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A study of these centurions (one of the fastest growing segments of our population), reveals some general guidelines that you can use to help extend your own life, regardless of your current age:
1. Be born a female. Hard to do much about this, but it appears that females have been outliving males for centuries. Since you can't do much about your gender or genetics, there are other practical steps you can take to enhance your lifespan.
2. Stay married. It turns out that statistically, married people live longer than single people. Married men live, on average, 10 years longer than nonmarried men, and married women live about four years longer than nonmarried women.
3. Eat less. Research shows that life expectancy can actually double if you reduce your food intake by 40%. Besides lengthening your life, calorie restriction seems to improve resistance to disease.
4. Avoid tea and coffee. Caffeine, a nervous system stimulant, can raise the heart rate. One study has shown that heavy coffee drinkers were two to three times more likely than nondrinkers to develop coronary heart disease.
5. Pass up refined sugar. Sugar can speed the aging process and compromise the function of your immune system.
6. Use little salt. Like cutting out sugar, getting used to salt-free tastes will take some getting used to. But worth it if you want to live longer.
7. Reduce protein intake. Excess protein stresses the body, increases the acid level of the body and reduces your ability to fight disease.
8. Regular exercise. No need for a gym membership. Brisk walking improves circulation, metabolism and emotional well-being.
Regardless of how long you live or how well you live, its better to burn out than rust out. Dont take a single day for granted!
9. Maintain an ideal posture. Poor alignment and postural deviations may suggest unresolved emotional issues. One more way chiropractic can help you live longer.
10. Shun alcohol and tobacco. Tobacco narrows the arteries and restricts the blood circulation. Too much alcohol can counter any positive benefits.
11. Cultivate your spiritual connection. Those who regularly worship, meditate or maintain their connection to God are shown to enjoy greater life expectancy.
12. Accept what is. Make life the kind of adventure that will compel you to see how it all turns out!
13. Eliminate unnecessary stress. Your ability to accommodate stress is based on the condition of your nervous system. One way regular chiropractic care may help you live longer.
14. Keep it positive. The power of our thoughts and emotions are often overlooked. Optimists live longer than pessimists.
15. Avoid hospitals. Between hospital-acquired infections, unexpected drug interactions and just plain mistakes, hospitals can hurt, just as they can help.
16. Have a purpose. If your goal is retirement, you better have a passionate reason for living. Serve. Donate your time. When you let up, youll likely suffer a let down.
Chances are you'll live longer than you think. Regardless of how long you live, its better to burn out than rust out. Heed the warning of George Burns, who observed, "If I'd known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself."
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