Prescription Health: How to live to be 100 and love it
Want to live to be 100 years old and live well? Experts say start preparing now.
Your top focus should be avoiding self-imposed health roadblocks, as more than 80% of chronic diseases can be prevented with healthy behaviors.
Start by staying active.
People who are physically active for about seven hours a week have a 40% risk of dying earlier than those who are active for less than 30 minutes a week. Experts say incorporate aerobic activities, strength training, and balance exercises.
Also, eat a healthy diet and don't overeat. Research on centenarians found they traditionally eat a diet low in calories and high in veggies.
They also stop eating when they're 80% full.
Staying socially engaged also helps. One study found people with lots of social connections had a 50% greater likelihood of living longer than people with few or no social connections.
Plenty of sleep also helps, as research shows sleeping less than seven hours a night on a regular basis is linked to diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, depression, and an increased risk of death.
Watch the video above for the full story.