A research team led by Harvard scientists has compiled a list of five habits that will potentially lead to people living longer and living free of the three chronic diseases: heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. The report they published this January reveals that women can extend their life expectancy after age 50 by about 10 years and men can expect to live about eight years longer when compared to people who don't incorporate the five specific habits.
These five habits include:
1) Eating a diet high in vegetables and low in fats
2) Incorporating moderate exercise several hours a week
3) Maintaining a healthy weight
4) Not smoking
5) No more than one alcoholic drink a day for women and no more than two for men
Data was analyzed from more than 111,000 women and men in the United State who were between the ages of 30 and 75 when they were enrolled in the Nurses Health Study or the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Participants completed a lifestyle habits questionnaire every two years while the study was ongoing. Women who had at least 4 of the 5 habits averaged 34 or more years without any of the chronic diseases after age 50 compared to 24 years for women who did not follow any healthy habits. Men who had at least 4 of the 5 habits averaged 31 more years free of the chronic diseases after age 50 compared to the 23 years for men who did not have the healthy habits.
Researchers found that none of the five habits was more influential than the others. Similar benefits were found across the board for all five healthy habits. In addition, it was demonstrated that the number of years of disease-free life gained increased with each additional healthy habit that the participants followed, which means that people should not be discouraged from doing only a couple of habits if the others are too difficult to maintain.