to those rules, people would, no doubt, not only live longer but also have healthy golden years even if cartwheels are no longer on the program. There are some spots of longevity in places like Japan, Greece and Italy, where people live to be over 100 without any major health problems attributed mostly to their diet. However research has shown that positive personality traits can also predict who will be healthy in their later years. For example a study carried out in Norway found that those with a sense of humour lived an average eight years longer than those without. It seems that laughing results in a hormone cocktail that strengthens our emotional bonds.
Another trait: optimism has been shown to increase the human life span. We should always look at the glass half full rather than half empty. This is especially important in hard times like wars, pandemics, etc. The idea is to remember that “this too shall pass” no matter how bad things look.
Being sociable and outgoing also has a huge effect on longevity. That is especially true of those who do volunteer work as it results in a wonderful sense of personal satisfaction. Studies also found that being organized leads to better coping strategies when faced with stressful situations which in turn means less inflammation.
On the negative side hostility toward others can result in cardiac problems, while anxiety and depression are also linked to faster aging.
