Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/713121
has even been shown to have a beneficial effect on genetic expression. According to the featured article, meditation has also been found to affect the enzyme telomerase, which some researchers believe is actively involved with the process of aging. As for keeping your body active, avoiding sitting is perhaps of even greater importance than having a regular workout regimen. e science is very clear on this point: sitting too much is a surefire way to take years off your life! And that applies even if you exercise vigorously a few times a week. Basically what the research is telling us is that getting too hung up on a once-a-day exercise routine is to put the cart before the horse. FIRST, you need to make sure you're engaging in more or less perpetual non-exercise movement, as this is an independent risk factor for chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. You then want to add structured exercise on top of that to reap all the benefits associated with exercise. High-intensity interval training boosts human growth hormone (HGH) production, which is essential for optimal health, strength, and vigor. B E I N G A P E R P E T U A L S T U D E N T M A Y B E O N E O F T H E M O S T I M P O R T A N T S E C R E T S T O A L O N G E R L I F E Education is also strongly correlated with a longer life. It's crucial to be a perpetual student, no matter how old you get. If you think you know it all just because you went to high school or college, you might as well pack it up. It's all downhill from there. Be a lifelong student. Getting an education can have a great impact, and perhaps it's because it teaches you to be a student. As noted in the featured article: "A 2012 report from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics found that people with a bachelor's degree or higher live about nine years longer than people who don't graduate high school. James Smith, a health economist at the RAND Corporation, is also a proponent of the argument for staying in school for better life expectancy. His findings show education may be an even bigger factor than race and income. Educated people are more likely to land better jobs, plan for their future, and make healthier lifestyle choices." L I F E S T Y L E C H O I C E S T O D A Y T H AT C A N M U L T I P LY Y O U R T O M O R R O W S e takeaway message here is that you have a great deal of control over your life expectancy, based on the personal choices you make—from how you think to how you move, and what you choose to eat—and when. Naturally, there's also the issue of toxic exposures, which can take a toll on your health, so avoiding toxins is a given, right along with eating a wholesome diet of organic, unprocessed foods. is includes tossing out your toxic household cleaners, soaps, personal hygiene products, air fresheners, bug sprays, lawn pesticides, and insecticides, just to name a few, and replacing them with non-toxic alternatives. Another issue not addressed above, but which bears mentioning, is the importance of sleeping well, and getting enough of it. In a 22-year twin study, adults who slept more than eight hours per night, or less than seven, showed increased risk of death. Of course, the quality of your sleep is also important, not just the quantity. Optimizing your vitamin D levels and avoiding prescription drugs will also go a long way toward warding off an untimely death. In the end, there is no quick fix when it comes to longevity. ere is no magic pill and no fountain of youth. is makes it all the more important to find a physician who is well versed in the basic principles of a healthy lifestyle, as loading up on prescription medications will likely kill you sooner rather than later. Although some people seem to be blessed with longevity in spite of their lifestyle choices, this is the exception and not the rule. For most of us, becoming healthy Centenarians will require some effort and attention to the factors discussed above.