How To Live To Be 100 Years: Limit Sex And Eat (Protein-Rich) Insects!

MORE people than ever before are living to the ripe old age of 100. In 1952, when the Queen began her reign, she sent out 255 congratulatory telegrams to centenarians.
Last year she sent more than 4,500.

There are now around 9,000 people aged 100 or above in the UK – a 90-fold increase since 1911.

And the key to reaching the major milestone is apparently quite simple. Exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight and have a positive outlook.

Here, NATASHA HARDING reveals the most important things you can do today to influence your chances of living to 100 years.
Things to do below:

Bring on the Beetroot and Limit Sex

BEETROOT is the latest food being used in the fight against lung cancer, the UK’s biggest cancer killer.
Its high levels of nitrates can boost oxygen in patients’ blood, which will help their breathing and reduce fatigue.
Lung cancer patients in Kent are being encouraged to drink beetroot juice as part of their rehabilitation programme.

ACCORDING to Professor Alex Zhavoronkov, the key to a long life is not having too much nookie.
In his book The Ageless Generation, he says a life without sex would enable us to live “far, far longer” and he calls having kids an “energy-zapping distraction”.

Devour berries and kick off with Porridge

BERRIES are full of anti-oxidants, which help repair tissues, cells and DNA.
A 2010 study showed drinking wild blueberry juice daily improved memory and learning in older adults, while another study found memory loss was reversed in older rats that were fed blueberries.

OATS are full of soluble fibre which helps to control cholesterol and blood sugar levels and cut the risk of stroke.
They also help to prevent heart attacks by regulating blood pressure.
Dr Carol Cooper says: “Porridge has complex carbohydrates which provide slow-release energy, fuelling body and mind for hours.”

Cut down on meat and munch mushrooms

STUDIES show vegetarians live slightly longer than meat eaters.
Last year, processed meats such as bacon, sausages and ham were ranked alongside cigarettes as some of the most carcinogenic substances.
If you can’t bear to give it up, have a couple of days that are meat-free – and when you do eat meat, avoid the processed stuff.

REGULARLY tucking into mushrooms will help with a healthy immune system.
Food expert Joanna Blythman says: “They are a good source of B-vitamins, which help to provide energy.
“They may also help protect cells from damage.
“And Beta-glucans in mush-rooms appear to help resistance against allergies.”

Veg out and snack on nuts

YOUR parents weren’t wrong when they told you you should finish all of your vegetables.
Cruciferous veg such as radishes, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, watercress and turnips contain sulforaphane, which has been shown to kill leukaemia cells.
Radishes have also been shown to reduce the growth of tumours in the breast and stomach by as much as 90 per cent.

SNACKING on nuts is one of the best things you can do.
Packed with heart-healthy fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals, nuts help reduce bad cholesterol, decreasing the risk of heart disease and heart attacks.
Sun nutritionist Amanda Ursell explains: “Nuts are great for protein and are packed with a range of vitamins.”
Researchers recommend eating 50g per day.

Chomp on insects and give up smoking

PROTEIN is important for building new cells and maintaining your body’s tissues – and creepy-crawlies are full of protein.
There are more than 1,900 species of edible insects – such as crickets and grasshoppers – and around 80 per cent of countries worldwide indulge in eating critters.
Insects can be included in your main meal or eaten as a light snack. Yum.

SMOKING is the biggest cause of cancer and giving up is the best thing you can do for your health, with improved lung function, reduced cholesterol and a healthier heart.
Swedish scientists studied 855 men and found no centenarians smoked.
GP Dr Carol Cooper says: “It’s hard to stop but it will be the best thing you do.”

Eat avocados and go to dark side

NIGELLA LAWSON was mocked on social media for her avocado-on-toast recipe, but she was on to something.
They are loaded with healthy fats, fibre and have more potassium than bananas. A high potassium intake is linked to reduced blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and even kidney failure.
And their fatty acids are linked to reducing inflammation.

DARKER foods have higher antioxidant levels. Choose red onions, cabbage, peppers, grapes and wine over paler counterparts.
Sun nutritionist Amanda Ursell says even dark chocolate has “beneficial minerals”.

Exercise daily and take a deep breath

REGULAR exercise keeps your body strong and flexible. Walking every day, swimming or going for a bike ride are perfect exercises for all.
Dr Carol says: “Exercise can helps stave off dementia, too.”

AS we age, our breathing becomes more shallow, which leads to toxins building up in veins due to a lack of oxygen.
This can cause panic attacks, insomnia, depression and heart disease. Relearning how to breathe correctly is vital.
When you inhale, your chest and abdomen should lift and as you exhale they should drop down.

Limit alcohol and cap coffee

OCCASIONAL drinking may be good for the heart and can protect against Type 2 diabetes and gallstones, but heavy drinking is a major cause of early death.
And Dr Carol reminds us: “Alcohol is loaded with calories, too.”

A LANDMARK 50-year study linking lifestyle and lifespan found centenarians didn’t drink more than four coffees a day.
The EU’s watchdog advises a daily limit of 400mg – around four mugs of instant.
Nutritionist Amanda Ursell warns many coffee shop brews contain hundreds of calories.

Scrape your tongue and floss teeth

SCRAPING the tongue every day gets rid of bacteria, food debris and fungi which improves your health and gives your immune system a boost.
Your chances of catching a cold are greatly reduced, too.
A WINNING smile is not the only thing you will have if you look after your teeth and gums.
Endless studies have shown that gingivitis, or gum disease, can cause complications in other parts of the body due to the build up of bacteria.
A report concluded that regular teeth brushing and flossing could help prevent heart disease and stroke. One other study found most centenarians floss.

Do yoga and keep lean

YOGA is good for the brain, body and the nervous system.
The poses stimulate vital organs, detox the system, reduce fat in the body and lessen pain.
Yoga also builds core strength giving you stability and helps to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Low levels of this hormone cut the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
For the best results go to at least one class a week.

KEEP a healthy weight if you want to live into treble figures. A balanced diet low in fat and sugar, plus regular exercise, will help.
Dr Carol says: “Being underweight is linked to health problems too.”

Use your brain

BRAINS like to learn new things. Challenges and experiences make the brain create new synapses or connections between neurons.
Research shows that more synapses and a denser web of connections are associated with maintaining cognitive health in older age.
Best is learning a language or something that will push you out of your comfort zone.

Keep to these rules and you may even reach 200 years.....