We all want to live a long, happy and healthy life. Today, living into your 80’s and 90’s is becoming increasingly common. If you’ve always dreamed of reaching your 100th birthday, thanks to advancements in medicine, it’s now possible. Thanks to these improvements, the average life expectancy has increased by over five years in just two decades. This means that compared to our grandparents, and even our parents, we’re living longer.

Of course, how long you live for doesn’t just depend on medicine and technology. It’s also about how you live your life. What you put into your body affects how well it works and how long it will last for, and it’s important to realize that. If you don’t take care of your body, you can’t expect it to last for years. Think of your body being like a car, the better cared for it is, the longer is will last. If you don’t take it for regular services top up the oil, and keep the engine in good shape, the chances are it won’t last as long as it’s meant to.

There’s a lot that goes into achieving a healthy and happy body and mind. It’s not just a case of eating healthily and exercising regularly. These things are important, and I’ll talk about why later on. But there are also other things that you need to do if you want to live a long and healthy life. Want to learn more? Then keep reading below for all the most important things you can do to help increase your lifespan.

Get enough sleep

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Research has shown that adults that get a good night’s sleep are more likely to live a longer, healthier life. When you sleep, your body gets a chance to shut down and relax – this is the time when most of your healing takes place. If you don’t allow your mind and body to get the rest that it needs, how can you expect it to function properly?

Another downside to not getting enough sleep is premature aging. One of the most common causes of premature aging is a lack of sleep. Unless you want your skin to age early – think fine lines, crow’s feet and sagging, it’s crucial that you get enough sleep. The amount of sleep that our bodies needs, differs from person to person. While some people need just eight hours of sleep a night, others need up to 10 hours. Work out how much sleep you need and ensure that you’re getting the amount that your mind and body requires.  Many people suffer from bouts of bad sleep and often don’t know what the cause- minor insomnia is sometimes the cause . Treatments like Zopiclone are a good option for such.

Don’t smoke

This one might seem pretty basic but hear me out on this. You would be surprised by how many people still smoke and fail to realize the implications it will have on their health. If you’re a smoker, your chances of living a long, healthy life are, sadly, fairly low. Smokers are twice as likely to develop a range of life limiting health conditions. These include cancer, lung diseases, heart disease, and even diabetes.

That’s why if you want to live to a ripe old age, you need to quit smoking immediately. You may not be able to undo the damage that has already been done, but you can prevent your level of risk of certain diseases from increasing. Research has shown that if there’s one lifestyle change to make to boost your chances of living a long and healthy life, it’s quitting smoking. It might not be easy, but if you can be strong and wean yourself off of nicotine, you’ll double your chances of living a longer and healthier life. One of the best ways to make quitting cigarettes easier is by swapping to vapourising instead. It’s a healthier alternative to traditional smoking that makes quitting much easier.

Avoid drinking too much alcohol

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It’s no secret that we all enjoy getting a little tipsy at our favorite cocktail bars on Friday nights. A few cocktails once a week won’t kill you, but drinking every day just might. If you want to lead a long and healthy life, as well as a happy one, it’s crucial not to consume too much alcohol. Doctors have set out daily alcohol guidelines for us to follow, so follow them.

If you want to ensure that alcohol doesn’t harm your body and lead to a premature death, you need to ensure that your intake isn’t too high. That being said, don’t cut out alcohol altogether. Studies have shown that having a small amount of alcohol on a regular basis, such as a couple of glasses of red wine a week, can be good for your health.

Snack on fruits and vegetables

There’s a reason that nutritionists recommend steering clear of processed foods. It’s not only weight gain that processed snacks can cause but also a range of other problems. Studies have shown that eating too many foods high in processed ingredients can increase your chances of cancer. As well as a range of other nasty diseases. That’s why if you’re going to snack, it’s best to do so on fruits and vegetables.

Fresh fruits and veggies come with many health and nutritional benefits, making them the ideal food if you want to live a long life. As well as being full of vitamins, according to journalists at The Alternative Daily, fresh fruits can also help to balance your body. Working in the same way that bicarbonate soda can, eliminating acid and neutralising your PH level. Having balanced levels of acid in your body is important as else it can affect your kidneys and other organs.

Don’t eat too much

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Research has suggested that people who leave their food when they are nearly full are more likely to live longer lives. This is because eating smaller meals can help to slow down the aging process.

While it’s important to ensure you get your recommended daily calorie intake, what you don’t want to do is overeat. However, a lot of us naturally do this, always aiming to eat everything that’s on our plates. If you can’t prevent yourself from clearing your plate, it might be a good idea to serve your food onto a smaller plate and reduce your portion sizes. That way you won’t have to worry about leaving some of your food but will naturally reduce the amount that you’re eating.

Be active

One of the very best things you can do to increase your lifespan and boost your health and happiness is exercise regularly. Studies have shown that not only can exercise prevent a range of illnesses but can also help to extend your lifespan. It’s not secret that exercising is important if you want to keep your body looking good, but who knew it could help to increase your life expectancy?

Simply be exercising for 30 to 40 minutes each day, you can help to half your risk of various diseases. The most common of which are heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. When you work out regularly, your organs are healthier, which means that you’re less prone to a range of health conditions. That’s why it’s so important to be active if you want to live a long, healthy and happy life.

Did you know that regular exercise isn’t just good for your body but also your mental health? Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly, are less prone to a range of mental health problems and conditions. This includes depression, anxiety and stress, all of which are common conditions.

Take care of your mental health

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This leads nicely onto how important it is to take care of your mental health. When it comes to our health, a lot of us only think about our physical health. However, if you want to live a long, healthy and happy life, your mental health is just as important. You see, when it comes to the health of your body, your mindset is important. You may not realize it, but an unhealthy mind can, in time, lead to an unhealthy body.

To keep your mental health in a good state, as mentioned above, exercise is crucial. While all exercise can help to make your mind healthier, meditational exercise is shown to be best. Studies have shown that by practicing meditational exercise, you can reduce your risk of mental illness. While mental illness might not seem like it can reduce your lifespan, studies have shown that it can have a big impact on how long you live for. That’s why it’s so important that your think about your mental health as well as physical health.

We are lucky that we’re living in a time when there are treatments for almost every medical condition. This means that when it comes to our life expectancy, it’s much higher than it was a few decades ago. Of course, living longer isn’t just down to medical advancements. For a longer, healthier and happier life, you need to take care of your physical and mental health. Hopefully, the tips and ideas above will help you to do that, ensuring that you live to a ripe old age. 

What do you do now that will help you and your family maintain a long and healthy life?