Drink just one glass of red per night
Try
stopping at one glass (125ml) of red a night (the equivalent of one
unit of alcohol) - studies show this provides flavonoids and
resveratrol, compounds which could reduce the risk of heart disease,
certain cancers and slow the progression of neurological disorders such
as Alzheimer's.
But drinking three units may be enough to increase the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, breast and bowel.
Why women live longer
The
extra X chromosome women have makes them more resilient when faced with
attacks on their immunity, according to a study by Ghent University in
Belgium. The researchers identified something called "mircoRNA" which
has important biological effects - women appear to have more microRNAs
on their additional X chromosome.
Get into the mountains
Seven
out of ten of the longest-living communities in the U.S. are
mountain-based, and in the tiny Sardinian mountain town of Ovodda, as
many men as women live to be 100.
Whether it's the fresh air, or
the fact you're doing a lot of walking uphill (using major muscle groups
and giving your heart a good workout), moving up in the world could
extend your life.
Be careful with snacking
There
are 622 calories in a 100g fistful - which you can nibble at without
even thinking. It would take an hour of swimming to burn off that snack.
Stick to crudites (celery, carrots, peppers) instead.
Keep your parents close
A
study by Harvard Medical School showed that 91 per cent of men who said
(in the Fifties) that they weren't particularly close to their parents
ended up developing high blood pressure, alcoholism or heart disease by
mid-life.
Only 44 per cent of participants who had reported a
"warm" relationship with their parents developed these serious
illnesses. The researchers believe this shows just how important close
relationships are for fostering healing and promoting survival.
Don't hate Mondays
You're
18 per cent more likely to die on a Monday than a Sunday (possibly
through stress of returning to work) and 25 per cent more likely to die
during winter than summer, says Dr Sarah Brewer, a London GP and author
of Live Longer, Look Younger. Blame the body clock, which influences blood pressure, heart rate and brain activity.
Chew your food
Not
only is it a tried-and-tested weight-loss tip, but a study presented at
the International Congress of Endocrinology last month suggested not
chewing properly can double the risk of type-2 diabetes - partly because
people then eat more but also because chewing helps break down the
food, making it easier for your body to absorb the nutrients.
Gossip, girl
A
good gossip with friends boosts levels of the hormone progesterone,
reducing anxiety and stress, according to researchers at the University
of Michigan. After just 20 minutes, they found gossiping girls had more
progesterone than those who didn't gossip.
Set aside time to fidget
Studies show that the
smallest activity (such as fidgeting) is enough to trigger the release
of a brain chemical BDNF which, according to Harvard Medical School
psychiatrist John Ratey, acts like "Miracle-Gro" to the brain, reversing
cell deterioration associated with ageing. He recommends setting an
alarm on your phone and stretching, jiggling or walking around every
hour.
Reduce your salt intake
If each shake
delivers half a gram of salt, cutting back by one a day means a drop of 3
½ grams a week. Most of us consume 9g of salt a day, 3g more than is
healthy - this small change could be enough to bring you into line,
reducing stroke risk by 13 per cent and heart disease by 10 per cent.
Fifty ways to live to 100 (Part 1)
Fifty ways to live to 100 (Part 2)
Fifty ways to live to 100 (Part 3)
Fifty ways to live to 100 (Part 5)
Sourced from http://www.news.com.au
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