Would You Like More Years, or More Life?

Of course, addition of five or six years more to life is a great welcome news, as long as the extension period remains enjoyable. Who would need five or six more years of prolonged bout with cancer, with high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high uric acid, rheumatoid arthritis, and the debilitating effects of heart, kidney, liver, brain and other organ ailments?

Now, you can enjoy these six years of extension, or even more, for a full life treat, according to Dr. Steven G. Aldana of the Brigham Young University. Dr. Aldana recently revealed that by just making a few lifestyle changes, a person can have such an extension and enjoy it.

1. Exercise regularly. Dr. Aldana said that a person who exercises for thirty minutes a day  can gain 2.4 years of life. This is because moderate exercise of at least three times a week can reduce blood pressure by an average of ten points and dramatically lower the risk of having diabetis. Dr. Tyrone M. Reyes, in his column “An Apple a Day,” affirmed this when he said that while exercise cannot stop the years from ticking by, latest evidence shows that exercise can protect against heart disease and cancer by its action of boosting immunity and clamping down inflammation.

2. Avoid or stop smoking. According to Dr. Aldana, men who smoke one pack a day lose an average of 13 years of life, while women lose 14 years. Smoking has been identified as a major cause of various health problems such as lung cancer and other respiratory ailments and cardiovascular diseases.

3. Lose extra weight. A person who is over 30 pounds over his ideal weight is 50% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease and this risk increases with the extra weight, according to Aldana.

4. Watch what goes in. Dr. Aldana recommends enough intake of grains, vegetables and fruits. Two to three servings of fruits and vegetables a day can reduce the risks of many cancers, and when the food is fiber-rich, the risk of death from heart disease drops by 27%.

5. Get enough sleep. Sleep rejuvenates and revitalizes the body. Dr. Aldana said that human growth hormone (HGH) is produced only during deep sleep. The more HGH, the slower the aging process.

6. Relax. Stop worrying. Heard the story of worriers meeting fellow worriers in hell? Relaxation is a luxury everybody can indulge in anytime if he wishes. Your location and the externals are immaterial. Relaxation is a state of mind, and what you choose to be is what will be. Relax and enjoy this moment now and begin to add more life into your additional years.