The Surprising Secret to Healthy Aging and a Long Life!

As you know, and as we remind you at every opportunity, being active and eating healthily are already important for a healthy life. But there is something else too: optimism, a positive attitude!

Aging naturally brings certain changes. Physically, it is not really possible to remain as healthy as in youth. People also have stereotyped ideas about aging, such as being less useful in an existential sense. So why not live longer while being healthier and more productive?! Science now supports this idea too.

Having a positive attitude with optimistic thoughts about aging was found to extend lifespan by up to 7.5 years.

Optimism was found to contribute to lifespan in this way regardless of people’s sex, wealth and general health. A total of 660 women and men from the American state of Ohio participated in this study and were followed for 20 years.

Considering that factors such as normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels are thought to extend lifespan by approximately 4 years, the considerable effectiveness of optimism becomes clearer.

According to this Yale University study, a positive attitude may extend lifespan almost as much as not smoking, having low cholesterol or being at an ideal weight, and may even be more effective. Earlier research had also found that positive thinking and a positive attitude led to better outcomes in memory, stress and even solving mathematical problems.

The Power of Seeing the Glass Half Full

It is difficult to say whether health or optimism comes first. Probably both support one another. This is actually like a whole cycle of mutual effects, because if you exercise and eat healthily, you feel good.

Optimism Is Linked to a Long Life

In a study involving more than 800 people, a test was used to determine whether participants were optimistic, pessimistic or somewhere in between, and 30 years later researchers examined which of them had lived longer. The results of this noteworthy study showed that optimistic people had a %19 greater chance of survival than pessimistic people.

Lower Risk of Disease

The power of optimism may actually also lower the risk of becoming ill. For example, if you are optimistic, it even affects your heartbeat. It is good for your blood pressure, which is very important for heart health.

A study examined the positive or negative attitudes of more than 2.500 women and men aged 65 and older. Their alcohol, tobacco and medication use were also examined. The results showed that optimistic people had lower blood pressure than those with a more negative attitude.

Memory

Being optimistic also positively affects thinking and memory. People who are more hopeful and look positively toward the future are thought to be less forgetful. A recent European study of people aged 65 and older, involving more than 4.500 adults, found that optimistic individuals solved problems better and made healthier decisions.

Learning to Be Happy

Even if you think you were born pessimistic / gloomy, being optimistic / positive can be learned. Like most things, it simply takes a little practice.

What You Can Do to Be Optimistic:

• Check yourself. If negative thoughts seem to cross your mind, stop them and consider whether there could be a better way for you.
• Seek humor and laughter.
• Do things you love and enjoy.
• Try to spend time with positive people.