by Sara Mae

Created on: June 10, 2008

With all the excitement and distractions during the carefree days of our youth, not much thought is given to our longevity. But as we grow older, health, happiness, and general quality of life tend to become more "front burner" issues. During our middle years, we probably spend a lot more time taking care of our kids and aging parents than we do ourselves. Taking good care of yourself is the most important deciding factor regarding longevity. Over the years, we have, no doubt, accumulated a lot of good advice on the subject of longevity. The following are five basic keys to a long and happy life.

1. Stress. If you're looking to sail happily into your golden years, you'd better chill out. Stress has been known to cause many illnesses and can lead to heart attack. There's no way to avoid stress completely, so your best bet is to learn how to deal with it. Therapy, meditation techniques, and learning to be non-reactionary are helpful in dealing with stress. If you're a worrier, there are many good books and resources available that can help you.

2. Exercise. Keep your mind, as well as your body, well tuned. A strong, healthy body allows you to participate in more fun activities, and increase the quality of your life as well as longevity. Also, a healthy body will heal faster if an injury should occur. Find a morning routine that fits your lifestyle and stick to it. And don't forget to exercise your mind as well! Read often and test your mental skill with puzzles and mathematical games.

3. Diet. You are what you eat. A healthy diet of proteins, whole grains, fruits, and veggies can promote longevity. Eating for health doesn't have to be boring. Spice it up by trying new and different ethnic foods. Use plenty of garlic and olive oil in your cooking. Avoid saturated fat, trans fats, and processed foods (fast food).

4. Love. As the song goes, "Love is a many splendid thing." Love can be a very important factor regarding longevity. Whether from a spouse, children, friends, or pets, getting plenty of this kind of sugar is pivotal. A hug a day is a good prescription to follow.

5. Humor. There's nothing like a great belly laugh! So yuck it up! Studies at leading hospitals have shown that laughter actually promotes healing. And the ability to laugh at yourself is considered an excellent character trait as well. Don't take yourself too seriously. After all, it's only life!

There's no way of predicting when your number will be up. Longevity is a gift and implementing these five important keys is one way to ensure that you have an exceptional quality of life, no matter how long.

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