Daily Mail Australia readers have revealed what they believe are the eight secrets to a long life – and most of them will instantly make you happier and healthier.
Men and women, as well as those in senior health, nursing, medicine and fitness, weighed in on the topic, with many agreeing that healthy social connections, a good attitude and movement are key to “longevity.”
This comes after FEMAIL spoke to Lorraine Kaemphel from Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, who will celebrate her 100th birthday this November and remains the picture of health both inside and out.
She attributed her “remarkable” age to a positive attitude, a loving family, a healthy diet and a passion for tap dancing that has kept her killing it on the dance floor since she turned 70.
1. Prioritize time with family and friends
As we age, it can be easy to forget to maintain connections and lose our interest in others, but isolation can be seriously detrimental to our health and happiness.
A study from Harvard University A study of a group of elderly people found that those who felt lonelier were 40 percent more likely to die in the next few years, compared to those who had strong social ties.
And Australia is in the midst of a loneliness epidemic, with a national report confirming that one in three Australians feel isolated, meaning many of us lack the meaningful connections that underpin a long and happy life.
Lorraine Kaemphel, 99, from Coffs Harbour, has amazed Australians with her open attitude and positive outlook on life. Lorraine is pictured with three of her granddaughters.
“Making connections, even short, one-time conversations, can enrich the lives of those involved,” said one reader from the senior care industry.
“I’m old. The love and fascination for all the other ‘animals’ around us drives me out of bed,” another agreed.
An Australian woman also attributed her grandparents’ health and happiness to their close social connections and involvement in community activities.
2. Know the ‘magic number’ of days to exercise
Whether it’s walking, dancing or doing housework, most Australians believe movement is the secret to staying vital once you reach your golden years.
And we don’t need to exercise for hours or do anything too intense, with 150 minutes of mixed activity per week being the minimum recommended amount.
Professor Ken Nosaka, from Edith Cowan University in Washington, told FEMAIL that we need to exercise at least three times a week, with short bursts of exercise daily.
Consistently devoting time to staying fit and active is one of the most accessible ways to ensure you thrive in your later years.
The health expert said even five minutes each day will have a positive impact on our health and longevity, and Australians agreed with his “move it or lose it” approach.
“My grandmother and her sister, who are both in their 90s, are very active; they have never stopped moving, whether it’s walking briskly through the shops at 6 a.m. or running errands,” said one reader.
“My grandmother is 97 years old and has no health problems. She says that laziness is death. Although she has slowed down, she makes sure to continue doing the laundry,” added another.
“I remember my 98-year-old neighbor always telling me to never stop moving. I lived an active life… always walking around the neighborhood, volunteering, going to community events, etc.,” a third person said.
Experts have said that just 150 minutes per week of mixed exercise is enough to keep our bodies functioning well into our golden years.
3. Check your attitude
Life will have its ups and downs no matter how we approach it, and many Australians believe that a secret to making it through to old age is to maintain a good outlook and attitude.
“I have worked as a surgical nurse in the emergency room for over thirty years. What I have seen over the years, besides good genetics, is the attitude of the patient,” wrote one reader.
“No matter what comes their way, they keep going with a positive attitude and a smile on their face. People who volunteer in a hospice or nursing home also have the same positive attitude towards a patient.
‘Palliative care patients especially need a smile and a holding hand.’
Mildred Kirschenbaum, an American centenarian, said she attributes her “incredible” longevity to always looking on the bright side.
“Change your attitude. Look at the positive side of life. I think that’s what got me here,” he added. “I try not to worry about the small things.”
But one Australian reader disagrees: “My aunt had a hilarious attitude and was grumpy and lived to be 105.”
Avoiding ultra-processed foods, eating fresh fruits and vegetables, and trying not to overeat is the diet many believe will give us the best chance of living a long, healthy life.
4. Practice balance training
According to most Australians, looking after your legs, and especially your hips, is vital to avoiding age-related falls that can suddenly shorten your life.
“Stay fit to avoid falls. Once you fall, you’re pretty much done for,” one reader said.
“If you break your hip, it’s all over. My aunt died at 99 after breaking her hip. Plans for her 100th birthday are already underway,” another added.
“As we age, our legs, knees and hips are the first to start losing stability,” said a third.
Simple balance exercises at home, such as standing on one leg, have been shown to reduce the risk of falls among older people by a third.
5. Be independent
A nurse with a 95-year-old mother said she believed her mother was thriving because she still lived in her own home with the care and support of her adult children.
And independence was something that many older Australians valued highly and wanted to retain for as long as possible.
“The moment I need my family to take care of my basic needs as if I were a child and I was disrupting their lives, then please take me home, God,” one woman said.
Simple balance exercises, such as practicing standing on one leg, can reduce the likelihood of a catastrophic fall by up to a third.
6. Reconsider alcohol and tobacco use
Australians agreed that smoking and drinking too much alcohol are bad ideas if you expect to live a long time.
“Not drinking or smoking are factors that greatly influence longevity. Both are carcinogenic and age the skin,” said one of them.
Dr. Tim Stockwell, a Canadian scientist, said Drinking more than 35 standard drinks per week likely shortens life expectancy by an average of a couple of years.
But one man argued that some people who drink regularly, even every day, still manage to live to a very old age.
“I know people who never drank or smoked, lived a healthy lifestyle and died before they were 50. I know a few with a very unhealthy lifestyle, who drink, smoke, are obese, have heart disease, diabetes and are over 80,” he said.
7. Watch your portion sizes
It’s no surprise that most Australians attribute health and longevity to what we put on our plates.
While most consider fresh fruits and vegetables to be the cornerstone of a healthy diet, it is also important not to consume more food than our body needs.
A woman whose mother and sister are living full lives well into their nineties said they both avoided extremely “calorie-dense” foods.
They enjoyed a balanced diet and also avoided overeating; if there was more food on their plate than they needed, they simply “saved it for later.”
Dietitians also emphasize avoiding ultra-processed foods, saying that eliminating or limiting them from our diet contributes dramatically to our health and longevity.
8. Give your DNA a hand
An Australian once said the two secrets to ageing well were “genes and genes,” but most people think it’s simply a matter of lifestyle versus genetics.
“It’s both. You can have good genes, but if you don’t take care of yourself, you can waste them. You can have ‘bad’ genes and still age pretty well if you take better care of yourself,” one reader said.
Some people also revealed some of the more outlandish reasons behind their loved ones’ longevity.
“My grandfather lived to be 101 and had the best attitude in the world, was a joy to be around, didn’t drink or smoke and walked everywhere,” one woman said.
“I had popcorn for dinner twice a week and a bowl of bread topped with milk once a week, and melted butter with a pinch of sugar for dessert,” she added.
“My aunt lived to be 103 in her own home with no outside help, she peppered her language with obscenities and didn’t give a damn about anything or anyone, that’s why she lived so long,” said another.
