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Ways to Live a Long Life

When you think of ways to have a longer life, the basics come to mind: staying away from harmful substances, maintaining a healthy weight and getting plenty of exercise. While those are all indeed helpful things to remember in terms of living longer, your efforts must go beyond these general guidelines.

  1. Get a Pet

    • A 1980 study that appeared in Public Health Reports claimed that survival rates among heart attack victims were 28 percent higher for those who had pets than those who did not. As of 2011, assertions that the companionship of animals helps people live longer lives are still supported. Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University, reports that contact with animals triggers a relaxation response that promotes a healthier lifestyle.

    Eat Your Veggies

    • According to CBS, research reveals that eating at least one cup of raw vegetables daily may add two years to your life. Eating cooked vegetables is helpful for health as well, but in some cases cooking might deplete as much as 30 percent of the antioxidants. To get the full health benefits from vegetables, eat them raw and eat them every day. Eat a wide variety of colors and go light on salad dressings, especially high-sodium options.

    Be Generous

    • Amanda Schupak of Oprah.com writes that while it is no surprise that those who have a strong support system comprised of family and friends tend to live longer than average, it's not what they do for you but what you do for them. A long-term study originally conducted by Stanford University psychologist Lewis Terman in 1921 reveals that those who make a habit of lending a helping hand to others are the ones who tend to live the longest.

    Stay Positive

    • Living a long life is not only accomplished by what you do physically---the attitude you take on also plays an integral role. As reported by Forbes, a Mayo Clinic study in 2002 found that optimistic people decreased their risk of early death by 50 percent, compared with those who took on a more pessimistic outlook. So if you want to live longer, don't just take steps physically. Get yourself in a positive mindset and take pleasure in living.

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