Personal Habits to Help You Live Longer

Want to live a longer, healthier life?  Adopting any of the following habits can help you achieve this goal.

First of all start walking. Walking just a half an hour a day can cut your risk of having a heart attack in half. Walking half an hour five days a week can also help you lose about a pound a week. This reduces your risk of developing joint strains, diabetes and other obesity related problems.

You might also want to try eating power foods. These are foods that have antioxidants, immune boosting property, oils and vitamins.  Foods that are heaving in antioxidants include walnuts, avocadoes, fish dark chocolate and garlic. Eating these power foods can add five to seven extra years to your life.

Dropping your excess pounds can also extend your life.  Shedding your fat and especially belly fat can reduce your risk of courting death because of high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease.  Getting rid of fat adds about five years to your longevity.

Are you too fat?  Try checking your body mass index. 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal. 25 to 29.9 is considered to be an overweight index and if you are over 30 you are obese. If this is you there is a real need to make a plan to extend your life.

Exercising can extend your brain can extend your life by at least two years. Doing puzzles, playing Sudoko or playing a simple video game like angry birds can be very good for you.

Sex is also a way of extending your life. Intercourse burns about 200 calories which is the equivalent of running thirty minutes. Other benefits include better sleep and an improved immune system.

Studies have also shown that people who have pets seem to live longer for some reason. Simply having a pet around can help greatly relieve your stress levels.

Another way to improve your overall fitness level is to quite simply – get enough sleep. One of the best ways to stay healthy is to retire at 11 pm and get up at 8 am in the morning. It is also a good idea to cut out coffee, alcohol and too much excitement before bedtime.

If you are smoking you can also improve your health and extend your lifespan by up to eight years if you quit.  They younger you are when you quit smoking the better.