WORDS KIM JONES ILLUSTRATION ANDREW LYONS
Enjoy life and you’ll likely have more of it! A study by University College London found that people who had a positive outlook on life during middle age and beyond lived longer than those who found little pleasure in what they did. So seek activities – and company – you enjoy.
Research from over 100 different studies found that loneliness can be just as deadly as smoking and boozing. Strong friendships and a buzzing social life can improve your chances of living a longer life by 50 per cent, according to research by Cambridge University.
No time for the gym? Don’t worry. Researchers at McMaster University in Canada found that exercising on the stairs in short bursts three times a week (try 20-second all-out sprints up stairs mixed with two minutes’ recovery) improves cardiorespiratory fitness.
Strong, healthy muscles help keep you mobile and can even lead to a longer life, say Penn State College of Medicine researchers. They found over-65s who lifted weights twice a week were 46 per cent less likely to suffer premature death. So use dumbbells, do leg squats, push-ups and sit-ups, or even carry heavy shopping home.
New research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found people who played racket sports were found to have a 47 per cent reduced chance of death compared with people who didn’t exercise. Any sport will do you good – so find your fit!
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People who regularly eat hot red chilli peppers have a 13 per cent lower risk of death than those who don’t! That’s the finding of a report by US journal PLOS ONE, which studied 16,000 people over 18 years.
That flat white could give you more than a morning happiness lift – it could help add a few more years to the clock, too. A Stanford University study found a link between caffeine intake and low levels of inflammation in the body. So drink up in the knowledge it could be doing you good!
People who eat a small handful of nuts daily cut their risk of a premature death by 22 per cent, says an Imperial College London and Norwegian University of Science and Technology joint study. It’s thought nuts help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Choose the unsalted varieties and stick to a small serving daily to ward off weight gain.