Chintito

Here's to your long life!

Chintito

We all want to live long knowing well that death is inevitable. Advisories are galore on the net on how to prolong a healthy life. Health tips should be harnessed in earnest as well shared with our loved ones; that means the entire universe.

One of the popular advices even to the health conscious that rise and walk at dawn is that we should laugh more to enhance our blood flow, and that researchers say may reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Laughing has previously been found to help fight infections, ease pain, and help control diabetes. The positive effect of laughing is thought to last around 30-45 minutes.

Sleeping is good, but not endlessly short of being dead. Sleeping six to seven hours will make you live longer than your buddy who does it for more than eight hours. Less than four hours is also not good.

The French will live longer because of their love for 'nature's antibiotic' that cleanses the body. Having it on a regular basis promotes a healthy heart and circulation by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. It also helps fight infection and can boost immunity. There is strong evidence to suggest that garlic helps with the prevention of cancers of the digestive system, including the oesophagus, stomach, colon and rectum. If you cannot stand the taste, go for the packed medicinal version.

Tea, ahhh! You already knew that. Look at the Chinese. Recent research reveal the antioxidants in both black and green tea may inhibit the growth of cancer cells, support dental health, increase bone density, prevent chronic disease, and strengthen cardiovascular health. The Journal of the American Heart Association says, heart attack patients who were tea drinkers decreased their risk of death by up to 44%, as compared to non-tea drinkers.

They say the greatest philosophers always looked down and so should you. Watch out for any increase in constipation, or passing of blood, and consult a doctor immediately, who might relieve you with the news that it is simple piles, but if it is something as serious as bowel cancer, early detection and treatment is vital to recovery.

The intelligent among us nowadays drink around eight glasses of water a day because our body needs constant water replenishment. Taking water is good for digestion‚ nutrient absorption‚ skin hydration‚ detoxification and virtually every aspect of better health. If that is drink and be merry, then go ahead!

The Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health says that socialising with friends and their presence can actually help you live longer, especially in old age. I am not sure that includes social networks but face-booking and twittering does pep you up, well most of the time.

You have to stop smoking. Period. Within one year after quitting, the risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker, and within ten years, the risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker.

Relaxation is essential because it reduces blood pressure and helps reduce stress-related conditions such as depression. Go for yoga, read a book, enjoy music alone, just sit down and do nothing, and the stress will have long gone.

After relaxing you have to get up and catch up on some regular exercise. That way you shall reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. It keeps joints, tendons and ligaments flexible, and contributes to treating depression, relieving stress and anxiety. Exercise also aids better sleep. If you have no time, then walk up the stairs if you can rather than taking the lift. Or get dropped half a mile from your house and laugh all the way to the house.

Fruits and vegetables are good we have been told a million times and we shall not get bored hearing so again and again because they are weapons against heart disease and stroke, blood pressure and cholesterol, and some types of cancer.

Your job can kill you. But I guess you already knew that. And a good job can actually increase your life expectancy. One way to ensure a good job is to learn to enjoy your job. If you love your job then you do not have to work ever again.

This one is easy: optimism is good for you. Look positive to life and you are going to live longer. Researchers found that optimistic people decreased their risk of early death by fifty compared with those who found the glass half filled.

Now the best one: Eat chocolate. But please do not over indulge, which trait is injurious in any aspect of life. Chocolate contains flavanoids (aid cardiovascular health) and antioxidants (prevent or delay certain damage to the body's cells and tissues). Dark chocolate is considered best as it contains more than twice as many antioxidants as a bar of milk chocolate, and has fewer calories.

Next time you want to say 'I love you', say it with a box of dark chocolates. In fact, I would not mind some myself, the love bit, I mean.

 

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