We've been told that the only sure thing in life is death. But that does not mean you can't have a longer, fuller life if you take good care of yourself.
Maybe it's a game you can't ultimately win, but by following these tips, you sure can send it into overtime.
Drink Five 8-oz. Glasses of Water a Day
Scientists found that people who drank this amount of H2O were 54 percent less likely to suffer a fatal heart attack than those who drank two glasses or less every day.
Take a Laugh Break
Watching 15 minutes of funny video can improve blood flow to your heart by 50 percent, report researchers. This may reduce blood-clot formation, cholesterol deposition, and inflammation.
Don't Go to Work Sick
Over a 3-year period, people who clocked in despite feeling under the weather had double the heart-attack risk than those who stayed in bed.
Indulge Your Chocolate Craving
In a 15-year study, scientists determined that people who ate just 4 grams of cocoa a day had half the risk of dying from heart disease than those who ate less.
Fruits and Vegetables
If you consume more than five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, you have a 26 percent lower risk of stroke than people who eat fewer than three servings, according to a recent study.
Eat Breakfast Within 90 Minutes of Waking
A University study found that people who waited longer than that were 50 percent more likely to become obese. And U.K. researchers determined that increases in body mass were directly proportionate to the likelihood of dying of gut cancers--specifically rectal, bladder, colon, and liver.
Eat Berries
The antioxidants in cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries have been shown to offer protection from a stroke, keep you mentally sharp as you age, and ward off cancer.
Sleep On Your Side
This can halve the number of sleep-apnea-related wakeups you experience during the night. Such interruptions make you up to six times more likely to be involved in an auto accident, due to residual fatigue, according to researchers at University Hospital in Bern, Switzerland. To keep from rolling over onto your back as you sleep, stuff a small, firm neck pillow down the back of your T-shirt before dozing off.
Sip On Mint Tea
It contains the powerful antioxidant hesperidin, which reduces the inflammation and oxidative stress associated with diabetes by 52 percent, according to a study at the University of Buffalo. And despite its lack of caffeine, mint tea also increases alertness.
Add Curry to Vegetables
University scientists discovered that a combination of turmeric (found in curry powder) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (a compound in broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower) helps fight prostate cancer. The researchers believe that dusting your vegetables just once a week will provide protection.
Air Freshener in Your Car
The strong, spicy smell of cinnamon can help you stay alert as you drive. Researchers at Wheeling Jesuit University found that a whiff increases alertness by 25 percent. Sucking on an Altoid may work, too.
Design a Colorful Menu
Scientists discovered that people who eat the widest variety of fruits and vegetables gain greater cancer-fighting benefits than those who eat more total servings but choose from a smaller assortment. That's because the plant chemicals that protect against disease vary between botanical families. Mix it up by choosing one serving from five different color groups: blues and purples, greens, whites, reds, and yellows and oranges.
Take a Noontime Nap
Breaking up your day with a 30-minute snooze can reduce coronary mortality by 37 percent, report researchers. Why? It reduces stress that can damage your heart. Even a short nap once or twice a week was found to decrease the risk of early death.
Steep Your Tea For At Least Three Minutes
Any less than that lowers the number of disease-fighting antioxidants.
Enjoy Your Coffee
Researchers recently discovered that drinking 4 cups of coffee a day lowers your risk of dying of heart disease by 53 percent.
Take a Daily Multivitamin
Researchers discovered that this helps prevent the DNA damage that causes cancer.
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