“How to live longer?” might be a question that all of us have asked at least once in our lifetime. There are some regions in this world where living to 100 or older is pretty popular. Unprocessed food is accessible there, and age-related diseases are not that common. But what are the secrets of those people who manage to live longer than most of us?

Unfortunately, the United States is not such a happy place because processed food can be easily found on our tables, people lead a sedentary lifestyle, and most of us have never heard of longevity benefits.

If you want to know how to live longer, stay with us here on Mind Bending Facts and learn some of the best tips that are proven to boost your longevity. Find out the secrets of those who are living well in their eighties, nineties, and, in some cases, past 100.

1. Never stop moving

A healthy lifestyle is probably one of the answers to the question, “How to live longer?” And what is one of the key components when we are talking about a healthy lifestyle? Exercise! Physical activity is perhaps one of the best things you can do for yourself.

If you are planning to make it to 110, prepare and be ready to include any kind of physical activity in your routine. According to some seniors who are older than 90, they believe that they made it this far because they never stopped moving.

And this is not actually a secret. This idea is incredibly widespread all around the world. The seniors who are living in the Blue Zone (the Blue Zone is represented by a number of regions where people live the longest) consider that their good health is strongly related to movement.

Walking and gardening both count as physical activities. For example, the centenarians from Okinawa, Japan, a region that is part of the Blue Zone, believe that because they sit on the floor and have to sand up multiple times a day, it is something beneficial that surely contributes to their longevity.

2. Socialization

If you are one of us who wants to find out how to live longer, spending time alongside your peers plays an incredibly important role. Yes, socialization is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Not everything is about what you eat and how often you exercise. Having a great group of friends and a close relationship with your family improves your mental health, and we are sure that everyone wants that.

Many seniors feel like family is something big for them that makes them feel like they have a greater purpose. If you lose your spouse, you might find out that your grandchildren are everything. They might bring you incredible joy, and you might feel like they are the most important thing to you.

Also, if your spouse is still there, now is the time to enjoy your life to the fullest. All of those vacations and meetings with friends that you felt like you never had time for – now that you are retired, you have all the time in the world.

According to some studies, if you maintain healthy social relationships, you can live up to 50% longer. Other studies suggest that if you have only three good-quality social ties, your risk of dying increases by 200% or more. Impressive, right?

So as you can see, if you are wondering how to live longer, healthy relationships are an essential part of this.

3. Don’t stop learning

Humans have something amazing that makes them who they are. This is an incredible part of the human experience, and all of us should take care of it. If you are wondering what we are talking about, it is the brain.

There is no need to say that this organ is essential for every human being, and because of this, we should be careful and do our best to keep our brains healthy. A healthy brain is almost equivalent to a healthier and longer life.

If you want to keep your mind active, you have to never stop learning. Now, when we say learning, you need to understand that this isn’t only referring to learning in a classical way. You can do small but impactful things every day. Taking a different route when you go back home from the grocery store or doing crossword puzzles multiple times a week is really going to boost the activity of your brain.

Also, you can start to learn a new language or try out new recipes in the kitchen. The dimension of learning is unlimited, and you can adapt it however you like or in a way that suits your needs.

4. Have a good night’s sleep

If you want to have a healthy body and a healthy mind, a good night’s sleep is essential. Actually, sleep is one answer to the question of how to live longer.

There are many recent studies that have found that a regular sleep pattern is closely related to longevity. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can be incredibly beneficial for you.

Also, if you think that just because you sleep a lot every night, you are going to be just fine, please think again. It is true that too little sleep is harmful, but it is the same for too much sleep.

If you sleep less than 5-7 hours per night, your risk of early death is increased by 12%. On the other hand, sleeping between 8 and 9 hours per night increases your lifespan by 38%. Also, if you are not sleeping enough, you are increasing your risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. All of these conditions are associated with a shorter lifespan.

So, if you are wondering how to live longer, keep in mind that you should try to sleep 7-8 hours per night and keep a regular sleep pattern.

5. Be careful of what you eat

If you want to know how to live longer, please listen to us. What you eat basically shapes the way your body is going to work and adapt to everyday life. And we know that everyone always says that diet is the most important factor if you want to have a long and healthy life, but you know what? They are right. It is indeed an extremely important factor.

So, how can you eat better? First, remember that a plant-based diet is very good for your body. Plants have many nutrients, such as vitamin C, carotenoids, folate, and polyphenols. Multiple studies have found that vegetarian and vegan diets, which are naturally richer in plant foods, are associated with a 12-15% decreased risk of early mortality.

Eating more nuts is another thing that will improve your diet. They are rich in antioxidants, proteins, fiber, and other beneficial plant compounds. Even more, they are excellent sources of magnesium, vitamin B6, and vitamin E.

Turmeric is another amazing option that might help you extend your lifespan. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is also believed to maintain the function of the lungs, brain, and heart.

So, how do you live longer? Maintain a healthy diet, sleep well, have friends, exercise, and never stop learning. This is what we found to be the most efficient way. Do you have any other advice for having a long and fulfilling life? If yes, please tell us all about it in the comments section!

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