Almost every one of us wants to have a chance to live long enough to blow out a hundred candles on our birthday. Even if some people have a different say on this, we can agree that at some point you have wondered how it would feel like to live a long, healthy life. Studies show that the number of people who lived to be more than 100 has been increasing in the last 30 years. The question is how to live to 100 years old?
Although genetics play a big role in longevity, it’s not something we can control. Not all of us share the same luck when it comes to genes. Most people who have lived for a century most likely have a direct or a distant relative that has lived for a hundred years, too. There are certain things, however, that we can do which would help us live a healthy and longer life.
Today’s people face a lot of issues in their lives. Dealing with different kinds of stress every day could potentially lead you to cut your life shorter. So sit back and relax and consider doing these 10 legit things the centenarians did. We hope these tips help to show you how to live to 100.
How to Live to 100 Years Old
1. Mingle with Everyone
A study in 2010 proved that people who more socially involved have a 50% likelihood of living a longer and more fulfilling life than those who aren’t.
This doesn’t mean that you have to go out clubbing. It simply implies mingling with your friends and family could help you live a longer life. Be an active participant in your community. Try to make some new friends every now and then. Don’t be afraid to reach out. Being lonely is the worst feeling in the world. Go out there and feel loved!
2. Never Act Your Age
Don’t let age stand in your way of doing the things you love. If you want to go traveling at the age of 70, then go. Go on a solo trip and maybe meet some new friends along the way. Dress as if you’re a millennial. The point is to never stop living your life even if you’re in your older years. Always look for something new to experience.
3. Choose What You Eat
This may be the factor that can have the biggest effect on people. Food rich in saturated fats is very popular nowadays. Trans fats are the number one cause of LDL or bad cholesterol. So while you’re still enjoying your youthful years, slowly cutting back on saturated fats would
You might also want to consider consuming lesser calories each day. Cutting back on calories by 30% could potentially slow down aging and increase your life expectancy. A recent study conducted by the researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison subjected rhesus monkey (which are 95% related to humans) to different amounts of calories. They discovered that the monkeys who consumed fewer calories were stronger and younger-looking than those who consumed more.
Cutting back on calories could lessen the production of free radicals hanging around the body and could increase the cell’s resistance to stress. Keeping cells healthy is one of the most important tricks when finding out how to live to 100.
4. Be Active
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who exercise for more than 7 hours a week could increase the likelihood of living a longer life by 60%. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least 150 minutes of exercise per week to add 4 years to a person’s life.
5. Be a Positive Thinker
Having a positive outlook on life could help in living a longer life. Don’t be afraid to think about death, but don’t dwell on it either. A survey featuring more than 200 centenarians have revealed that most of their long lives are attributed to their faith that they’ll reach a certain age.
6. Laugh a Lot
A study by the two universities, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Yeshiva University, identified “the love of laughter” as a common ground among 243 centenarians. They also observed that most of them were optimistic, outgoing, and easy to get along with.
Laughing more can cause the decrease the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and endorphin. The lesser stress a person experiences, the more likely he is to lead a longer and happier life.
Some experts also believe that laughing could be a form of a mild exercise. In fact, laughing for at least 10 minutes could help you burn 50 calories. Laughing helps you achieve many things on this list. It is truly the best medicine.
We try to have a lot of group activities at our assisted living homes to help our residents enjoy social interactions.
7. Eat Nuts
BioMed Central conducted a study in which they reported that eating nuts could help a person live longer. They revealed that nut eaters were more likely to have a lower body mass index and have a 39% less chance of experiencing an early death.
8. Do Yoga
Doing yoga could not only help you shed some pounds, increase flexibility and release stress, but it could also help you in living a long and healthy life.
A recent study has suggested that yoga could help you increase your body awareness which can aid in consuming fewer calories.
9. Floss and Brush
This may be a weird tip but it’s also one of the top tips centenarians give to people who want to live to be a hundred. Maintaining a proper oral hygiene could decrease the risk of bacteria spreading throughout your body. Brushing your teeth properly and flossing regularly could also lower the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
10. Establish a Life Purpose
Looking for a greater purpose in life could help you maintain a healthy life cycle. Having a specific goal encourages you to eat healthily, get active, and become more involved in the things around you. Your new-found sense of purpose could lead you to achieve greater things than yourself.
Here’s a video of a 100-year old heart surgeon who was still working at age 95. He knows how to live to 100 years old:
The most important thing is probably to change your outlook on life. If you’re stressed, then take time to process the things you’re experiencing and look for a silver lining. Every situation has a bright side. All you have to do is to change your attitude towards it.
At A Paradise for Parents, we ensure that our senior residents are healthy, active, and are living their best life possible. If you want to know more about assisted living facilities, A Paradise for Parents staff and our resources can answer all your questions. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (623) 295-9890 or email us at cam@aparadiseforparents.com to know more about the services we offer. You can also fill out an online form located on our homepage. We’d be happy to assist you in your search for an assisted living facility for your loved one.
