Daily Archives: October 9, 2012

Jeanne Calment is the French woman who lived the longest authenticated human life 122 years and 164 days.

While it seems that so much of longevity is tied to the genetic hand we are dealt at birth, we certainly can adopt and pursue lifestyles that improve our chances for living longer, or, for that matter, not spending as much time on earth as we could have had we taken a healthier route.

Much is made of Ms. Calments lifestyle and diet. Incredibly, she smoked until she was about 110 (science suggests Ms. Calment had a rare innate biological protection from the deleterious effects of the bad habit). Yet, she was also riding a bike until she was a 100 and she continued to walk until a few months short of her 115th birthday, when she broke her femur.

Ms. Calment, who died in 1997, said she did not get stressed about too much. Her regular diet included olive oil, port wine and get ready up to two pounds of chocolate a week, only giving up the sweet when she had reached the age of 119.

Could chocolate have had something to do with that amazing life span?

Perhaps, yes, maybe a little bit. And chocolate is a sweeter excuse the pun alternative to other life extending therapies.

We are finding out more almost every day about the health benefits of chocolate and of cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate.

What is it in chocolate that is good for us?

Chocolate especially dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants called flavonoids. Clinical research has shown that flavonoids can reduce and prevent cardiovascular damage and lower blood pressure.

Science also supports that dark chocolate flavonoids have a positive effect on blood cholesterol pushing the bad form down, and raising the good form.

Original post:
Over The Counter: Chocolate and caffeine - good news on the healthfront

Courtesy Photo

We have long known that friends and family play an important role in our daily lives and social support system, but there is a definite connection between people as the foundation of positive mental health and increased longevity. Consider everything you do for one another, from sharing meals to weekend adventures to emotional support. Sure, there can be a lot of work involved, but these loving relationships not only help us thrive, they actually add years to our lives especially as we move past middle age. It is no wonder centenarians are beloved by their family members and friends!

Connect Powerfully With Others

Here are some simple tips to help you or your loved ones cope with loneliness, and transform isolation into a positive and emotionally bountiful situation!

1. Give a hug

If you feel emotionally isolated, or just want to go the extra mile in your connections, then try giving out more hugs to your friends and family. Human touch, what I like to call real hands on healing, has been recognized as a powerful technique for centuries. Touch has been proven to elicit elevated production of endorphins, growth hormones, and DHEAall of which lengthen your life span. Need another reason? Touch also lowers the levels of stress hormones that can shorten life and attack our immune system.

2. Cultivate Tolerance: Forgive and forget

Oftentimes, we forego making deep connections with people throughout the day because of shyness, presumption, or intolerance. A great tool to both expand your emotional flexibility and support your longevity is to cultivate tolerance. Tolerance increases our abilities to flow with the ups and downs of life. This way we are less affected by disappointments and traumas, and less likely to become upset with other people. Being able to transform stressful or negative situations between yourself and others into positive situations with a beneficial outcome will help you roll with the punches in life and make you valuable company for the entire journey! A simple way to remember not to hold onto stress is to repeat the adage forgive and forget, thus moving on emotionally and developing strength of character.

3. Discover your passions

A negative and depressing social environment can sap the pleasures from life and create a lonely way of being. If you find yourself in a positive and nurturing situation, do everything you can to sustain it. But, if youre in negative surroundings, take whatever steps are necessary only you can identify them in your particular case to develop a more life-affirming situation. An easy way to start creating a more loving and connected lifestyle is by taking some time for yourself and really getting to know what your passions are. Consider places you want to visit, your dream job or project, or what would make an ideal day for you. Make a list of these and other important projects or interests that you would like to explore more fully. Assign each item a number based on its importance to you, from one to five (or however many items you list). Now think seriously about how to achieve the most important ones, and work your way down. Once you begin to support yourself and your goals, youll begin to feel confident, fulfilled, and ready to connect with the people that your new energy will undoubtedly bring you into contact with!

Link:
Dr. Mao's Wellness Living: Coping With Loneliness To Increase Longevity