Being a Perpetual Student May Be One of the Most Important Secrets to a Longer Life
Education is also strongly correlated with a longer life. I personally believe it’s crucial to be a perpetual student, no matter how old you get. If you think you know it all just because you went to high school or college, you might as well pack it up. It’s all downhill from there. My perspective is to be a lifelong student. If I lived for several hundred years, I don’t think there is enough time to learn all the topics I would like to. That said, merely getting an education can have a great impact, and perhaps it’s because it teaches you to be a student. As noted in the featured article:
“A 2012 report from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics found that people with a bachelor’s degree or higher live about nine years longer than people who don’t graduate high school. James Smith, a health economist at the RAND Corporation, is also an proponent of the argument for staying in school for better life expectancy. His findings show education may be an even bigger factor than race and income. Educated people are more likely to land better jobs, plan for their future, and make healthier lifestyle choices.”
Lifestyle Choices Today That Can Multiply Your Tomorrows
The takeaway message here is that you have a great deal of control over your life expectancy, based on the personal choices you make—from how you think to how you move, and what you choose to eat—and when. For a comprehensive food guide, see my free nutrition plan, which also addresses intermittent fasting.
Naturally, there’s also the issue of toxic exposures, which can take a toll on your health, so avoiding toxins is a given, right along with eating a wholesome diet of organic, unprocessed foods. This includes tossing out your toxic household cleaners, soaps, personal hygiene products, air fresheners, bug sprays, lawn pesticides, and insecticides, just to name a few, and replacing them with non-toxic alternatives.
Another issue not addressed above, but which bears mentioning, is the importance of sleeping well, and getting enough of it. In a 22-year twin study,8 adults who slept more than eight hours per night, or less than seven, showed increased risk of death. Of course, the quality of your sleep is also important, not just the quantity. Optimizing your vitamin D levels through appropriate sun exposure and avoiding prescription drugs will also go a long way toward warding off an untimely death.
In the end, there is no quick fix when it comes to longevity. There is no magic pill and no fountain of youth. This makes it all the more important to find a physician who is well versed in the basic principles of a healthy lifestyle, as loading up on prescription medications will likely kill you sooner rather than later. Although some people seem to be blessed with longevity in spite of their lifestyle choices, this is the exception and not the rule. For most of us, becoming healthy Centenarians will require some effort and attention to the factors discussed above.
Article Summary
- After investigating the blood of a woman who lived to 115 years of age, researchers suggest stem cell exhaustion may explain why people eventually die at an advanced age despite being in good overall health
- Other recent research confirmed that low-intensity daily exercise leads to less disability in old age and a longer, healthier life
- Being conscientious and striving to do things well is a personality trait that most of the people who live the longest share
- A processed, high-sugar diet is probably the quickest route to an early death as it promotes insulin resistance, which is a primary driver of chronic disease—from premature aging to heart disease and cancer
- There’s compelling evidence suggesting that having a calm mind and active body are two important ingredients for longevity. Education, and being a perpetual student, is also strongly correlated with a longer life
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
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Review
How best to ensure a long life? In The Longevity Project, the authors, university professors, explain why many common beliefs are “ill-advised or simply wrong.” An absorbing and invaluable read. –THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
– Malcolm Gladwell
article source: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/05/26/secrets-longevity.aspx
photo source Flickr/Steve https://www.flickr.com/photos/japan-life/1282007746
Seven lucky Gods of Japan -Daikoku (Shiva, Mahakala), , Bishamonten , Ebisu, Fukurokyu, , Benzaiten, Hoteil and Juroujin. Stone carving at Gamagori Aichi Japan.