A recent study found that these bad behaviors:  Smoking, Not exercising and not eating enough fruits and vegetables can hustle you into an early grave and in effect age you by as many as 12 years.

Fortunately, you can do something to correct these and other unhealthy behaviors. Adopt the following habits to keep your body looking and feeling young. 

 1. Do Not Over Eat: If you want to live to 100 and beyond, leaving a little bit of food on your plate may be a good idea. A study of longevity around the world, found that the oldest Japanese people stop eating when they are feeling only about 80% full.

2. Make Love: Having satisfying sex two to three times per week can add as many as three years to your life. Intercourse can burn an impressive amount of calories - sometimes as much as running for 30 minutes. (Which would you rather do?) Regular sex may also lower your blood pressure, improve your sleep, boost your immunity, and protect your heart.

3. Turn of the Television: Too much time in front of the T.V. can take a serious toll on your health. In fact, a 2010 study found that people who watched four or more hours a day were 46% more likely to die from any cause than people who watched less than two hours a day. Even cutting back a little can help. Each additional hour you watch increases your overall risk of dying by 11% and dying from heart disease by 18%.

4. Enjoy time with Friends: Research shows that you’re at greater risk of heart disease without a strong network of friends and family. Loneliness can cause inflammation, and in otherwise healthy people it can be just as dangerous as having high cholesterol or even smoking. Loneliness seems to pose the greatest risk for elderly people, who are also prone to depression.

5. Eat Fruits & Vegetables: Getting fewer than three servings of fruits and vegetables a day can eat away at your health. Nutritional powerhouses filled with fiber and vitamins, fruits and veggies can lower your risk of heart disease by 76% and may even play a role in decreasing your risk of breast cancer. As an added bonus, the inflammation-fighting and circulation-boosting powers of the antioxidants in fruits and veggies can banish wrinkles.

6. Exercise: Daily exercise may be the closest thing we have to a fountain of youth. A 2008 study found that regular high-intensity exercise (such as running) can add up to four years to your life, which isn’t surprising given the positive effects working out has on your heart, mind, and metabolism. Even moderate exercise - a quick, 30-minute walk each day, for example - can lower your risk of heart problems.

7. Quit Smoking: Quitting smoking is perhaps the single most important thing you can do for your health and your life span. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that women who quit smoking by age 35 add approximately six to eight years to their lives. It’s never too late to kick the habit. Quitting can slow disease and increase survival odds even in smokers who have already caused significant damage to their lungs, like those with early lung cancer or COPD.

This information is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to prescribe or diagnose or make claims for medical advice, directly or in- directly. If you have need for medical assistance, please contact your local physician, or medical practitioner.

Healthy Newsletter #107‏