How great is this?I turn 50 and, bang, Men’s Best Life offers an article by David Hamilton entitled “How to Live a Longer—and Healthier—Life.” Some of this is old stuff, but some of it is new (#1), and new and exciting (#12). Not to mention new and very exciting (#4). In total, it’s a good summary of the “must-dos” that will give me, and you, at least a fighting chance to enjoy all of that success we must be having by reading all of the other articles in this blog.
Here are the 12 take-aways:
1 FLOSS DAILY. The consequence of not flossing (and the majority of men don’t) is more than bad breath. There is increasing evidence that the gums serve as an early warning system for a range of serious diseases. . .
2 EAT SMARTER. A recent Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health study found that taking vitamin C or E or beta-carotene pills had no significant effect on mortality. But eating fruits and vegetables—particularly deeply colored ones such as spinach, sweet potatoes, and blueberries—helped prevent cancer and heart disease. . .
3 LIFT WEIGHTS. Increased muscle mass speeds up metabolism, strengthens bones, and boosts heart health. In May, scientists at the Buck Institute for Age Research showed for the first time that resistance training can also cause cellular-level changes in muscle, pushing genes back to a younger level of function. . .
4 INDULGE YOURSELF. Have more sex: Frequent orgasms (at least two a week) cut the risk of death in half, according to a long-term study of men ages 45 to 59 in the British Medical Journal. Eat more dark chocolate: Just 30 calories’ worth a day (about six grams of chocolate or three grams of cocoa) lowers blood pressure. . .Sip more red wine: Two glasses a day not only benefits your heart, but also could have other positive effects. . .
5 EAT LESS...WAY LESS. Researchers have known for decades that ratcheting down what rats eat by a third extends their lives. . .Teach yourself to push away your plate when you’re 80 percent full.
6 TRAIN YOUR BRAIN. Traditional mental challenges such as solving crossword puzzles and playing bridge can create new neural connections and improve memory, but so can a broad range of new learning experiences—anything from studying a new language or dance steps to learning how to juggle or play tennis.
7 SLEEP RIGHT. Sleeping for fewer than six hours or more than eight hours is associated with a significantly higher risk of death, according to a landmark 2002 study at the University of California at San Diego. . .The sweet spot, researchers say, is seven hours a night, on average.
8 GET A DOG. Pet ownership can ward off depression, speed recovery from surgery, and even reduce the amount of time you spend with doctors in the first place. . .
9 NURTURE YOUR SENSITIVE SIDE. Women tend to live five years longer than men, and one reason may simply be that they’re better at forming and maintaining emotional connections with relatives and friends, according to a growing body of research. . .means you should nurture strong bonds with your family and friends now.
10 ENGAGE IN AN ISSUE. People who lead optimistic, “purpose-driven” lives tend to stick around longer—up to seven and a half years longer—than those who live for the moment, according to research from Yale University.
11 TEST YOUR GENES. With advances in genomics, you can now be tested for a variety of hereditary diseases, although the results can be frustrating to interpret. . .Your goal should be to identify life-threatening conditions that you can head off at the pass. Let your family history guide you.
12 SCAN YOUR GENOME. Within a year, it will be possible to order a kind of abbreviated scan of your entire genome from Silicon Valley start-up 23andMe. Researchers are rapidly associating particular DNA patterns with disease risk, which will let you fine-tune your lifestyle to accommodate your genetic predis¬positions.
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