Secrets to LIVING LONGER

A 115-year-old Surrey woman named Ethel Caterham has officially been handed the title of the oldest living human alive.

- Bradley Elliott

Many people reading this news may wonder what Caterham's secret is.

While it isn't usually a good idea to take health and longevity advice from supercentenarians (as they're often the exception rather than the rule), there are some lifestyle pointers that we can take from research on groups of long-lived people that might help us increase our chances of living a longer life.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Physical activity is good for you — who knew? Research shows that people who are more physically active each day tend to live longer, healthier lives. One study found that going from no physical activity to about 75 minutes per week of brisk walking increased life expectancy by about two years.

But perhaps less well known is just how bad inactivity is for your health and longevity. It's a tad difficult to explain, but the positive effects of exercise are actually different from the negative effects of inactivity. That means that you can have a positive influence on your health by being both more active and avoiding being inactive.

Yet as good as structured exercise is for you, it can't by itself offset the harms of inactivity and sitting all day. Research even shows that being sedentary is associated with higher risk of premature death from any cause.

If you want to live longer, you should try to avoid sitting for long periods of time if possible. Practical tips for this include standing up every 30 minutes, going to see someone in the office instead of calling or emailing them and standing on public transport during commuting. This, plus the aim to do about 30 minutes moderate exercise most days will help maximise your odds of a long, healthy life.

EAT YOUR VEGGIES