In today society, 50 is no longer considered old. In fact, 50 is the new 30, as many now 30 year olds are realizing their own youth. A few generations ago, the life expectancy was dismally young, and many people of generation X lost grandparents who were only a little older than their parents are now. Baby boomers are not feeling old, and are wondering what is the secret to longevity?



The greatest secret to longevity has everything to do with what we put into our bodies and what we expect out of our bodies. When we eat a healthy clean diet, refrain from unhealthy habits like drugs, alcohol, smoking, and even too much doctor prescribed and over the counter medication, our bodies operate on a higher level of functioning. Moderate daily exercise like walks and gardening can also boost our longevity by a few years.

Good health is about balance. The secret to longevity is about achieving that balance on a daily basis while learning to live more freely within ourselves. Faith, regardless of what denomination, has proven to help people live healthier, happier, and longer lives. Simply having faith in the universe can prolong life by increasing our daily level of joy. Depression, even mild depression that makes us tired or feel down for short periods of time, does actually inhibit our ability to feel at our healthiest and can inhibit daily practices that increase our health and increase our longevity.

Genetics may or may not play a role in the secret to longevity. In some cases, an individual who had two parents die of a heart attack but took excellent care of their body (like not drinking, smoking, playing around with recreational enhancements, or eating high cholesterol foods) might be able to make up for whatever their genetics may have given them. In other cases, doing all the right things may not outweigh the genetic roles our DNA has determined for us. This does not imply that a person whose parents died of cancer will automatically get cancer no matter what they do. Rather, by controlling the factors we can control, we might be able to tip the balance in our favor.

Mental workouts are just much part of the secret to longevity as physical workouts. For those who spend retirement in front of the mind numbing television, chances are good they will begin to experience mental challenges much earlier than someone who experiences life to the fullest, visits with neighbors and friends to have intellectual discussions, and pulls out the crossword puzzle instead of the TV Guide for mental stimulation.