Ten tips to live to be 100

12 Surprising Signs You’ll Live to 100

Tip 1 – Get out there and socialise because outgoing people are 50 percent less likely to develop dementia. Sociability means resilence and that means lower levels of cortisol – a stress hormone – which is good because too much of it can inhibit brain cells’ communication.

Tip 2 – Haul on your trainers and walk fast or run for 5 hours a week (40 mins a day or find some enjoyable exercise that you will maintain life long. Doing this means you get less heart disease, cancer, neurological diseases, and infections than your non-exercising friends. .

Tip 3 – Have a fibre rich diet as it helps reduce cholesterol, improve insulin sensitivity, and boost weight loss. Plus the usual sound advice to eat naturally and avoid processed foods and additives!

Tip 4 – Whatever your age, see yourself as least ten years younger than you actually are. This gives you greater optimism and motivation to overcome challenges – both of which are immune system boosters.

Tip 5 –Don’t be afraid to Twitter because keeping up with new technology helps keep brain cells stay young and healthy. Stay connected to friends, family, and current events through email, Facebook and so on as that helps you feel vital and relevant.

Tip 6 – Keep counting the calories as research showed that people who limit their daily calories to 1,400 to 2,000 were literally young at heart because their hearts functioned like those of people 15 years younger.

Tip 7 – Keep an eye on your heart rate and aim for a healthy 15 times in 15 seconds, or 60 beats a minute if you prefer at rest. Average resting rate is between 60-100 bpm, and the closer to the low end the better it is. A slower pulse means your heart doesn’t have to work as hard and socould last longer.

Tip 8 – Don’t snore! This could be a hard one to manage but snoring is a major sign of obstructive sleep apnoea, a disorder that causes you to stop breathing briefly because throat tissue collapses and blocks your airway. Sleep apnoea can cause high blood pressure, memory problems, weight gain, and depression. (oh, and sometimes divorce as well)

Tip 9 – Manage your stress in whatever way works for you because you can then avoid many of the major life threatening conditions. Yoga and Tai Chi or Salsa Dancing and Cake Decoration – whatever helps you relax.

Tip 10 – Breathe, and then repeat! . One 30-year long study found that the most significant factor in your health and longevity is how well you breathe and it is the cheapest health aid ever. Breathing properly means you are oxygenating your body which has a direct effect on your nervous system. Try Dr Andrew Weil’s tip breathing in for a count of 4, hold for 7 and breathe out for 8. Just practice until it feels natural – very useful when stuck in a queue and nobody knows you are doing it!

Article by AnnA