Do you want to live to be 100 or older?  Sure, why not - as long as I feel good. 

There has been an unbelievable amount of research on aging.  We must have reviewed at least 50 reports.  What’s interesting is that most of this research agrees that there are basic principles to living longer and healthier.

Aging Gracefully principles:

• A balanced, low-fat, high-fiber, low-calorie daily diet
• No smoking
• No drugs – even limiting prescription drugs or using them in moderation
• Drinking alcohol in moderation
• Living an active lifestyle:  Exercising
• Maintaining an optimal weight
• Getting enough sleep
• Practicing safe sex
• Drinking lots of water
• Supplementing your diet with vitamins, minerals or supplements
• Regular medical visits – seeing a doctor when you need to
• Nurturing your emotional health – spiritual happiness

Genetics can certainly play a role in your mortality, but a majority of the research we reviewed put a great deal of emphasis on our daily choices.  There is probably someone you know who drinks, smokes, is overweight, doesn’t sleep enough, never exercises, has a lousy diet and is healthier than anyone you know.  Most experts would view this person as an anomaly. 

At melslife, we are not experts on living to 100, but we do know that healthy living can make a difference, and we would add the following principles for living a longer life:

melsPrinciples:

• Embrace life – enjoy every moment
• Be engaged with your family – there’s never enough family time
• Have good friends
• Find a soulmate to share your life – Studies have shown that married people are happier than single people
• Never stop learning – read, ask questions, listen to different points of view and formulate your own opinions
• Have a passion – food, traveling, cooking, politics, running, collecting, or whatever pleases you
• Connect with your spirituality or embrace your religion
• Be less judgmental – everyone has a problem
• Live optimistically and reduce your negativity
• Give something – time, money, or energy to a friend, stranger, or cause
• Be friendly and never get angry.  It’s easy to be disappointed
• Slow down & never be in a hurry – you’ll get there
• Drive defensively & courteously
• Express yourself – don’t hold anything inside of you
• Have no envy – regardless where you are inlife. You are doing OK.  You never want to live someone else’s life.  Your life and uniqueness make you special.  You really never know what’s going on in someone’s life.  All you see is what you want to see
• Appreciate something