3 surprising secrets to a longer life
It seems we’re always learning about new and exciting ways to extend our lives, but very few of these methods are actually supported by science. However, the three secrets we’re about to share with you are easy, cheap, and completely backed up by evidence. So what are you waiting for?
1. Read more
Great news for book lovers – your favourite author could be saving your life. A 2016 study by researchers from Yale University’s School of Public Health discovered that, on average, people over the age of 50 who spent 30 minutes a day reading books lived two years longer than those who didn’t.
It’s not exactly clear why this is, but some experts believe the life expectancy boost could be down to the cognitive benefits reaped by regular readers. Another theory is that readers are perhaps more introverted and thus less likely to take part in risky behaviours.
2. Be charitable
According to research from the University of Basel, helping others could help you live longer. The study, which followed 500 people over the age of 70, found that those who assisted their families, friends and communities with occasional support lived significantly longer than those who didn’t.
However, Ralph Hertwig, Director of the Centre for Adaptive Rationality at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development warns that too much involvement could have an adverse effect. “A moderate level of caregiving involvement does seem to have positive effects on health,” he explained. “But previous studies have shown that more intense involvement causes stress, which has negative effects on physical and mental health.” So, like with everything in life, it’s all about moderation.
3. Use Facebook
It’s time to stop feeling guilty about spending time on Facebook – it could be helping you increase your life expectancy. It’s long been known that good relationships protect us from stress and improve both our physical and mental health, but a 2016 study has confirmed that even online relationships are beneficial.
Researchers from the University of California at San Diego followed 12 million Facebook users born between 1945 and 1989 and found that regular users had a 12 per cent lower risk of early death than those who were not on Facebook. Those that had an average to large number of Facebook friends (and connected with them offline, too) were found to have the longest life expectancy.