"Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died."  Erma Bombeck

It seems that everyone has a secret recipe on how to live a long and healthy life.  The Center for Disease Control has four steps, Iowa State’s Gerontology Program has six and Wikihow has fourteen.

Recently Guinness World Records Ltd. has identified the oldest living man as 112 year old Salustiano Sanchez-Blazquez.  Salustiano said his longevity can be attributed to taking six Anacin tablets and eating one banana per day.  His daughter explains it differently:  "I think it's just because he's an independent, stubborn man," she said.

While it may be questionable whether your Great Uncle Dan’s pipe is the cause of his long life, there have been many studies about what people who have lived a long life have in common.  And while those different studies may have come up with 4 or 8 factors in a healthy lifestyle, there are a few factors that seem to have made every list.   They are:

Exercise. Every list out there has exercise or an active lifestyle on it. Most sources suggests moderate exercise of about 30 minutes at least 3 times a week.

Healthy Eating.  Another point made on every list.  While the definition of  “health food” changes almost from year to year, a moderate, well balanced diet with a wide variety of foods seems to be the key here. 

Optimism.  While some lists simply called it “good coping skills,” and others identified it as an absence of depression, it appears that those who have lived long tend to be positive, optimistic people.

Stable and supportive marriage/family relationships. As the poet John Donne said, “No man is an island.”  In order to thrive and survive, we humans need long term, supportive relationships.

Moderate Alcohol Consumption.  Experts go back and forth about whether alcohol can be beneficial to your health, but one thing has remained clear.  Excessive alcohol use wears out your liver, and a healthy liver is absolutely necessary if you are planning on living into your eighties and beyond.

Not Smoking.  As said above, the best way to live a long life is to take good care of your organs. 

A few lists added to these the idea of avoidance of risky behaviors.  Things like skydiving, while exhilarating, definitely decrease your odds of longevity.  And safe behaviors, like wearing a seatbelt, tend to increase your odds.

How many of these factors can you check off? 

References:
http://www.cdc.gov/features/livelonger/
http://archive.news.iastate.edu/news/2012/feb/longevity
http://www.wikihow.com/Live-a-Long-Life
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2013/7/salustiano-sanchez-confirmed-as-oldest-living-man-50056/

Studies are showing that weight loss is a "three tiered approach:" diet, strength training and cardio. Click on the link below to find a high intensity workout from Oprah.com that will meet two of those requirements.

http://www.oprah.com/health/Get-Rid-Of-Muffin-Top-Best-Exercises-Muffin-Top

"My own prescription for health is less paperwork and more running barefoot through the grass."  Leslie Grimutte