There's no single "secret" to living longer, but a combination of healthy habits boosts longevity, focusing on a mostly plant-based diet, regular physical activity, strong social connections, stress management, good sleep, avoiding smoking/excessive alcohol, having a purpose, and staying mentally active, all contributing to a longer, healthier life.
4 Top Ways to Live Longer
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich (PB&J) adds about 33 minutes to your healthy lifespan per serving, according to a University of Michigan study that measured life expectancy impacts of over 5,850 foods using the Health Nutritional Index (HNI). This sandwich tops the list for adding time, with nuts and seeds also being highly beneficial (around 25 mins) and processed items like hot dogs subtracting time.
The 7 keys to longevity generally focus on lifestyle factors: moving more, eating whole foods (fruits/veggies), prioritizing sleep, managing stress, building strong social connections, avoiding smoking/excess alcohol, and maintaining a positive mindset, all while actively managing chronic conditions and keeping your brain engaged for a longer, healthier life.
Researchers have identified that never smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity, eating a healthy diet, and limiting alcohol consumption are the "keys" to living a longer, healthier life.
Certain lifestyle habits can negatively affect your physical and mental health, shortening your potential lifespan.
The eight lifestyle changes that could extend your life
Walking is one of the best-studied forms of physical activity, with clear longevity benefits, Kraus says. And, he notes, while the guidelines urge a minimum of 150 to 300 minutes of such moderate activity each week, you start seeing life-extending benefits with your first brisk steps.
Italy's youth are facing obesity because of what Longo calls the “poisonous five P's—pizza, pasta, protein, potatoes, and pane (or bread),” Jason Horowitz writes in the NYT. Longo fears Italians will live long but not healthfully if this pattern continues to dominate the culture.
A large-scale study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that drinking a mix of coffee, tea, and water is linked to the lowest overall mortality risk.
Understanding the 3-3-3 Rule
Specifically, the rule suggests: Three balanced meals per day. Three hours between each meal. Three hours of movement per week.
While there are several contenders, potatoes are often cited as one of the best single foods for survival due to their caloric density and nutrient content.
Previous research from the CALERIE trial has found that calorie restriction can slow the pace of aging in adults by 2 to 3 percent — enough to reduce the risk of death by 10 to 15 percent. Other research indicates that cutting calories can decrease DNA damage and improve heart health, sleep and sexual function.
Here are eight evidenced-based tips to age healthily, no matter where you live:
The 5-2-1-0 rule is a popular guideline for children's health, promoting daily habits: 5 servings of fruits & veggies, ≤2 hours of recreational screen time, ≥1 hour of physical activity, and 0 sugary drinks, emphasizing water or milk instead, with some variations adding 8 hours of sleep, all to prevent childhood obesity and encourage healthy lifestyles.
Skin changes are among the most visible signs of aging. Evidence of increasing age includes wrinkles and sagging skin. Whitening or graying of the hair is another obvious sign of aging.
Healthy aging food #1: Bananas
This popular fruit is full of health benefits. One medium banana has roughly 422 mg of potassium, an electrolyte that helps your body regulate fluid balance and muscle contractions. The most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans lists potassium as an “under-consumed nutrient.”
In the short term, lack of sleep can cause a decline in motor skills, slow down information processing, reduce our attention spans and emotional capacity, and impair our judgement. Over the long term, sleep issues can lead to a higher risk of cognitive decline, impaired memory and Alzheimer's disease.
The 2-2-2 food rule is a simple guideline for leftover safety: get cooked food into the fridge within 2 hours, eat it within 2 days, or freeze it for up to 2 months to prevent bacteria growth, keeping it out of the temperature "danger zone" (40-140°F or 5-60°C).
One of the most powerful tools to support healthy aging is strength training. Often overlooked in favor of cardio or flexibility exercises, strength training has profound benefits for bone health, mental health, cardiovascular health, and overall quality of life.
The "5 5 5 30 rule" is a popular, simple morning workout routine popularized by Sahil Bloom, involving 5 push-ups, 5 squats, 5 lunges (per leg), and a 30-second plank done immediately after waking up to build energy, focus, and consistency by kickstarting metabolism and getting blood flowing with minimal time and no equipment. It's designed to overcome inertia, boost physical and mental readiness for the day, and serve as a foundation for better habits, making it ideal for beginners or those needing a quick start.
"Human evolution led to five basic movements, which encompass nearly all of our everyday motions." Meaning your workout needs just five exercises, one from each of these categories: push (pressing away from you), pull (tugging toward you), hip-hinge (bending from the middle), squat (flexing at the knee), and plank ( ...
Eating fiber rich vegetables first, followed by protein, and then finished with a carbohydrate is said to be the ideal way to eat to slow aging. Basically, by following this method, your blood sugar will not suddenly spike.
The studies above show that even one or two naps per week, for as little as 30 minutes, can have a positive effect on your cognitive performance and longevity. 1–3 PM is prime nap territory – it aligns with your circadian dip and avoids interference with nighttime sleep.
Certain eating patterns such as the Mediterranean Diet, healthy plant-based diets, or the Okinawan Diet, are rich in whole foods and have been linked to reduced disease risk and improved longevity. Hu said that people can mix and match elements of these diets—or use their basic principles to create something new.