How You Can Live Longer

Would you like to add 20 years to your life? Research has shown that lifestyle factors – such as living in the countryside, eating a healthy diet and owning a pet – can add as much as two decades to your life expectancy.

While British women can expect to live to around 80.8 years and men to around 75.8, experts believe that your lifestyle and state of mind can have a huge effect on your lifespan.

Many of the reasons for longevity are interlinked. It would be fair to say that people with a wealthier lifestyle are more likely to have the time to exercise and are less likely to smoke and fall prey to alcohol abuse.

Doctors believe that the most important thing you can do to improve longevity is to stop smoking. Smoking can take as much as ten years off your life.

Obesity is another huge factor. Evidence shows that if you are overweight, then you are shortening your life by ten to 12 years. Obesity unquestionably leads to problems such as heart disease and strokes.

But it is equally important not to dismiss more subtle lifestyle elements, such as where you live.

Living by a main road can cause sleep disturbance and have an adverse effect on your health, whereas, according to the Office for National Statistics, countryside dwellers have an average life expectancy of 84 years.

Heart disease and strokes are much more common in lower socio-economic groups. Better educated classes, typically university educated, have a better lifestyle and possibly better diet because they can afford fresh fruit and vegetables.

Those who aren't eating regular portions of vegetables and fresh fish can take another four years off their life expectancy.

Eating broccoli every day is an easy way to extend your life expectancy. Broccoli has exceptionally high levels of antioxidants which give protection against heart disease and cancers.

In fact, all green leafy vegetables should be consumed as often as possible. You will also benefit by drinking tea – especially green tea – as this, too, is well known for its antioxidant properties.

There is a fair bit of evidence to show that people live longer or fare better if they are optimistic. Any doctor will tell you that a pessimistic patient won't respond as quickly to treatment. Optimism tends to overflow into every area of your life, including exercise and diet. As a result, optimists probably have a better quality of life.

Depressed people tend to have little interest in sex, and regular sex can put years on your life, as can being happily married. Generally, such people will be more content and happy with life. Being unhappily married leads to stress and depression, which can shorten your life span.