6 surprising ways to live longer
A healthy sex life, practicing forgiveness, and other tips for longevity.
Jan, 2026
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Slide 1
The longest living people in the world, like those in the “Blue Zones” of Okinawa, Japan and Sardinia, Italy, stay physically fit by:
- Building exercise into their daily routine
- Eating a plant-based diet like the Mediterranean diet
- Drinking alcohol in moderation: one serving a day for women and two for men
But these centenarians, or people who live to at least 100 years, know that health and wellness involve more than just caring for your body. To live long, you have to live right—and that means nurturing your mind, spirit, and family, as well. Here are six ways to achieve that balance and put more meaningful years ahead of you.
Written byRose Hayes, MA, RN.
Medically reviewed byMegan Burke, MD.
Sources: Blue Zones. About Blue Zones. 2022. Accessed May 17 + 11
- Blue Zones. About Blue Zones. 2022. Accessed May 17, 2022.
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- Lammintausta A, Airaksinen JK, et al. Prognosis of acute coronary events is worse in patients living alone: the FINAMI myocardial infarction register. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 2014 Aug;21(8):989-96.
- Holt-Lunstad J, Birmingham W, Jones BQ. Is there something unique about marriage? The relative impact of marital status, relationship quality, and network social support on ambulatory blood pressure and mental health. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2008 Apr;35(2):239-44.
- Scott KM, Wells JE, et al. Gender and the relationship between marital status and first onset of mood, anxiety and substance use disorders. Psychological Medicine. 2010 Sep;40(9):1495-505.
- Brody S, Costa RM. Satisfaction (sexual, life, relationship, and mental health) is associated directly with penile-vaginal intercourse, but inversely with other sexual behavior frequencies. Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2009 Jul;6(7):1947-54.
- Troxel WM, Robles TF, et al. Marital quality and the marital bed: examining the covariation between relationship quality and sleep. Sleep medicine reviews. 2007. 11(5), 389–404.
- Bavishi A, Slade MD, Levy BR. A chapter a day: Association of book reading with longevity. Social Science & Medicine. 2016 Sep;164:44-48.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sleep and Chronic Disease. August 8, 2018. Accessed May 19, 2022.
- National Kidney Foundation. 6 Tips to Be “Water Wise” for Healthy Kidneys. April 28, 2015. Accessed May 19, 2022.
- Mayo Clinic. What are the risks of sitting too much? August 21, 2020. Accessed May 17, 2022.
- Blue Zones. Live Longer, Better. 2022. Accessed May 17, 2022.
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