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Eight habits that could help people live more than 20 years longer have been identified by researchers. While it’s long been known that certain lifestyle factors can influence lifespan, the American study isolated the eight factors that have the biggest impact – being physically active, being free from opioid addiction, not smoking, managing stress, having a good diet, not regularly binge drinking, having good sleep hygiene, and having positive social relationships. The research was presented at Nutrition 2023, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, and used data from 719,147 people enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Million Veteran Program. It found low physical activity, opioid use and smoking were associated with around a 30-45% higher risk of death, while stress, binge drinking, poor diet, and poor sleep hygiene were each associated with around a 20% increase, and lack of positive social relationships was linked with a 5% increased risk of dying. Men who had all eight habits at age 40 were predicted to live an average 24 years longer than men with none of the habits, according to the findings, and women with all eight habits in middle age were predicted to live an extra 21 years, compared with women with none of the habits. Xuan-Mai Nguyen, health science specialist at the Department of Veterans Affairs, said: “We were really surprised by just how much could be gained with the adoption of one, two, three, or all eight lifestyle factors. Our research findings suggest that adopting a healthy lifestyle is important for both public health and personal wellness. The earlier the better, but even if you only make a small change in your 40s, 50s, or 60s, it still is beneficial.” The researchers say the findings highlight how lifestyle factors contribute to chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, which are associated with premature disability and death. How to embrace the eight healthy habits Inspired to give your own lifestyle a boost? “If making these small but mighty adjustments could help you to live for an extra 20 years, maybe it’s time to make those changes,” says life and wellbeing coach, Natalie Trice. She shares the following insights and tips… 1. Do more exerciseRegular exercise can help prevent a wide range of major diseases – plus it’s great for keeping stress levels in check. “Going for a walk, having a swim, running with friends, even just a good old dance-off in the kitchen can get your heartbeat up and those feel-good endorphins pumping – so get your trainers on and start moving,” says Trice. 2. Manage stressTrice suggests adopting simple stress-busting practices such as mindfulness meditation, and enjoying hobbies and sports. “These can profoundly impact overall wellbeing, as you bring your stress levels down,” she says. “This isn’t about pretending everything’s great, but rather looking at easy habits you can adopt that will take down the stress, which can lead to anxiety and burnout.” 3. Don’t smoke Quitting smoking is an essential step in improving health and potentially adding years to your life. Trice points out that while some people may think reaching for a cigarette takes the edge off their stress, there are healthier ways to cope. “Maybe going running or taking up yoga could be the release and focus you need, and one that will help you live longer, smell fresher and feel better,” she suggests. “Also, with the cost of cigarettes going up all the time, giving up will free up cash for the things in life that really need to be paid for.”If you are struggling to quit smoking, talk to your GP about options available to help. 4. Don’t binge drink“By cutting down on booze, you’re doing your body and brain a massive favour,” says Trice. “Drinking every night will impact your body and could affect your sleep and work performance. Enjoy life, but if you want to enjoy it for longer, then keep tabs on your drinking.” Official guidelines suggest drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol a week (equivalent to six medium glasses of wine of six pints of beer), spread across at least three days. 5. Eat healthily Generally speaking, a balanced diet that’s rich in fibre, whole grains, fruit and veg and lean protein, with heavily processed and sugary foods kept to a minimum, is linked with better health. “We all know about eating five-a-day but doing this can be tough if you’re busy with family and work. If you can start to do this, you’ll feel better,” says Trice. “Focus on eating regularly and thinking about what you put in your body, so that it works for you, not against you.” 6. Don’t take drugsRecreational drugs can harm health in a number of ways. Trice suggests those affected start by speaking to a trusted friend or their GP, and “look at the support which could not only extend your life, but save it”. 7. Try to get good sleep Trice says: “It’s vital that we look at getting a decent night’s sleep, as this can help you feel so much better. Making sure you have a sleep routine in place can be helpful and can be as easy as having no screens in the bedroom, having a bath or shower before you hit the sack, as well as making sure the temperature is right and you have curtains to keep the light out in the mornings.” 8. Nurture positive social relationshipsTrice observes: “If you’re able to nurture a supportive network of friends, colleagues and family, this can lead to improved mental and emotional wellbeing and a longer life.” Lacking social connections? Look at local volunteering opportunities and community walks and groups. Making friends can take time, but even finding ways to regularly spend time and interact with others can help. 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Doctors have called for the elimination of daylight saving time citing potential harm that may result from the practice. Daylight saving time is a practice of setting the clock forward by an hour beginning on the second Sunday in March in order to use light from the sun for longer. Once winter arrives, clocks are then set backwards an hour, ending the practice around the first Sunday of November, so people can get an extra hour of sleep. Doctors from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) called for an end to the practice, citing potential harms that can result due to changes to and from daylight saving time. Instead, they are in favour of setting standard time, which is the time when the clocks are set back in the fall, permanently. Doctors say such a permanent standard time aligns best with the human body’s natural inner clock. “By causing the human body clock to be misaligned with the natural environment, daylight saving time increases risks to our physical health, mental well-being, and public safety. Permanent standard time is the optimal choice for health and safety,” Adeel Rishi, chair of the AASM Public Safety Committee, said in a statement. AASM had previously shown in a study in 2020 that Daylight Saving Time (DST) is linked to “increased risks of motor vehicle accidents, cardiovascular events, and mood disturbances” as people annually “spring forward” to adopt the practice. Previous research has also found that pushing the clock back an hour can impact mental health. An analysis of data from more than 185,000 Danish people found an over 10 per cent rise in depressive episodes during the shift from summer time to standard time. The position to end DST is also supported by previous statements adopted by organisations such as National Sleep Foundation and the American Medical Association. “Permanent standard time helps synchronize the body clock with the rising and setting of the sun. This natural synchrony is optimal for healthy sleep, and sleep is essential for health, mood, performance, and safety,” James A Rowley, president of the AASM, said. However, the US Senate has passed The Sunshine Protection Act in March 2022, which would make US daylight saving time permanent. But this bill still requires approval by the House and president Joe Biden to be coded into law. Read More Here’s what a sleep expert says about the time change as clocks change in US Daylight saving time 2023: When do the clocks go back in the US? This is what changing the clocks can do to your health Mother of newborn triplets shares how they react differently after eating Stephen Fry uses walking stick after breaking his leg, pelvis and ‘a bunch of ribs’ Mother’s song about how easy it is to be ‘such a good dad’ goes viral

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NEEDHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 7, 2023--

SAVE 24%: As of Sept. 27, the Apple 35W dual USB-C power adapter is on