20 Ways to Live to 100

Longevity Secrets

by Vicki Salemi

Ah, the fountain of youth. When it comes to aging gracefully, let's face it -- we want it all. We want to feel good, look good, and most of all live a long, healthy life. Here are twenty ways to get your game on and hopefully live to 100 and beyond!


Quit Smoking

Let's face it: smoking is bad for you. Really bad. Need proof? Based on data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adult male smokers lost approximately 13.2 years of their lives and female smokers lost 14.5 years of their lives because of smoking. Plus, chronic diseases caused by smoking tended to curtail the quality of life of smokers while they were still alive.


Exercise More

Whether its results are the positive effects of increased endorphins or a reduced waistline, exercising is all good. It makes your heart stronger by pumping more blood with less effort, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, prevents and controls diabetes, strengthens bones and muscles and controls weight. Convinced yet? A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that participants who had moderate to high exercise routines lived 1.3 to 3.7 years longer than their couch potato counterparts.


Give Your Brain a Workout

Having a good workout isn't only limited to your body. Playing chess, reading newspapers, attending plays or finishing a crossword puzzle all have positive health results, experts say. Brain fitness is paramount to maintaining your cognitive abilities. According to one study by Neurology Online, people who mentally exercised their brains had a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment and a risk of Alzheimer's that was 2.6 times less than people who did not stimulate their mind.


Limit Sun Exposure

Wearing sunscreen, limiting your exposure to the sun during peak hours and wearing sunglasses are some ways to prevent skin damage and a href="http://www.aolhealth.com/conditions/skin-cancer-melanoma" target="_blank">cancer. Considering skin cancer is the most common of cancer types more than 1 million cases are diagnosed each year in the US prevention and early detection are key to prolonging your life.


Visit the Doctor Regularly

This one's a no brainer: seeing a general physician on an annual basis can significantly lengthen your life by catching ailments before they start or treating emerging ones. An annual exam should include a blood pressure check, cholesterol and sugar level screening, bone density test, and examination of the ears, nose, throat and reflexes. For instance, if and high blood pressure is not found and treated, significant health problems such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure or eye problems may result.


Eat Fish

The Harvard School of Public Health reported that eating up to two portions of fish on a weekly basis is beneficial; eating fish could possibly cut the risk of death by heart disease by one-third. Here's why: omega-3's fatty acids are healthy. They keep blood from clotting, lower the amount of fats in the bloodstream and reduce the risk of obesity. Plus, they provide a lot of nutrients like selenium, antioxidants and protein. Word to the wise, however, pregnant women and children need to limit their intake of high-mercury fish like swordfish, king mackerel, and others.


Eat More Fruits and Veggies

You know what they say, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Broccoli, kale, bananas, whatever the fruit or veggie, chances are you're doing a body good with its vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and fiber. According to the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, diets that contain substantial and varied amounts of fruits and vegetables may potentially prevent 20 percent or more cancer cases.


Share a Hug

According to researchers at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, couples who had physical contact such as a brief hug and ten minutes of hand holding actually lowered their heart rates and blood pressure by fifty percent. Plus, in a previous study it was determined that hugging and handholding reduces the negative effects of stress.


Limit Alcohol

Researchers concluded that too much alcohol will shorten your life while moderate imbibing may actually lengthen it. Generally men who drink up to four drinks on a daily basis and women who drink up to two drinks per day reduce the risk of death from any cause by roughly 18 percent. However, men and women who drink more than this amount curtail their lifespan and increase their risk of death.