No matter how old you are, there are steps you can take to live longer. While part of our life expectancy is determined by genetics, there are things you can do to improve both the length and quality of our lives. Read on to learn how to live longer.
Disclaimer
The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you would like information about living longer, please make sure to consult your doctor.
Introduction
Your family history, your diet, your exercise profile, and your general lifestyle all affect how long you will live. Start by taking a good luck at where you are now, meet with your doctor, and then begin making changes you can stick with.
Step 1: Get a Baseline
Before you can determine how to live longer, you need to have an idea of your current life expectancy. There are several online calculators you can use to get an idea of how your current lifestyle an habits are affecting your current life span.
Step 2: Have a Thorough Physical Exam
Before making any changes in your diet or exercise habits, have a thorough physical, and discuss your goals with your doctor. He or she will let you know if there are any restrictions you need to follow when starting to live a healthier lifestyle.
Step 3: Adopt Healthy Habits
- Stop smokinghttp://www.vicc.org/about/what.php
- Increase your physical activityhttp://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/news/20090305/live-longer-with-midlife-exercise
- Eat more vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, and olive oilhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090624093353.htm
- Nurture friendshipshttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4094632.stm
Step 4; Consider Nutritional Supplements
While not all health experts agree, some researchers assert that taking certain nutritional supplements can promote good health into old age, and perhaps even extend the life space. Bruce Ames, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of California, Berkeley, recommends taking 800 mg of alpha-lipoic acid and 2,000 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine a day, based on the research he did with rats. Human trials are currently under way, but have not produced any conclusive results as yet.http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2003/sep2003_report_alpha_01.htm
