By Do you want to live a longer and more prosperous life? The older I become, the more concerned I am about the years ahead of me. Are there many or a few — no one could ever predict the amount and quality of life they have the potential to live? That’s why when this question came up in Quora, I wondered if there is some secret to living a longer life — and if that’s something most of us want to do.
Do you want to live longer?
As a daughter of two parent’s who died of cancer, 19 years apart, I can say with certainty that life is far too short & you regret a lot when you’re close to death. But, I don’t think I have the desire to live to an age where I’m a lot more susceptible to disease and fragility. Can I combat this throughout my so-called youth of the ’40s and beyond? The short answer to this is absolutely, and it is a personal choice to do so. Is it my determining genetic factor that I, too, should succumb to cancer during my older age group? That’s an uncertain yes or no, but I can sure as hell do a lot now to ensure that the steps towards ageing don’t include a walking frame and a bag full of prescription drugs. Here is what we can all do:
One: Diminish your caloric intake — but not by reducing calories.
This can be a little confusing, but as a strong user of low caloric diets most of my life, I tried and failed on them more times than I can remember. The truth is almost all of us eat way too much, and that overloads our bodies. You can increase and decrease your rate of contracting a disease if you lower your caloric intake. However, that doesn’t mean eating like a rabbit. Instead, choose the more accessible option by skipping one main meal a day. It could be breakfast or dinner. That’s what people usually call intermittent fasting. It’s the best way to lose weight and increase your lifespan. This is because you reduce belly fat and excess body weight at the same time (1).
Two: Eating a plant-based diet
Most people love their meat intake and would not change it for the world. That’s an individual personal choice. However, if you want to live a longer and healthier life, adapting to a plant-based diet is a strong indicator of longevity. You don’t have to give up meat altogether — add a lot more veggies into your diet or swap some of your main meat dishes with vegan alternatives. Several studies link vegetarian and vegan diets (because they are naturally higher in plant-based foods) to experience a 12–15 per cent lower risk of premature death (2). Other studies report a 29–52 per cent lower risk of dying from cancer to heart, kidney or hormone-related disease. (3). That’s unbelievably high! All you need to do is add more veggies into your diet to experience the same benefits.
Three: Become more active and stay that way
As we get older, our activity levels seem to decline. It could result from extra fatigue from working longer hours, taking care of children or ageing parents. In addition, we have many more responsibilities when we get a little older, which can also divert our inner need to look after ourselves first. Just 15 minutes of exercise per day can give you so many health benefits that include an extra three years to your life. (4). Adding a proper exercise plan involving weights and interval training is your best move forward. But don’t dismiss activities for your mindset as well, like walking, yoga and even pilates. I believe we sometimes focus too much on the external appearance of our bodies and not our mental health. This is something that also benefits from regular exercise. It’s the time spent alone in an activity you love that could change the trajectory of your entire day.
Four: Stay away from chronic stress and anxiety
Looking after your mental health is just as important as eating the right foods and exercising. Stress has the potential to decrease your lifespan and increase your chances of disease. Studies have shown that pessimistic people have a 42 per cent higher risk of early death than more optimistic people. I looked at that statistic and wondered why it was so high. It’s easier for pessimistic people to give up on life because they believe there is nothing to look forward to. Sadly, they may well have mental health challenges and can turn it around with some self-love. If you believe someone may fall into this category, reach out to them as you can save their life.
I’ve travelled along life’s gravel path and fell to scar my knees several times. There have been moments where angels come along my way to help me — and sometimes, I was dreadfully alone. One of the most important aspects of longevity is the state of mind you are in every day. Is it positive or negative? Do you think of the worst or expect only the best? If at any time you suffer from negativity or stress, you are shortening your very precious life. Unfortunately, most of us do not take the time to train our brains and reprogram our thinking. Yet, this is one of the best secrets to a better life. Find out what you can do today to change it around. What will you start with today?