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Scientists have come up with some reasons why there are more centenarians in the world now and a recipe to help us all. Four main factors have been identified - diet, exercise, psycho-spiritual and social. Top on the list, surprise, surprise is having a positive attitude. Apparently research from the Netherlands showed that older men with an optimistic outlook on life were only Half as likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease over a 15-year period as those whose worldview was more negative.
One of my clients lived until she was 104. I asked her once why she'd lived so long when all her family had died young. She said, "All these young people are getting angry at things and this makes you sick. Always forgive and forget and be grateful for what you've got." I learnt a lot from her.
Professor Carey Cooper from Lancaster University agrees and has come up with ten commandments for making it to 100.
1. Enjoy yourself - a couple of beers or a sauna could reverse ageing process.
2. Stay Married - being sociable really does help you live longer.
3. Move home - Think about relocating to a 'longevity hot spot' like Hawaii, Sardinia, Nova Scotia or Japan. Environment can have an influence on longevity.
4. Have a drink - Have a vice in moderation, whether it is chocolate, whisky or gambling.
5. Work your brain - knit, do crosswords, go walking.
6. See the doctor- get regular check-ups and treatment fast if you're sick.
7. Eat healthily - Keep to low-fat foods and stop before you're full.
8. Take risks - Intellectual challenges, travelling, or learning a new language can all add years to your life.
9. Seek a long life - Embrace any new technologies.
10. Be happy - smile, keep your sense of humour and keep old age at bay.
Professor Cooper added: "If your parents lived to the age of 90 then you're a very lucky person. But if you've got a negative outlook on life you're not going to live as long as you potentially can."
Isn't it all pretty obvious really? So what are you going to adjust in your own life? I'm going to take a few more risks and seek a few more challenges and find a vice or two. As for smiling, being happy and positive....well, haven't we been banging on about that for a while?
OK. First step. This is Friday and tomorrows the weekend. So have a good time.!
:-)