You’ve likely heard this advice before, but now Harvard University has put hard research and data behind what’s been long-suspected: Eat a healthy diet, control your weight, exercise regularly, drink in moderation and don’t smoke cigarettes to add at least 10 more years to your time on Earth.
“When we embarked on this study, I thought, of course, that people who adopted these habits would live longer,” Meir Stampfer, a coauthor on the study, told The Guardian. “But the surprising thing was how huge the effect was.”
The research was published in the journal Circulation, and surveyed the medical records and lifestyle questionnaires of 123,000 volunteers over a 30-year period. Men saw a 12-year increase in their lifespan, and women enjoyed a 14-year increase if they abided by all five categories.
As for how many people actually follow this advice? About eight percent of the population, The Guardian reports. Do you count yourself among them?
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