Fun Ways to Live Longer

In 1991 I met Dr. Who. Well, Dr. Hu actually. Mandy Hu. She was a Chinese MD whose practice specialised in travel medicine. She and I were doing a "Train the Trainer" course at North Sydney TAFE and, with the rest of the group, were required to give a ten minute talk on any subject of our choice. Mandy spoke about "that wonderful health food—chocolate" and brought in samples of different chocolates for us to sample. We immediately voted her the most successful speaker ... but we may have been voting with our stomachs, because the following week when a chef brought in a portable stove and cooked us all a variety of crepes, we installed him in the number one spot.

I hadn't thought about Mandy and her chocolate for years until I found a most interesting paper on Longevity by Mark Stibich Ph.D on the About.com web site. I'll give you a synopsis here with a link at the end ... and I would encourage you to click on that link because there is much more in Mark's study than you will find on this page.

1. Drink Red Wine:  Red wine is packed with resveratrol, an antioxidant. These work to protect your body against the effects of aging. One or 2 glasses of red wine a day can help keep your body young.
2. Eat Dark Chocolate:  Dark chocolate is a wonderful food that contains a large amount of antioxidants that protect your body from aging. Find good quality dark chocolate, learn to appreciate it, and have a bit of it each day. Eating chocolate may lower your blood pressure and cholesterol while providing an energy boost.
3. Smile:  Smiling is a great way to change your attitude, connect with people and give benefit to your body. Like relaxation, smiling can work to counteract the effects of stress. By forcing ourselves to smile, we "trick" our body into believing that everything is good, thereby reducing stress. Like a switch, smiling can actually change your mood. So put a smile on, even if you don't feel like it, and pretty soon you'll be smiling for real.
4. Have More Sex:  Sex and touching are thought to be essential parts of health. Sex releases an assortment of beneficial chemicals in the body. Sex and touching help us bond with others, strengthens relationships, and increases our own self-worth. Frequent sex may even extend your life by years.
5. Relax:  Relaxation is the opposite of stress. While stress brings harmful health effects, relaxation helps our bodies to rest, heal and function better. By practicing daily relaxation techniques, you can train yourself to turn off your stress and replace it with calm energy. This will improve your blood pressure, heart rate and ability to cope with life's challenges.
6. Make Exercise Play:  Physical games and sports are a great way to keep both your body and mind healthy. Simple exercise routines are great for maintaining balance, flexibility, endurance and strength. Group games and sports can give your mind a workout as well, as you anticipate other people's actions and how to work together. Find a game and activity that suits your level of physical ability and play often.
7. Sleep:  Sleep is an essential body function. Most Americans do not get enough sleep. Medications, stress, illness and poor sleep habits all can prevent you from getting between 7 and 9 hours a night. The health benefits of sleep include more energy, better immune function, and more.
8. Spend Time With Loved Ones:  Relationships are an important part of health. Not only do strong bonds with other people mean you will have help when you need it, being connected also means protection from loneliness, depression, and mental illness. Spend time cultivating your relationships with friends and family to improve your health and your life.
9. Solve Puzzles and Play Brain Games: Mind games are a great way to stay involved and engaged in the world. Games can exercise different parts of your mind and entice your curiosity. If possible, choose social games like chess or bridge that exercise your brain while keeping you connected with others.
10. Be Positive:  Having a positive attitude about aging can add more than seven years to your life, according to researchers. Avoid the cultural push to glorify youth and regret each passing year. Find ways to to pleasure in your increasing age and enjoy greater learning, experience, and control in your life.

Read the rest of this article, with comprehensive links, HERE.

If you have not yet had the good fortune to discover the About.com web site I would encourage you to visit it. There you will find information on subjects ranging from Bicycling to Blogging, from Crochet to Cruising, and practically anything else you might be interested in. Click on this link to go there now: ABOUT.COM.