A paper was recently presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition an investigation It examined behaviors that can significantly increase our life expectancy. According to this study, it was found that certain habits can add decades to our lives.
People who began adopting these lifestyle factors, or most of them by age 40, experienced the greatest benefit.
A sample of 719,147 people aged 40 to 99 years from the Million Veteran Program was used to conduct this study. The data required for the research were obtained from questionnaires and medical records for the period between 2011 and 2019.
According to studies, there are eight lifestyle factors to focus on if you want to add years to your life. You may already be doing some of these actions consciously.
These are the eight habits:
- working out
- good social relationships
- good sleep hygiene
- Don’t drink too much
- follow a healthy diet
- No smoking history
- Keep the stress to a minimum
- not develop addiction to opioids.
According to the study, it was found that people who adopted these eight behaviors by age 40 experienced a significant increase in their life expectancy compared to those who did not adopt any of these habits. The women who followed the eight practices saw their life expectancy increase by about 21 years, while the men saw an increase of about 24 years.
Following the eight habits mentioned in the study resulted in a 13% reduction in mortality compared to those who didn’t follow any of these recommendations, Medical News Today reported.
You don’t have to follow all eight to see the benefits. And it can start after 40 for most.
According to a press release on the studyIt was observed that those who followed the eight habits experienced the greatest increase in life expectancy. However, even those who claimed to consider only some or even one of these factors saw longevity benefits.
According to the statement, it is beneficial to adopt these habits even after the age of 40. However, as with many things health related, it is best to start as soon as possible.
Certain behaviors had the greatest reward.
The press release noted that while all eight practices are important for longevity, some pose a higher risk of death: According to one study, there is a history of Smokingopioid use and physical inactivity are associated with a 30% to 45% increased risk of premature death.
It is important that you prioritize these practices for two main reasons.
dr Patrick Coll, a senior geriatrician and senior health medical director at the University of Connecticut, emphasizes the importance of physical activity for older adults. Although he was not involved in the above study, his knowledge and experience support this claim.
There are numerous benefits associated with engaging in physical activity, ranging from muscle strengthening to maintaining independence and preventing falls to the psychological benefits.
“People often feel better after they exercise,” Coll said, “so probably the most important thing I recommend for the older adults that I see is regular physical activity.”
And when it comes to exercise, Coll says there are three main areas to focus on.
“Broadly speaking, training can be broken down into resistance training, which is muscle-strengthening exercise; aerobic exercise that increases your heart rate; and then balance and flexibility, which I would put in the same category,” Coll said.
As we age, we gradually (and unconsciously) lose muscle strength, Coll said. “Once you realize it, it’s often too hard to get it back,” he said.
“There are a variety of issues with reduced strength, including a tendency to fall,” Coll said.
Although many people are able to move around independently, there are adults who struggle and need constant help. For example, if someone cannot go to the toilet by themselves, they are no longer able to live independently. This situation requires 24-hour care.
Healthy practices are not equally available to everyone
According to fitness expert Mr. Coll, prioritizing exercise, especially strength training, can help keep our bodies strong enough and able to reach our goals. However, it is important to remember that not all people have equal access to these practices.
The Lord pointed out that various factors such as location, income, and culture can affect access to various aspects related to diet, exercise, and community services. These elements can play a crucial role in people’s quality of life.
“As we look at these types of interventions and try to educate the public about them, I think we have to keep in mind that not everyone has the resources to adopt these types of lifestyle changes,” Coll said.
Inequalities in society are an issue that should not be neglected. It is important to recognize and address these inequalities in order to achieve a fairer and more equitable society.
The researchers also cautioned that these findings are observational and do not represent a direct cause-and-effect relationship. This means that the behaviors indicated may not be the sole cause of the increase in life expectancy.
However, the study author noted in the statement that this research is part of a growing and relevant field linking lifestyle choices to the possibility of premature death and chronic disease.
With information from huffpost.com