18 habits of people who age gracefully
Including a few things they never do
They have good dental care
Your mother nagged you to brush your teeth for good reason! Poor dental hygiene when you're young can lead to bacteria growth and eventually infections that can evolve into more serious health problems like gum disease, according to the .
PHOTO: Getty
They drink in moderation
There is a fine line between drinking in moderation and drinking excessively. Findings from the show that alcohol may increase the risk of cancer and shorten your life by .
PHOTO: Getty
They give back
Giving back helps others, but it also helps yourself. The that charitable acts, like philanthropic contributions or even a simple good deed can increase self-esteem, lower blood pressure and help you live a longer, happier life.
PHOTO: Getty
They laugh
There is a good reason why people tout the beloved phrase “Laughter is the best medicine.” According to , laughing reduces heart disease and stress, plus benefits the immune system, leading to a longer life. Bring on the laugh lines!
PHOTO: Getty
They love openly
Infuse love, both physical and emotional, into your daily life. a strong, healthy marriage with a lower risk of disease and regular sex with a longer life span.
PHOTO: Getty
They limit stress
Debilitating stress can take a serious toll on your health. Studies show that chronic stress ages you down to the and suppresses the immune system, thus creating more severe medical problems. Every body copes with stress differently, but we recommend meditation, a mindful exercise such as yoga, and a well-balanced lifestyle to keep stress in check.
PHOTO: Getty
They focus on the positive aspects of life
According to one , older people who reported being happy were 35 percent less likely to die during a 5-year time period. Inez Pachter of Greenwood, Mississippi, always felt her glass was not just half-full, it overflowed. "She lived 98 fulfilling years," says her daughter Robbie Hollander.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They enjoy working
Sadie Levine of Westlake Village, California, worked in retail until she was 89, says her daughter-in-law, Irene Levine of Westchester, New York: "She swore that being in contact with coworkers and customers half her age kept her alert and buffered her from the losses in her life." Similarly, Eugenia Lollar Elliott of Rutherford, North Carolina, who lived until age 98, didn't get to attend school until she was a teen but caught up quickly. She became a teacher, married a farmer and canned every apple, pear and peach on the farm, says her daughter, Millie Sandman.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They practice gratitude
Simple acts like sending a thank you email and enjoying nature can and boost your immune system. A daily practice such as keeping a gratitude journal can soften the effects of aging to the brain.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They wear sunscreen
SPF 30 or more, specifically. "Blistering sunburns between age 15 and 20 increase the risk of malignant melanoma by 80 percent and other cancers by 68 percent," says Dr. Delphine Lee, a dermatologist at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California. Be sure to reapply every two hours when you're outdoors.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They believe they're in control of their destiny
Bergquist says 80 percent of illnesses are preventable — in other words, there's plenty you can control about the aging process.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They don't wear a ton of makeup
Avoid the heavy stuff — too much can cake in one's wrinkles and draw attention to sags.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They take care of their heart
Tracking your blood pressure is key: "High blood pressure during the 30s, 40s and 50s can lead to heart and brain problems like Alzheimer's," says Baumel.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They have social lives
Baumel and Bergquist agree that the back-and-forth of conversation keeps our brains firing much more efficiently than solitary activities like crossword puzzles or reading. In fact, a of 300,000 people by the National Institute of Health found that people without relationships had a 50 percent greater chance of premature death.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They eat a plant-based diet ... sometimes
Bergquist, who writes about how brain-boosting foods can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's on her blog, , recommends eating "a plant-based diet high in nuts, grains, fruit and vegetables and low in meat and sugar." Of course, not every nonagenarian plays by the rules: Irving H. Kaplan of Freeport, New Jersey, who was still writing advertising jingles when he died at age 99, enjoyed a daily diet of hot dogs, French fries, butter and a quart of milk, reports his daughter Fran Kaplan.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They exercise regularly
Working out helps build new pathways in the brain that create new ideas, but you don't have to be a triathlete to benefit: daily walking works equally well.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They don't watch TV
People who watch TV for six or more hours a day shorten their lives by nearly 5 years, according to , which also found a correlations suggesting that every hour of TV watched after age 25 reduces the viewer's lifespan by 21 minutes.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They don't smoke
By some accounts, each cigarette you smoke reduces your life by 11 minutes.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They have good dental care
Your mother nagged you to brush your teeth for good reason! Poor dental hygiene when you're young can lead to bacteria growth and eventually infections that can evolve into more serious health problems like gum disease, according to the .
PHOTO: Getty
They drink in moderation
There is a fine line between drinking in moderation and drinking excessively. Findings from the show that alcohol may increase the risk of cancer and shorten your life by .
PHOTO: Getty
They give back
Giving back helps others, but it also helps yourself. The that charitable acts, like philanthropic contributions or even a simple good deed can increase self-esteem, lower blood pressure and help you live a longer, happier life.
PHOTO: Getty
They laugh
There is a good reason why people tout the beloved phrase “Laughter is the best medicine.” According to , laughing reduces heart disease and stress, plus benefits the immune system, leading to a longer life. Bring on the laugh lines!
PHOTO: Getty
They love openly
Infuse love, both physical and emotional, into your daily life. a strong, healthy marriage with a lower risk of disease and regular sex with a longer life span.
PHOTO: Getty
They limit stress
Debilitating stress can take a serious toll on your health. Studies show that chronic stress ages you down to the and suppresses the immune system, thus creating more severe medical problems. Every body copes with stress differently, but we recommend meditation, a mindful exercise such as yoga, and a well-balanced lifestyle to keep stress in check.
PHOTO: Getty
They focus on the positive aspects of life
According to one , older people who reported being happy were 35 percent less likely to die during a 5-year time period. Inez Pachter of Greenwood, Mississippi, always felt her glass was not just half-full, it overflowed. "She lived 98 fulfilling years," says her daughter Robbie Hollander.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They enjoy working
Sadie Levine of Westlake Village, California, worked in retail until she was 89, says her daughter-in-law, Irene Levine of Westchester, New York: "She swore that being in contact with coworkers and customers half her age kept her alert and buffered her from the losses in her life." Similarly, Eugenia Lollar Elliott of Rutherford, North Carolina, who lived until age 98, didn't get to attend school until she was a teen but caught up quickly. She became a teacher, married a farmer and canned every apple, pear and peach on the farm, says her daughter, Millie Sandman.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They practice gratitude
Simple acts like sending a thank you email and enjoying nature can and boost your immune system. A daily practice such as keeping a gratitude journal can soften the effects of aging to the brain.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They wear sunscreen
SPF 30 or more, specifically. "Blistering sunburns between age 15 and 20 increase the risk of malignant melanoma by 80 percent and other cancers by 68 percent," says Dr. Delphine Lee, a dermatologist at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California. Be sure to reapply every two hours when you're outdoors.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They believe they're in control of their destiny
Bergquist says 80 percent of illnesses are preventable — in other words, there's plenty you can control about the aging process.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They don't wear a ton of makeup
Avoid the heavy stuff — too much can cake in one's wrinkles and draw attention to sags.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They take care of their heart
Tracking your blood pressure is key: "High blood pressure during the 30s, 40s and 50s can lead to heart and brain problems like Alzheimer's," says Baumel.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They have social lives
Baumel and Bergquist agree that the back-and-forth of conversation keeps our brains firing much more efficiently than solitary activities like crossword puzzles or reading. In fact, a of 300,000 people by the National Institute of Health found that people without relationships had a 50 percent greater chance of premature death.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They eat a plant-based diet ... sometimes
Bergquist, who writes about how brain-boosting foods can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's on her blog, , recommends eating "a plant-based diet high in nuts, grains, fruit and vegetables and low in meat and sugar." Of course, not every nonagenarian plays by the rules: Irving H. Kaplan of Freeport, New Jersey, who was still writing advertising jingles when he died at age 99, enjoyed a daily diet of hot dogs, French fries, butter and a quart of milk, reports his daughter Fran Kaplan.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They exercise regularly
Working out helps build new pathways in the brain that create new ideas, but you don't have to be a triathlete to benefit: daily walking works equally well.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They don't watch TV
People who watch TV for six or more hours a day shorten their lives by nearly 5 years, according to , which also found a correlations suggesting that every hour of TV watched after age 25 reduces the viewer's lifespan by 21 minutes.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They don't smoke
By some accounts, each cigarette you smoke reduces your life by 11 minutes.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They have good dental care
Your mother nagged you to brush your teeth for good reason! Poor dental hygiene when you're young can lead to bacteria growth and eventually infections that can evolve into more serious health problems like gum disease, according to the .
PHOTO: Getty
They drink in moderation
There is a fine line between drinking in moderation and drinking excessively. Findings from the show that alcohol may increase the risk of cancer and shorten your life by .
PHOTO: Getty
They give back
Giving back helps others, but it also helps yourself. The that charitable acts, like philanthropic contributions or even a simple good deed can increase self-esteem, lower blood pressure and help you live a longer, happier life.
PHOTO: Getty
They laugh
There is a good reason why people tout the beloved phrase “Laughter is the best medicine.” According to , laughing reduces heart disease and stress, plus benefits the immune system, leading to a longer life. Bring on the laugh lines!
PHOTO: Getty
They love openly
Infuse love, both physical and emotional, into your daily life. a strong, healthy marriage with a lower risk of disease and regular sex with a longer life span.
PHOTO: Getty
They limit stress
Debilitating stress can take a serious toll on your health. Studies show that chronic stress ages you down to the and suppresses the immune system, thus creating more severe medical problems. Every body copes with stress differently, but we recommend meditation, a mindful exercise such as yoga, and a well-balanced lifestyle to keep stress in check.
PHOTO: Getty
They focus on the positive aspects of life
According to one , older people who reported being happy were 35 percent less likely to die during a 5-year time period. Inez Pachter of Greenwood, Mississippi, always felt her glass was not just half-full, it overflowed. "She lived 98 fulfilling years," says her daughter Robbie Hollander.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They enjoy working
Sadie Levine of Westlake Village, California, worked in retail until she was 89, says her daughter-in-law, Irene Levine of Westchester, New York: "She swore that being in contact with coworkers and customers half her age kept her alert and buffered her from the losses in her life." Similarly, Eugenia Lollar Elliott of Rutherford, North Carolina, who lived until age 98, didn't get to attend school until she was a teen but caught up quickly. She became a teacher, married a farmer and canned every apple, pear and peach on the farm, says her daughter, Millie Sandman.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They practice gratitude
Simple acts like sending a thank you email and enjoying nature can and boost your immune system. A daily practice such as keeping a gratitude journal can soften the effects of aging to the brain.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They wear sunscreen
SPF 30 or more, specifically. "Blistering sunburns between age 15 and 20 increase the risk of malignant melanoma by 80 percent and other cancers by 68 percent," says Dr. Delphine Lee, a dermatologist at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California. Be sure to reapply every two hours when you're outdoors.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They believe they're in control of their destiny
Bergquist says 80 percent of illnesses are preventable — in other words, there's plenty you can control about the aging process.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They don't wear a ton of makeup
Avoid the heavy stuff — too much can cake in one's wrinkles and draw attention to sags.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They take care of their heart
Tracking your blood pressure is key: "High blood pressure during the 30s, 40s and 50s can lead to heart and brain problems like Alzheimer's," says Baumel.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They have social lives
Baumel and Bergquist agree that the back-and-forth of conversation keeps our brains firing much more efficiently than solitary activities like crossword puzzles or reading. In fact, a of 300,000 people by the National Institute of Health found that people without relationships had a 50 percent greater chance of premature death.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They eat a plant-based diet ... sometimes
Bergquist, who writes about how brain-boosting foods can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's on her blog, , recommends eating "a plant-based diet high in nuts, grains, fruit and vegetables and low in meat and sugar." Of course, not every nonagenarian plays by the rules: Irving H. Kaplan of Freeport, New Jersey, who was still writing advertising jingles when he died at age 99, enjoyed a daily diet of hot dogs, French fries, butter and a quart of milk, reports his daughter Fran Kaplan.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They exercise regularly
Working out helps build new pathways in the brain that create new ideas, but you don't have to be a triathlete to benefit: daily walking works equally well.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They don't watch TV
People who watch TV for six or more hours a day shorten their lives by nearly 5 years, according to , which also found a correlations suggesting that every hour of TV watched after age 25 reduces the viewer's lifespan by 21 minutes.
PHOTO: Getty Images
They don't smoke
By some accounts, each cigarette you smoke reduces your life by 11 minutes.
PHOTO: Getty Images
Including a few things they never do
Good news: Having fun and being happy are essential to your longevity. Read about how having a fulfilling, healthy life will lead to a long one.