9 Secrets of Longevity

As Buettner and his team studied the Blue Zones, they identified nine common traits shared by those communities where people live longer. He was surprised that it wasnt only food and lifestyle, but also creating a most beneficial environment. Heres a look at these longevity-boosting traits, known as the Power of 9.:

Move naturally. Do your own house and yard work, go up and down your stairs with your laundry, knead your own dough, Buettner advises. Incorporate more movement every hour. Know your purpose. Take time to recognize your values, strengths, talents, passions and gifts, Buettner says. Reflect, and work on yourself. Down shift. Relieve chronic stress by finding time each day to nap, meditate or pray. The 80% rule. Cut 20 percent of your daily calories with proven healthy practices: eat a big breakfast, dine with your family, and begin each meal by expressing appreciation. Plant slant. Eat mostly plant-based foods, and small portions of meat no more than twice a week. Wine at 5. Drinkers live longer than non-drinkers. This longevity tip had one exception: those in the Loma Linda Blue Zone were Seventh Day Adventists, who abstain from alcohol. Family first. Living in a loving, thriving family can add up to six years to your life. Work on a positive, committed relationship and stay close to your aging parents and grandparents. Belong. Those with the most social connectedness tend to live longer, Buettner says. Be part of a group of healthy-minded, supportive people. Right tribe. Good friends have a positive effect on your longevity. Support them and adopt healthy behaviors together.

Skip to search.

New User? Register Sign In Help Make Y! My Homepage

Mail Yahoo! Yahoo! Philippines She

Search Web

HOME BEAUTY FASHION FOOD RELATIONSHIPS HOROSCOPE PHOTOS VIDEOS SHE READS
TRENDING NOW

1.

Barbie Forteza

2.

Robert Pattinson

3.

Adam Levine

4.

Ashley Greene

5.

Kobe Bryant

6.

Tyson Chandler

7.

David Stern

8.

Britney Spears trial

9.

Health Care Product

10. Business Report

DISCOVER YAHOO! WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Learn more

close

7 surprising things that make you live longer

RealBuzz Thu, Oct 25, 2012 4:00 PM PHT

Email

Print

Surprising things that make you live longer: Smiling in photographs

Want to add years to your lifespan and squeeze more into your life? Youre not alone. Researchers are constantly on the hunt for ways we can increase our longevity, and they have come up with some pretty surprising findings. To help pave the way for a longer life, check out these seven unexpected things that increase your lifespan. 1. Smiling in photographs Next time someone asks you to smile for the camera, it may be wise to heed their advice if you want to live a longer life. A study by researchers at Wayne State University studied photos of former professional baseball players and found that the bigger their smile, the longer they lived. In fact, those players with the biggest smiles amassed an average of seven more years than those with none. It is believed that this is because big smiles in photographs reflect true happiness, which is beneficial for both your physical and mental well-being. 2. Having "positive" initials While you may not give much thought to your initials, a surprising study by researchers at the University of California has revealed that having initials that spell out positive words (such as ACE, WOW or VIP) could add years on to your life. The study found that men with positive initials lived 4.48 years longer while men with initials that spelled out negative words died 2.8 years younger. Having negative initials most significantly seemed to impact on deaths with psychological components such as suicides and accidents, although there was a noticed increase in longevity in almost all disease categories for those with positive initials. 3. Getting married If youre lucky enough to have found the guy or girl of your dreams, research suggests that taking the next step and getting married could add years on to your lifespan. Being in love has many reported health benefits. In fact, researchers at the University of Rochester reported that a good marriage can be as beneficial for your heart as quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and reducing high blood pressure. Multiple research studies and statistics have backed this up, showing that those who are married live longer than singletons, generally due to the fact that they have a higher income and experience less social isolation. 4. Being slightly overweight While poor diets and obesity are bad news for your health, research has suggested that slightly overweight people actually live longer than those of normal weight, and significantly longer than those who are obese or excessively thin. However, David Feeny, who led one of the surprising research studies, has warned that this does not mean that normal weight people should attempt to

gain weight to increase their lifespan. Experts explain that although being bigger may add a few years on to your lifespan perhaps due to it helping to safeguard against the weight loss and frailty that often incurs in old age that does not mean that it will increase your quality of life. 5. Having religious beliefs Multiple research studies have shown that believing in God regardless of which faith you adhere to could help to boost your health and increase your lifespan. A study involving liver transplant patients showed that those who had strong religious connections were up to three times more likely to survive, even if they did not attend church. Research results published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences also showed that people who attended regular religious services were 46 percent less likely to die during the six-year study. Experts believe that this may be due to increased social ties, less risky behavior and also the increased ability to cope with stress. 6. Being a social butterfly Healthy living can sometimes seem like hard work and it seems to be rare that the things we love are good for us. However, if you want a fun way to boost your health, take note: research suggests that making regular plans with your friends can help you to live longer by reducing feelings of depression, stress and risky behavior, and encouraging you to look after your health. In fact, a study by Brigham Young University found that having a good social network boosts your survival chances by 50 percent, while having few friends affects you longevity as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. 7. Laughter Whether youre having a giggle with friends or watching a funny movie, laughter is guaranteed to boost your mood and leave you feeling great. However, the benefits of laughter go way beyond that. Studies have found a multitude of ways in which laughter boosts your health, including lowering blood pressure levels, reducing bad cholesterol, enhancing the immune system and helping blood vessels to function better. A seven year study in Norway also found that those who laughed most often in everyday life were 35 per cent less likely to die during the study period. (Read more on Realbuzz.com.) You may also like: 7 strange weight loss tricks Unlikely things that make you gain weight Top 10 historical sex facts

Beat the afternoon slump 8 most common sex myths You could also log on to Realbuzz.com for more articles: Follow realbuzz on Twitter 10 surprising things that age you 10 ways to look and feel 10 years younger
@yahooph on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook EDITORS' PICKS

6 ideas to make money fun for kids

Instilling good money habits in your children is one of life's most important lessons and today, there are many ways to make learning about money fun for More

5 money mistakes new graduates must avoid Role reversal: When it's your turn to take care of your parents EXPERT ADVICE

This seasons hot, new hair trends

With the fall season now in full swing, we who live in the tropics can look beyond the warmer, bulkier clothes designers have paraded down the runway. More

5 design solutions for small city condos What kind of bed suits your personality? Editors note:Yahoo! Philippines encourages responsible comments that add dimension to the discussion. No bashing or hate speech, please. You can express your opinion without slamming others or making derogatory remarks. ALSO ON YAHOO! How to feel fabulous first thing 5 foods to make you smarter Rewind your body age Extra weight tied to higher risk of hospitalization: study Protestants no longer majority in US: study Women who quit smoking before 40 'gain nine years' Weight loss surgery tied to increase in drinking: study Obesity surgery is good for the heart: research Study: can a few cherries a day keep gout away? Africa faces spike in older people living with HIV

Review: 'Harper Regan' a complex, insightful play

All Comments Leave a comment...Comment Guidelines

Post As

24 comments

Popular Now Newest Oldest Most Replied

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 Amethyst ()

37 minutes ago

love this kind of article... and of course allow yourself to have time to be Lazy and unproductive sometimes... rest is not a luxury but a necessity...it can prolong life...=)
Reply

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 Lost_inlove

12 hours ago

1. Smiling in photographs-100% 6. Being a social butterfly-50% 7. Laughter -100%... More

Reply

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 D3LISY(O)Z@

5 hours ago

I just love laughing all day long :)))))))) harharharhar

Reply

1Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 Big Bird

12 hours ago

maging masamang damo?

3 Replies

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 Janine

3 hours ago

Himala, walang "sex" na nakasama sa listahan. hehe

1 Reply

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 Zeppelin

3 hours ago

laughter is the best medicine

Reply

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 EUPHONY ANGELO

5 hours ago

Ang loko... haha... ung kapit-bahay namin, ngumiti naman cia nung nagpa-picture cia... namatay naman agad... hahaha
2 Replies

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 Erica

7 hours ago

^____^
Reply

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 A Yahoo! User

9 hours ago

making others happy in my own way ^_^

Reply

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 BB Ko

18 hours ago

I love this kind of article... (^______________________^)

Reply

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 Big Dough

16 hours ago

even flossing your teeth and taking a bath can boost your longevity. dont smoke, and dont do drama. Just smile often and emmit happy vibrations.
Reply

1Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 Lordes

7 hours ago

think of happy thoughts....

1 Reply

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0

Magic Mike

12 hours ago

sa mga signs na yan.. isa na lang ang kulang sa akin.. :D

9 Replies

o
0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 Azumi 5 hours ago

hahahahahhahahaha
More Reply

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 Andrah

4 hours ago

#1 & #7 - the easiest #3 - the hardest

Reply

1Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 LabLab

9 hours ago

Being slightly overweight prolongs life? Great!!! Haha! At least this lifted my spirit up! :D
Reply

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 Own Ayalaland

26 minutes ago

... More
Reply


0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 D' Elect

4 hours ago

avoid addict infested areas..avoid holduppers..avoid confllicts..skirmish..pakikipagtalo..hahaba buhay nyo..

Reply

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 Kid Beau

13 hours ago

get into the feeling place of whatever makes you happy.

Reply

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 Etchua

22 hours ago

I'm doing good on all... except the social butterfly. :D

Reply

0Please sign in to rate a Thumb UpPlease sign in to rate a Thumb Down0 Princess-Shai-Lie-Angel

11 hours ago

Learn a Language & Smiling in photographs:-))

Reply

More

Post a comment

MOST POPULAR Top 20 songs for romance: survey

7 surprising things that make you live longer Maya demand an end to doomsday myth Samsung still the world's most popular phone Some women more critical of their partners during ovulation: study FEATURED GALLERIES

5 Exercises to Say Sayonara to Saddlebags

I Vant to Eat Your Vegan Treats! 7 Healthy Halloween Snacks

Are You Wearing the Right Sneakers for Your Workout?

View more slideshows

LATEST VIDEOS
1 - 4 of 16

1. Play Video How Do You Make Time For Yourself? 2. Play Video Making Time For Yourself 3. Play Video Part 2: Hair care tips from Japanese hair expert 4. Play Video Hair care tips from Japanese hair expert
Watch more videos

Go explore the National Museum; free admission only for October

Top 10 city skylines Why Kawit, Cavite is worth a visit Weekend must-try: Tour Manila via LRT-1 Jeepneys get a facelift, eyed to boost tourism
Read more stories

TODAY ON YAHOO!
1 - 5 of 20

1. Two U.S. warships spotted in Palawan

2. Furniture that tell the story of Pinoys

3. Lawyer files multi-million suit vs Binenes

4. Shark falls from sky onto golf course

5. Virginity sold at $780,000 in an auction

More on Yahoo! Philippines

YAHOO! LIFESTYLE Home Beauty FASHION Food Relationships Horoscope YAHOO! PRODUCTS
News Fit To Post Email Messenger Travel Flickr Koprol Games Answers

Skip to search.

New User? Register Sign In Help Make Y! My Homepage

Mail Yahoo! Yahoo! Philippines She

Search Web

HOME BEAUTY FASHION FOOD RELATIONSHIPS HOROSCOPE PHOTOS VIDEOS SHE READS

TRENDING NOW

1.

Barbie Forteza

2.

Robert Pattinson

3.

Adam Levine

4.

Ashley Greene

5.

Kobe Bryant

6.

Tyson Chandler

7.

David Stern

8.

Britney Spears trial

9.

Health Care Product

10. Business Report

DISCOVER YAHOO! WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Learn more

close

7 surprising things that make you live longer

RealBuzz Thu, Oct 25, 2012 4:00 PM PHT

Email

Print

Surprising things that make you live longer: Smiling in photographs

Want to add years to your lifespan and squeeze more into your life? Youre not alone. Researchers are constantly on the hunt for ways we can increase our longevity, and they have come up with some pretty surprising findings. To help pave the way for a longer life, check out these seven unexpected things that increase your lifespan. 1. Smiling in photographs Next time someone asks you to smile for the camera, it may be wise to heed their advice if you want to live a longer life. A study by researchers at Wayne State University studied photos of former professional baseball players and found that the bigger their smile, the longer they lived. In fact,

those players with the biggest smiles amassed an average of seven more years than those with none. It is believed that this is because big smiles in photographs reflect true happiness, which is beneficial for both your physical and mental well-being. 2. Having "positive" initials While you may not give much thought to your initials, a surprising study by researchers at the University of California has revealed that having initials that spell out positive words (such as ACE, WOW or VIP) could add years on to your life. The study found that men with positive initials lived 4.48 years longer while men with initials that spelled out negative words died 2.8 years younger. Having negative initials most significantly seemed to impact on deaths with psychological components such as suicides and accidents, although there was a noticed increase in longevity in almost all disease categories for those with positive initials. 3. Getting married If youre lucky enough to have found the guy or girl of your dreams, research suggests that taking the next step and getting married could add years on to your lifespan. Being in love has many reported health benefits. In fact, researchers at the University of Rochester reported that a good marriage can be as beneficial for your heart as quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and reducing high blood pressure. Multiple research studies and statistics have backed this up, showing that those who are married live longer than singletons, generally due to the fact that they have a higher income and experience less social isolation. 4. Being slightly overweight While poor diets and obesity are bad news for your health, research has suggested that slightly overweight people actually live longer than those of normal weight, and significantly longer than those who are obese or excessively thin. However, David Feeny, who led one of the surprising research studies, has warned that this does not mean that normal weight people should attempt to gain weight to increase their lifespan. Experts explain that although being bigger may add a few years on to your lifespan perhaps due to it helping to safeguard against the weight loss and frailty that often incurs in old age that does not mean that it will increase your quality of life. 5. Having religious beliefs Multiple research studies have shown that believing in God regardless of which faith you adhere to could help to boost your health and increase your lifespan. A study involving liver transplant patients showed that those who had strong religious connections were up to three times more likely to survive, even if they did not attend church. Research results published in the Journal of

Gerontology: Medical Sciences also showed that people who attended regular religious services were 46 percent less likely to die during the six-year study. Experts believe that this may be due to increased social ties, less risky behavior and also the increased ability to cope with stress. 6. Being a social butterfly Healthy living can sometimes seem like hard work and it seems to be rare that the things we love are good for us. However, if you want a fun way to boost your health, take note: research suggests that making regular plans with your friends can help you to live longer by reducing feelings of depression, stress and risky behavior, and encouraging you to look after your health. In fact, a study by Brigham Young University found that having a good social network boosts your survival chances by 50 percent, while having few friends affects you longevity as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. 7. Laughter Whether youre having a giggle with friends or watching a funny movie, laughter is guaranteed to boost your mood and leave you feeling great. However, the benefits of laughter go way beyond that. Studies have found a multitude of ways in which laughter boosts your health, including lowering blood pressure levels, reducing bad cholesterol, enhancing the immune system and helping blood vessels to function better. A seven year study in Norway also found that those who laughed most often in everyday life were 35 per cent less likely to die during the study period.