20 tips on how to live to be 100

» Mail This News To Friend » Post Your Comment » Read Reader's Comments

Saturday, March 15, 2008 3:03 AM


Albany (n.y.) Times Union
So you want to reach your 100th birthday.

Start living right.

Longevity isn't all about genes, as many people think, but really one-quarter genes and three-quarters lifestyle, says Steven Austad, an expert on aging and the author of Why We Age.

The first human to live to 150, Austad thinks, is alive today.

The record: Jeanne Calment of Arles, France, who died in 1997 at 122 years, 5 months and 14 days.

Her advice: "Always keep your smile."

With that in mind, we offer 20 tips for reaching 100:

1 Be positive. Cheerful, optimistic people decrease their risk of early death and poor health by 50 percent over sourpusses, according to the Mayo Clinic.

2 Learn to manage your stress. Stress can damage your health.

3 Learn to say no. If it's going to stress you out, don't do it.

4 Dance and sing. Find something

that makes you feel euphoric and

do it.

5 Be smart about what -- and how much -- you eat. Eat more fruits and vegetables, and less red meat and fries.

6 Exercise. If you can't manage

30 minutes a day of aerobic exercise, then do what you can.

7 Exercise your brain.

Never stop learning.

8 Stay active. Get out of that chair

and off the couch.

9 Stay connected. Maintain

a network of friends.

10 Read a newspaper.

Find out what's going on.

11 Quit smoking.

Stop. Now.

12 Drink in moderation. Studies have shown that a glass of red wine or ale every day reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

13 Get, or stay, thin. Researchers say that thinner is better if you want to live longer.

14 Limit exposure to the sun. The sun can cause skin cancer, which can kill you.

15 Find a good doctor and get regular checkups. Preventive medicine is your best bet for catching potentially fatal diseases early.

16 Keep track of your medications -- and take them.

17 Dump the deadwood. Hang out with upbeat people.

18 Get a pet. Pets can keep you active -- but don't forgo the human contact.

19 Learn how to use a computer. Web sites such as AARP's are loaded with information about health, fitness, money and food.

20 Remember: It's never too late. No matter how old you are, you can benefit from a more-healthful lifestyle.

Sources: AARP; www.about.com; www.msnbc.msn.com;

Drs. John A. Collins, Jeffrey Ross and Fred Venditti