Some Surprising (and Not so Surprising) Signs You’ll Live to 100

Ever wondered what it would take to live to 100?

Well, it’s not just about eating your veggies and doing your yoga or any other type of exercise you may like to engage in. From MSNBC, here comes a to-do list including some no-brainers, and quite a few surprises too.

Some highlights:

Lower levels of stress may lower risk of dementia
In a recent study by Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet, more than 500 men and women aged 78 and older who described themselves as not easily stressed and who were more outgoing were less likely to develop dementia.

Study authors suggest that lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol may be the cause as this hormone inhibits brain cells’ communication. Yoga, of course offers natural therapy for stress. Other ways to cut your cortisol level include: Meditate, sip black tea, or take a nap.

40 minutes of active exercise a day keeps the doctor away
In a study tracking runners for 21 years, people who ran for about 40 minutes a day, or five hours a week, not only lived longer, they functioned better both physicall and mentally compared to nonrunners. According to study authors, the active group didn’t just get less heart disease, but also had fewere incidences of cancer, infections, and neurological diseases. Aerobic exercise, not running per se, seems to be the key. Says study author Eliza Chakravarty, MD of Stanford University School of Medicine: “Aerobic exercise keeps the immune system young.”

Any activity that leaves you breathless for at least 20 minutes a day can boost your health. In short, keep a varied yoga practice which includes an active and rigorous asana flow as well. Doing 12-24 rounds of Sun Salutes will fit the bill.

Feeling younger than you are
Older people who feel youthful and that in turn have better health and live a longer life according to a recent survey of more than 500 men and women age 70 and olderby researchers at the University of Michigan.

Other factors include starting menopause after age 52, eating only 1,400 to 2,000 calories a day, getting enough vitamin D, and having a slow heart rate at around 60 beats per minute. Lastly, here’s another reason to fret about your weight: having a flat belly, particularly after menopause is also an indication that you may live longer. Why? A large waist is an indication of metabolic syndrome, a precursor to diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Read the full story here.