We often think that "if our parents live long, we will also live long." However, the latest research shows that what really determines the length of life is not genes, but lifestyle. An 87-year follow-up study by Harvard University pointed out that a person's living habits before the age of 50 almost determine the health status after the age of 70.
The habits of youth will counterattack in old age.Many people think that death is the end of life, but from the perspective of health and quality of life, we should pay more attention to the "process before reaching the end". Problems such as obesity, diabetes, arthritis, and chronic pain often do not appear suddenly, but are the result of long-term accumulation of habits such as diet, exercise, smoking, and drinking when young.
An unhealthy lifestyle may also cause people to face problems in old age early. Research shows that even if there is no immediate death, the fatigue and discomfort caused by these habits may last for decades, causing long-term suffering.
Harvard research reveals: 7 key habits before the age of 50Harvard University has been tracking the health changes of thousands of subjects since the 1930s. It was found that the 7 habits most related to longevity and health include:
1. Not smoking
2. Not drinking alcohol
3. Regular exercise
4. Maintaining a healthy weight
5. Stable marriage and social relationships
6. Continuous learning and education
7. The ability to regulate emotions well in the face of stress
Taken together, these factors are enough to predict a person's health in later life. In other words, longevity is not a matter of luck, but the result of long-term self-management.
It is not too late to change after the age of 50.Research leader George E. Vaillant pointed out that even if your past habits were not good, you still have a chance to restart your health as long as you start to improve them from now on. “Some people quit drinking, smoking and starting to exercise at the age of 50, and after five years their physical condition is almost completely new,” he said.
For weight control or the repair of interpersonal relationships, it can also bring about positive changes. There is no such thing as "too late" in health management. Once you start, you will see the rewards.
4 longevity habits can reduce the risk of death by 60% after the age of 70.Another study on European elders found that when people reach the age of 70, as long as they maintain the following four habits, the risk of death in the next 10 years can be reduced by about 60%.
1. Exercise regularly
2. Don’t smoke
3. Drink alcohol in moderation
4. Adopt a Mediterranean diet (lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, fish)
These are healthy choices that are easy to implement in life, but they can greatly extend your life span and improve your quality of life.
Heredity is not destiny: environment and behavior are the key.Experts emphasize that genes do affect the risk of disease, but it is the environment and life behavior that really trigger the disease. Taking Alzheimer's disease as an example, even among monozygotic twins, only one of them develops the disease in 21% of cases. Environmental factors such as diet, stress, chemical exposure, and physical activity can all change the way genes express themselves.
In other words, heredity is just the "card in your hand", and how you play your cards determines the final result.
"How old your parents were when they died" cannot predict your lifespanHarvard research finally pointed out that unless there is a clear genetic disease, most people's lifespan is not directly related to the age of their parents and grandparents. Some people are anxious because of "untimely death in the family" and give up on health management early; others take it lightly because of "longevity in the family". Both are actually wrong. Lifespan is not destiny, but the sum total of daily life.
"Destiny is not written in DNA, but in the choices you make every day." Research from Harvard University reminds us that by cultivating healthy habits from now on, regardless of age, we can win ourselves a longer and better quality life.