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Want to Know How to Live Longer? It Starts With These 6 Daily Habits

So you want to know how to live longer? Who doesn’t?! Our lifestyle plays a huge role in our health and ultimately our life span. That’s why leading a healthy, natural lifestyle is so important, especially as we get older.
 
Knowledge is power, so let’s learn what we need to know to live an optimally healthy, happy and long life.
 
We are all well aware that living a toxic lifestyle can cause health issues that impact our longevity. But can we implement simple daily habits into our lives that can actually add years to our life? There have been studies on that very question, and the results are surprising.
 
So aside from swapping out candy for vegetables and soda for herbal tea, what else can we do to live a longer, healthier life?
 

Want to Know How to Live Longer? Start With These 6 Daily Habits:

 

1. Drink More Water

Staying hydrated is an important part of our health, but did you know that proper hydration can actually add to your lifespan?
 
Hydration effects everything from our brain function to our skin’s health. Dehydration can lead to decreased physical and cognitive performance and can increase the possibility of heart disease, kidney stones, hypertension and urinary tract infections.
 
As a general rule, try to drink half your body weight in ounces each day (for example, if you weigh 140 pounds, you’d drink 70 ounces of water each day). Keep guzzling that water to keep your skin smooth, your body functioning properly, and your brain in peak condition.
 
Pro Tip: Have a hard time getting your daily water in? Fruit- and veggie-infused water is a great way to make a satisfying, healthy water you crave. Check out 12 Infused Water Recipes for Delicious and Healthy Hydration.
 
To make sure you stay properly hydrated, check out 7 Signs of Dehydration and 5 Tips to Prevent It
 
 

2. Calm Your Mind

Calling meditation the Fountain of Youth may not be too much of a stretch. The more we can promote being centered, calm and grounded in our lives, the more healthy our mind and body can remain.
 
The effect stress can have on your body can be extremely harmful. Studies have shown that over time, stress can actually damage and corrode your DNA. Stress can also lower your immune system, making your body more susceptible to disease or even cancer.
 
To help keep the damage to a minimum, start to implement meditation into your daily life. Taking the time to quiet your mind and connect to your breath can help reduce stress and anxiety.
 
If you need tips to get started, check out 6 Simple Steps For Beginning a Regular Meditation Practice
 
 

3. Move Your Body

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US. Regular physical activity is important for a healthy heart and lowers your risk of heart disease. Regular yoga and exercise also reduces stress, builds strength, stretches muscles, prevents joint problems, and improves cognitive function.
 
This study found the more active the participants were each week, the more years were added to their lives.
 
Ready to move your body and get your sweat on? Check out this free 40-Minute Yoga Class For Energy and Focus to start your day right and get your heart pumping!
 
 

4. Sex

In addition to being a fun workout, sex also reduces stress, balances hormones, reduces the risk of heart disease, and lowers blood pressure – to name just a few of the benefits.
 
Hey guys! You’re in even more luck. This study shows a direct correlation between frequent orgasms and the mortality rate of men. Results include lowering the risk of death, especially by heart disease, by as much as 50%.
 
Ready to get physical? Check out Yoga to Increase Your Sexual Energy
 

 

5. Turn Off the TV

Our culture has become much more sedentary with TVs, Ipads, smart phones and computers running our lives. We sleep, drive to work, sit at a desk all day, drive home, and then sit in front of the TV. Every minute spent plopped in front of the magic box is a minute you could’ve been active and improving your quality of life.
 
If you want to reduce your risk of heart disease, then turn off the TV. According to this study, people who watched more than four hours of TV per day were 80% more likely to die from heart disease. If we are sitting in front of the TV for hours a day, we are not moving. I’d say the message is pretty clear: less television = more living!
 
Need some motivation to help you ditch your TV habit? Check out 10 Reasons You Should Cancel Your Cable TV Today
 
 

6. Sleep

Stress and cognitive health are directly influenced by your sleeping habits. Getting adequate sleep is essential to staying healthy. Your body needs to rest in order to function properly and fight off disease. Keeping a healthy sleep schedule gives your body what it needs for rest and healing.
 
Keep in mind, you’re not just trying to get enough sleep, you’re trying to keep your body on a healthy sleep schedule. An article written by Dr. Mark Stibich outlines a study that followed thousands of twins over the course of 22 years. It showed that sleeping under seven hours or over eight hours per night can increase your risk of death by up to 25%.
 
If you have trouble sleeping, check out 7 Habits For Restful Sleep for healthy and effective ways to get your body on a good sleeping schedule
 
 

How to Live Longer – The Takeaway

Ultimately, the key to longevity is to avoid doing things that shorten your lifespan or compromise your health. Next time you’re faced with that life-altering decision of eating donuts on the couch or doing Pilates, remember there’s more than just calories to be worried about.
 
Try to incorporate these six habits for a longer life into your daily routine. These small steps make big changes in our health and life overall.
 
Do you think these habits can help you live longer? Are any of these habits already part of your life? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
 
This article and all included information is not intended as medical advice and does not treat or diagnose. Please consult your doctor for any health-related questions or concerns.

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JoAnn DeLeau

JoAnn is a new yogi and a beginning freelance writer from Salt Lake City, Utah. She enjoys long mountain hikes in the summer and curling up on the couch with a Jane Austen novel and moscato.

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