In the16th-century, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon searched high and low for a mythical fountain to restore one’s youth. Culturally, we are still fascinated with the notion of a Fountain of Youth, hidden somewhere amongst cascading waterfalls and dewy meadows.
While many people have mastered the art of remaining lively at heart, no magical spring has surfaced to miraculously cure ageing and its maladies. What has come to light, however, is a plethora of information on how to improve your physical condition and prolong your days here on earth. Here are five surprising tips that will help you live a long, healthy life:
1. Retail Therapy.
Apparently women who take regular shopping trips are 23 % less likely to die than women who don’t, possibly because shopping provides a distraction from troubles. Women, of course, have known this for ages (which would explain the enormous shoe collections).
2. Move to Greece.
On the Greek Island of Icaria, almost one in three people will live into their 90s. Apparently the Icarian lifestyle and Mediterranean diet (lots of fruits, vegetables, and olive oil) has helped the island to maintain the highest percentage of nonagenarians (people between the ages of 90-99) in the world.
3. The Luck of the Apple Bottom.
A study by Oxford University found that women with pronounced derrières are shown to be less likely to suffer from heart and metabolic diseases than less curvaceous women. Sir Mix-A-Lot would be pleased. It turns out that fat stored in this area absorbs harmful fatty acids. So embrace those curves, ladies! They might be extending your life.
4. Get High.
Ok, we don’t mean like that. It turns out that people who live at higher altitudes tend to live longer and are less likely to die from ischemic heart disease. If you aren’t a regular mountain top-yodeler, try to get to a higher elevation once in a while—take a hike or go skiing!
5. When You’ve Gotta Go, Squat.
Don’t be embarrassed, now. A fact of life is that we all do “it,” and squatting while taking care of bathroom business has proven to decrease colorectal cancer.
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