Who doesn’t want to know the secrets of longevity?   Ponce de Leon was searching for the Fountain of Youth when he travel to what is now Florida in 1513.  So, the quest for longevity and a anti-aging formula has been around for along time.

In 2000, a team of scientists studied cultures where people lived the longest.   These cultures don’t belong to health spas, use expensive face creams and believe it or not… don’t diet.   Longevity was contributed to a general lifestyle.  Their average life expectancy was well into their nineties.

Here are 10 secrets of longevity according to longevity research of these cultures.

1.  Keep Moving: Find ways to keep moving naturally.  Walk instead of riding, garden, enjoy playing a sport.  It’s important to keep your body in motion.  (I love to garden… but I have to admit… I try and find a parking place as close to the store as possible.)

2.  Find Purpose: Find something you can be excited about and pursue it with passion.  Whether it’s a job or a hobby… give it your all.  (If that means playing with the grand kids all day long… I’m on board.)

3.  Stop Eating: Don’t over eat.  In other words, stop before your full.  (Hmmm  I’ve never quite figured out how to do that.)

4.  Dine On Plants: Eat more veggies and less meat and processed foods.  (Now here’s one I can get my stomach around.  I enjoy a bit of meat but I do love veggies.)

5.  Slow Down: Work less, rest, and take vacations.  (Who are they kidding.  I was raised in a family that looked upon “rest or a vacation” as lazy.  Running around like a chicken with its head cut off is a habit hard to break.)

6.  Drink Red Wine: Do it consistently but in moderation.  (My moderation is:  I don’t drink… except for Diet Coke, which is a habit I’m trying desperately to break.)

7.  Join A Group: Create a healthy social network. (Does that mean my twitter, and forum friends are healthy social networks?  I actually think it means healthy face to face relationships now and again.)

8.  Don’t Smoke: Smoking of any kind decreases longevity.  (No problem here… I don’t smoke but I have a lot  of other unhealthy habits… like eating cookies for breakfast.

9.  Feed Your Soul: Engage In Spiritual Activities:  (I love attending my church meetings and being involved.  I spend a lot of time in spiritual study.)

10.  Love Your Tribe: Make family a high priority.  (If this longevity factor could supersede all the rest… I’d live longer… perhaps to 125 years old.  I’m crazy about my family of 4 kids and 15 grands.  In fact…we all actually like each other.)

How is your longevity index?

Kathy
Insightful Nana

P.S.  My mom is approaching ninety.  She has always taken good care of her self… and the folks in her family lived a long time.  A longevity gene perhaps?