Four Ways to Add Seven Years to Your Life

By Diana Bocco

1. Get a Pet
Independent research sponsored by several different organizations shows that owning a pet can add up to 7 years to your life. This is because pets provide companionship and help reduce stress levels, which in turn decreases the chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke. Dog owners are also more likely to get daily exercise, an important factor in staying fit and fighting several weight-related diseases. Finally, pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression. Owning a pet forces you to get out of bed every day, even if you don't feel like it. The feelings of unconditional love and companionship are also intrinsically related to counteracting depression.

2. Fight Stress
Stress weakens your immune systems, makes you more prone to illness and addictions and less likely to live a productive, healthy life. If you are suffering from stress, there are ways to deal with it, even if you cannot directly solve the situation that is causing the stress in the first place. To lessen stress, first sit down and analyze the situation you're in and see whether there's anything you can do to take some pressure off, such as delegating tasks to colleagues, asking for a friend's help or hiring a professional to help. Next, find a way to deal with your physical and emotional reaction to stress. Exercise and meditation increase the release of endorphins (the "feel good" chemicals) and improve oxygen flow, releasing accumulated stress. Having a varied list of interests also helps: if you run into problems at work, you could find release by meeting with friends, taking an evening class or exploring your hobbies.

3. Eat Your Veggies
Peer studies published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition show that vegetarians have a longer life expectancy than meat eaters. Saturated (animal) fats increase the chances of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and a series of degenerative diseases. While becoming a vegetarian may not be an option for everybody, there's no reason why you shouldn't try upping your intake of fruits and vegetables while reducing the amount of animal products in your daily diet. To get started, aim for at least three to four meatless meals a week. You can use meat substitutes, such as tofu and beans, or simply focus on complex carbohydrates, salads and healthy vegetable fats such as olive oil. If you are not particularly fond of vegetables, try hiding them in sauces, soups and casseroles.

4. Stop Your Bad Habits and Develop Good Ones
The best way to add years to your life is to avoid doing anything to shorten it. If you smoke, stop. Limit alcohol consumption to no more than one drink a day for women and two for men. Control portion sizes, and eat only when you're hungry. Wear your seat belt, drive the speed limit, and if you must do some bungee jumping, be sure your cord is strong enough and short enough.