While it is true that genetics have an impact on how long you will live, you have more control on your lifespan than you think. Remember that by the time you’re 55 years, your genes only have about 30% of your life expectancy. This is less 20% than when you were younger. The rest has something to do with your choices in life.
There are simple steps though that can help you add more years to your life duration. By staying healthy and making the following choices, you can add 20 years or even more:
#1: How Many Minutes Do You Walk Per Day? You can add more than TWO YEARS if you stay upright for 30 minutes daily.
Stanford University School of Medicine research showed that walking for 30 minutes every day can help you keep your weight steady. This can lead to lower risk for diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, when you add 2,000 more steps, which is equivalent to almost one mile, you can live up to 2.2 years more. You can wear a pedometer, so you stay on track.
#2: Soups or Salads? Your choice can give you additional TWO YEARS to your life.
Researchers from Italy have discovered that people who eat salads instead of soups live two more years than people who chose soups. This is attributed to the healing powers of vegetables on the salad. A cup a day can add two more years to your lifespan. Make sure the veggies are raw since cooking can decrease the antioxidants up to 30%.
#3: Do You Have Friends? Expand your network today to add about SEVEN YEARS to your existence.
People with a lot of friends have a much longer life than those who choose to be alone. A study performed by Australian researchers discovered that people in their 70s remained healthier when they have others who have their back.
Get rid of bad habits, such as smoking and staying up all night for booze. Get up and move around and eat healthy. These simple steps can add years to your life without breaking a sweat.
#4: Do You Like Nuts? If yes, you can add up to THREE YEARS more to your lifespan.
Researchers from Loma Linda University studied almost 35,000 Seventh-Day Adventists. This group of people is actually famous for having a long life. The researchers discovered that the members of the group eat nuts about five times a week and this lifestyle gives them 2.9 extra years.
#5: What’s Your BMI? Your number can increase or decrease your lifespan by up to THREE YEARS.
Researchers from the University of Alabama found that people with body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 35 can live shorter by up to three years less than those who have lower BMI.
Those with high BMI are at risk of several diseases, including:
Heart disease
Diabetes
Colon cancer
Stroke