Starling Fitness: Daily writings on Fitness, Diet, and Health

This is an excellent TED Talk from Dan Buettner about how to live longer. It’s a little long at nearly twenty minutes, but it will tell you a lot about living longer.

Myths About Longevity:

• If you try really hard, you can live to be 100. This is false because we are not programmed for longevity. We are programmed for procreative success. You have to win the DNA lottery for longevity.
• There are treatments that can slow aging. This is false. There are too many things that can go wrong.

The best science tells us that the capacity of the human body is about 90 years, but life expectancy is only 78. Somewhere through here, we are leaving 12 years on the table. The best way to getting these missing years is to look at the cultures where the life expectancy is longer.

After reviewing the “Blue Zones” for longevity, they created this advice:

• Move Naturally: None of them exercise. They set up their lives so they are nudged toward activity. Less conveniences.
• Right Outlook: Have a strong sense of purpose. You must have a reason to wake up every morning.
• Right Outlook: Take time to mellow out with prayer or contemplation.
• Eat Wisely: Plant based diet with lots of beans and nuts.
• Eat Wisely: Moderate alcohol intake.
• Eat Wisely: Eat small meals. Stop overeating by using smaller plates and eating until 80% full.
• Connect: Loved ones first by taking care of your children and aging parents.
• Connect: Belong to a faith-based community.
• Connect: Surround yourself with people who are planning on living a long time as well.

When it comes to longevity, there is no short term fix. Your friends can be the biggest factor to adding more years to your life and more life to your years.