Despite a drastic backslide in life expectancy that I reported on earlier this week—due in large part to the ongoing pandemic—many Americans are still becoming “super-agers.”
In fact, in the last 30 years in North America, the number of people 90 years of age and older has tripled.
And in 2003, researchers at the University of California, Irvine began to investigate what makes people reach this impressive milestone as part of The 90+ Study.
They found that these super-agers share FIVE key lifestyle and dietary habits.
Of course, we should call these habits “pleasures,” because you’ll thoroughly enjoy working them into your life. (Or better yet—hopefully you already enjoy them!)
Here’s everything you need to know…
No. 1: Enjoy a drink (or two) each day!
The biggest finding from The 90+ Study involved moderate alcohol consumption. In fact, the super-agers who drank two glasses of beer or wine each day improved their chances of living longer by an impressive 18 percent compared to those who abstained.
Dr. Claudia Kawas, a neurologist and lead author of The 90+ Study said, “I have no explanation for it, but I do firmly believe that moderate drinking improves longevity.”
No explanation, Dr. Kawas?
There is, indeed, plenty of scientific evidence showing that moderate drinking strongly benefits your health! And it seems to work by promoting relaxation and reducing stress—the No. 1 killer behind high blood pressure and heart disease. (Stress also contributes to other chronic diseases, including dementia, Type II diabetes, and even cancer.)
No. 2: Take up a hobby you enjoy.
The 90+ Study also showed that super-agers who enjoyed a hobby for two hours per a day had a 21 percent better chance of living into really advanced old age. This finding makes a lot of sense, too, because whatever takes your mind away from your troubles will certainly help your health—for the long haul. In my book, New World Mindfulness with Don McCown, we discuss how hobbies are another form of stress reduction and relaxation. Some of my favorite hobbies include reading and writing (of course), along with helping on our small farm and helping care for my family.
No. 3: Carry a few extra pounds!
If you’re in your 70s, you may want to rethink going on a restrictive, weight-loss diet. Because in this study, participants who were overweight in their 70s lived longer than “normal” or “underweight” people. But here again, this finding shouldn’t come as any big surprise. Doctors have made this common-sense observation for centuries. Even the good Dr. Kawas admitted, “It’s very bad to be skinny when you are old.”
No. 4: Enjoy a morning pick-me-up, without feeling guilty!
Those who drank two cups of coffee per day increased their chances of achieving great longevity by 10 percent.
And I’ve been talking about the many health benefits of coffee for years. Most importantly, it protects you against a host of different diseases, including cardiovascular disease, the No. 1 killer in the U.S. (Just make sure you always skip the flavored, artificial creamers and sugars. If you want a little cream in your coffee, just add organic whole milk or half-and-half.)
No 5. Don’t overdo it on the exercise
The last big finding from the study shows that you don’t need to (and shouldn’t) overdo it with the exercise. In fact, study participants who exercised just 15 minutes per day had an 11 percent greater chance of achieving advanced longevity.
That’s just 105 minutes TOTAL per week—which is just shy of my routine recommendation to get 140 to 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
In other words, the more-is-better approach to exercise just doesn’t hold up when it comes to increasing your lifespan!
In fact, even a brisk, 20-to-30-minute walk outside in Nature holds great benefits. You can learn more about the benefits of moderate walking in the October 2021 issue of Insiders’ Cures, my monthly newsletter (“Take a hike [in a good way] this fall”). If you’re not yet a newsletter subscriber, now is the perfect time to become one.
One small step for “super-ager” Captain Kirk…one giant leap for the rest of us
Last October, when William Shatner (Captain James T. Kirk from the original TV show Star Trek) went into outer space at the age of 90, it made me think of Neil Armstrong’s famous quote, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” (I watched Armstrong’s history walk on the moon live on a giant screen at an outdoor amphitheater at the Boy Scout Jamboree in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in July 1969.)
And Shatner definitely seems to have some of the key characteristics of a super-ager…
He stays very busy and active doing what he loves—whether it’s singing, acting, riding horses, or going into space. And he certainly doesn’t have the size 32 waistline that he did when manning the helm of the USS Enterprise. In fact, he seems to follow most of the tips I outlined here today! So—if you want to increase your lifespan, too, I hope you’ll also incorporate these daily pleasures into your routine.
For more simple, natural strategies to stay vibrant, youthful, and healthy well into your 70s, 80s, 90s—and beyond—check out my protocol, The Insider’s Ultimate Guide to Outsmarting “Old Age.” To learn more, or to enroll, click here now.