16 habits of people with long lives

It's increasingly possible to live well past our nineties, if current trends hold. In fact,
the population of people in the U.S. who are 100 years or older (aka, centenarians)
grew nearly 44 percent from 2000 to 2014, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. But how are so many people making it to these very old ages?
In addition to access to improved medicine, vaccines and antibiotics, they've got
habits that lead to good health.
1. THEY MAKE TIME WITH FRIENDS: For example, friends. Research
found that people with strong social relationships increase their odds for
survival over a certain time by 50 percent.
2. They Exercise
Of course, those who live long tend to increase their odds by exercising. The
CDC estimates that people who get at least seven hours of exercise per week
have a 40 percent less chance of dying early than those who exercise 30
minutes or less per week.
3. They Exercise Their Brains
Strong brains are essential to good physical health, but you can't take your
brain to a gym and work it out. You can, however, exercise it with activities
like crossword puzzles, sudoku, taking a class and learning a new language.
Playing chess is also good, as is learning how to use new technology. Whatever
gets the brain struggling and thinking a little will make it stronger.

4. They're Positive
A positive attitude might get you into the later years more than anything else
you can do. A study that looked at traits of genetically homogenous people
between 95 and 107 years old found that a positive attitude and sense of humor
set them apart from the control group.
5. They Manage Stress
The ability to manage stress reduces wear and tear on the body, thereby
increasing the chances of a longer life. This means being able to stay calm,
forgoing unnecessary arguments and trying to create a life that is as low-stress
as possible. Life without chronic stress means a better protected immune
system, lower rates of heart disease and diabetes, obesity and high blood
pressure.
6. They Eat Well
Studies in gut health found compelling evidence that a healthy gut is key in a
long life and a healthy one. This means eating fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables,
drinking lots of water and eating foods rich in probiotics, like yogurt.
7. They've Found Their Healthy Weight
While obesity has its health risks, not every obese person is unwell. There's a
right weight for everyone's optimal health. This is true for those who live
longer. For those who have lived long lives, a healthy-for-them weight appears
to have played a role.

8. They're Careful About Pills

Sometimes less is more. For people in their nineties and beyond, this is
especially true. While health checkups and medicine recommendations should
be taken seriously, being choosy about which pills you take, how much time
you spend at the doctor and your attitude toward healthcare may actually make
a big difference.
9. They Keep a Schedule
People who live long lives tend to have something to live for, whether it's
work, a life partner, an active social life or a compelling interest. Waking up in
the morning with something to do keeps you positive, feeling useful and
necessary—all things that contribute to a physically healthier life and even
more years in front of you.
10.They Get Good Sleep
Good sleep leads to optimal health at any age. It's necessary to protect against
illnesses, accidents and even things like depression. For people who live really
long lives, good, plentiful sleep has helped them get there.
11.They Don't Overeat
Leaving a little something on your plate when you eat may lead to a longer life.
Studies of long-living Japanese people suggest that their habit of stopping at 80
percent full is helping them age into the triple digits. St. Louis University
researchers even found in a study that eating less ages you more slowly.
12.They Have Sex
Look, sex isn't everything. But it's apparently most things, including getting
you to live a longer life. Good sex two or three times each week can add three
years to your life. It also burns calories, lowers blood pressure, helps you sleep
better and supports your immune system—all things that are part of long,
healthy lives.
13.They Skip TV
We're in the Golden Age of TV, and yet it's possibly killing us. Or, at a
minimum, it's doing nothing to extend our lives significantly. A 2010 study
concluded that those who watch TV more than four hours per day were nearly
half as likely to die from, well, anything than people who watched less. So put
down that remote!

14.They Stay Out of the Sun

Not only does unprotected sun exposure make you look older, it also puts you
at risk for early death conditions like skin cancer. To ensure a long, healthy life,
stay out of the sun as much as possible. And in those times where you can't
avoid it, use plenty of sunscreen on top of what you should be applying daily.
15.They Drink In Moderation
In moderate amounts, alcohol is good for health for those who can drink it
responsibly. But overdoing it has the opposite effect, leading to unhealthy
consequences like weight gain. A decade-old study in the Journal of the
American College of Cardiology found that light drinking (one a day for
women, two a day for men) benefited the heart.
16.They Quit Smoking
Smoking takes an immediate toll on the body, and for long-term smokers this
adds up. Nearly 10 years of life expectancy is lost for people who smoke over
decades. Meanwhile, the benefits of quitting before 35 can get nearly that entire
decade back. For really long lives, smoking is way too risky.