Terri Ramsey Beavers For centuries, people have searched for the fountain of youth. Hopeful pilgrims looked far and wide for interventions that would help them live longer and better.
Unfortunately, most failed. In the past, technology wasn’t as good as it is today, and most people lived in ignorance. Nobody had a clue what worked, and what didn’t.
Now, though, things are changing. We really do have the power to adjust how long we live. It just takes a little knowledge.
So what should people who want to live longer do? Let’s take a look.
Spend Plenty Of Time Moving And Stretching
Research suggests that the people who live longest spend a large amount of time doing moderately intense exercise. In other words, they aren’t the people in the gym trying to push as much weight as they can physically bear. Instead, they’re going for long walks, cycling through the countryside, and doing yoga.
For people who want to live longer, this is good news. It means that you can avoid the grueling workouts and do something gentler that you enjoy.
Eat A Lot Of Legumes
All around the world, the people who live the longest eat a lot of beans, peas, chickpeas, and lentils. But why is this? It’s all to do with the unique ways in which legumes interact with the body.
For instance, did you know that eating legumes reduces blood sugar spikes in subsequent meals? Eating a high bean diet appears to offer incredible protection against inflammation, helping to keep the body younger for longer.
Beans also contain a host of powerful nutrients, including those that support gut health. Indigestible starch feeds good gut bacteria, causing them to churn out longevity-promoting chemicals.
Focus On Your Posture
The way you stand sends signals to your body, telling it how old you are. The worse your posture is, the older it thinks you are. It then uses this information to communicate with other tissues, making them believe that they are older, too.
Because of this, it’s a good idea to visit a chiropractor once every six months to a year. This way, you can deal with posture issues before they begin to affect other aspects of your health.
Eat Nuts And Seeds
Nuts and seeds are also longevity superheroes. That’s because they contain various nutrients that encourage your body to go into repair mode. For instance, seeds contain a lot of monounsaturated fat. Evidence suggests that this may activate longevity pathways in cells, similar to fasting.
Nuts are also high in anti-cancer nutrients, like lignans. These actively fight cancer cells in the body while leaving regular ones unharmed.
Improve Your Relationships
Human beings are social creatures. Most of us need close relationships to feel good about our lives. If we don’t have them, we feel like we are missing out.
Evidence suggests that better social relationships improve longevity. That’s why people in some cultures around the world live longer. It may be because of robust social support structures that reduce stress and increase enjoyment of life.