Longevity Factors: Gender, Height, Lifestyle

The 21st century is a golden age for various companies that seek to prolong youth. A person can often hear various news articles that talk about anti-aging products: anti-wrinkle creams, hair dyes, anti-aging supplements, and etc. The desire to stay young makes people even become the regular customers of surgeons. Obviously, people spend more time trying to prevent aging than trying to understand the process. Have you ever noticed that when someone reaches 100 years or more, everyone rushes to ask - what is the secret of your longevity? Scientists are sharing facts that help these people survive long and beautiful life. So, listen intently and be eager to hear important advice.

Longevity and Gender: 1 for Women and 0 for Men

Women's lives are not easy. For example, giving birth is definitely not an easy task. Women are also more worried about children. And it is often more difficult for them to pursue a career. But despite all this, women live longer than men. The reasons why this is so are already known. Women face a significantly lower risk of heart disease. They are also significantly less likely to die from heart disease or its complications. For example, studies have shown and it has been known for some time that people with lower economic status are more likely to develop and die from heart disease. This is because they do not have the money, ability, or knowledge to take proper care of their health. But this study found that women face a lower risk of dying from heart disease regardless of where they live, what their income is, or even what their heart health history is. Why is that? Probably, the main reason is physiological factors. The differences in chromosomes (X or Y) and hormones between men and women have an impact on longevity. Males tend to have more visceral fat surrounding the organs and women tend to have more fat under the skin (subcutaneous fat). Having more fat under the skin is determined by estrogen and the presence of the X chromosome instead of Y. We all know that visceral fats are related to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Also, researchers note that women more often use preventive medicine, control their blood pressure, and quit smoking if advised by doctors.

Longevity and Height: 1 for Short People and 0 for Tall People

Height is related to longevity. A study shows that shorter bodies have lower death rates and diet-related risk of illnesses. Experiments with animals also suggest that smaller animals have a higher possibility to live longer. Scientists suggest that there are 3 reasons why shorter people have a longer lifespan. First of all, shorter people eat less. Taller people have bigger organs and tissues which is why they need larger daily caloric intake. Moreover, shorter people’s bodies consist of a smaller number of cells. More cells mean more free radicals. Also, more cells serve as many targets for carcinogens. All in all, more cells mean more cell divisions in the body. As people age, the process of division slows down and cells may no longer be available to repair themselves effectively in taller people. It is an interesting fact about basketball players. A study, conducted in 2017, emphasizes that larger professional basketball players’ bodies reduced their longevity. This study analyzed the height and life span of 3,901 living and deceased basketball players who played between 1946-2010. The average height of players was 197.78 cm. In this study, the taller players than average height died younger than the shortest basketball players.

A Crucial Factor Changes Everything: A Healthy Lifestyle

You can be a woman or a man, tall or short, but a healthy lifestyle is the foundation of a long life. Longevity is related to physical activity, a healthy diet, and supplement intake. First of all, we will talk about physical activity. Recent scientific publications suggest that moderate-intensity physical activity lasting 30 minutes and at least 5 times a week, consuming about 200 kcal of energy per day improves the health of adults. Scientists have found that physical activity strengthens the capacity of the cardiovascular system, and skeletal muscles, and helps maintain a healthy weight. If physical activity is lower, it means that a person's lifestyle is physically inactive and there are potential health risk factors. Numerous scientific studies have shown that physical inactivity increases the risk of developing chronic diseases. Physical activity in old age strengthens functional capacity and helps not to lose independence. Also, people who are physically active are less likely to be depressed than those who are inactive. Secondly, diets involving calories and protein restriction have been consistently beneficial in both animal trials and large clinical trials. Scientists also noted that a low but adequate protein intake, or the recommended intake of protein combined with high amounts of legumes, could prolong the lifespan and ensure good health by reducing the intake of specific amino acids, including methionine. Methionine is associated with increased activity in various cellular pathways that promote aging. Basically, a plant-based diet can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Many studies have also linked a plant-based diet to lower levels of inflammation. Since inflammation is at the root of many diseases, it can also contribute to longevity factors. The researchers conclude that their findings provide a strong basis for future research on dietary recommendations for healthy longevity. Thirdly, aging can be slow down with well-known supplements. Scientists say this with confidence - despite the fact that aging is natural, it is still a disease for which they are still looking for the best treatment. It turns out that not only is the daily caloric intake important, but also supplements, which we take and include in our diet, can have a huge impact on longevity. This resource proves that we already have supplements that have been developed to slow down aging and prolong our life expectancy. Today, more and more researchers focus on nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and resveratrol in their scientific studies. These substances appear to be the most effective anti-aging agents.