In 1916, for every 1,000 live births almost 100 babies perished. By 2000, fewer than seven babies died for every thousand live births \u2014 representing reductions in deaths of over three percent annually. That impressive figure has since declined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although vaccines and cleaner birthing suites drove higher life expectancy<\/strong> through the middle of the 20th century, in the 1960s that began to change. The focus shifted on lengthening the lifespans of those who\u2019d already been alive for sixty or seventy years. Today older people are living longer, often surviving for decades with once fatal conditions. In 1980, James F. Fries, developed the \u201ccompression of morbidity\u201d theory. This held that chronic conditions would appear later in life as the average life expectancy<\/strong> increased. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, the opposite happened. Examining responses from the National Health Interview Survey, researcher Eileen Crimmins noticed that between 1998 and 2006 loss of functional mobility in the elderly increased, leading her to conclude that there was an \u201cincrease in the life expectancy<\/strong> with disease and a decrease in the years without disease.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Few people would choose to live a longer life that\u2019s filled with disease and chronic conditions. That\u2019s not what longevity should mean. The focus should not be on lifespan but rather on \u201chealthspan.\u201d Healthspan is the number of healthy, active years a person enjoys. Read on to learn five proven ways to extend your healthspan, along with news from one company devoted to achieving longevity escape velocity<\/a> \u2013 which could mean extending your health span indefinitely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Study after study confirms what many of us already know. Diets define us. It\u2019s not just about low calorie meals<\/strong> but low-daily calories. Research reveals that consuming a below average amount of calories every day results in an increased average life expectancy<\/strong>. Of course few people would be willing to suffer endless hunger pangs along with reduced energy and sex drive in exchange for a potentially lengthened average lifespan<\/strong>. That\u2019s why the more practical secret is not low calorie meals<\/strong> but healthy meals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A heart healthy diet<\/strong> is one that is plant-based. That means most of one\u2019s dinner plate (along with the breakfast and lunch plates) should be devoted to fruits and vegetables. Whole grain cereals, breads, and pastas are another essential component. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Protein is vital for good health, but a heart healthy diet <\/strong>generally avoids too much red meat in favor of lean chicken and fish. Not only is this type of eating heart healthy but studies suggest it can prevent numerous brain diseases. These along with heart disease and cancer contribute to whether life expectancy<\/strong> is lengthened or not. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, long-term health is at your fingertips thanks to Kyla\u2019s revolutionary at-home testing program<\/a>. Simply take a short quiz and choose the test that\u2019s right for you. While competing companies offer similar tests for hundreds of dollars, Kyla\u2019s only costs $99 <\/strong>– which may be covered by insurance.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n After collecting a small sample, mail it to our labs. In just days you\u2019ll receive detailed results that offer insights into your cardiovascular and hormonal health along with potential vitamin and mineral deficiencies<\/strong>. This is the first step toward empowering your health journey while staying ahead of chronic conditions, and lengthening your healthspan.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course it\u2019s not just about healthy food<\/strong>, healthy snacks<\/strong> are equally important. That\u2019s why nutritionists are nuts about nuts. It\u2019s easy to see why. One study actually showed that \u201cIncreased frequency of nut consumption was associated with a significantly reduced risk of mortality\u2026\u201d Nuts are packed with protein. They\u2019re also filled with fiber while being loaded with antioxidants, and numerous minerals and vitamins including copper, potassium, folate, B6 and E.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Increasing the average life expectancy<\/strong> means reducing chronic diseases like hypertension, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. One of the best ways to do that – and increase our own healthspan \u2013 is by eating healthy meals<\/strong> and following a heart healthy diet<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While healthy food <\/strong>and healthy snacks<\/strong> are important, healthy beverages also go a long way toward lengthening life expectancy<\/strong>. One of the most important drinks is one that might even be free. That\u2019s because a recent study suggested that the average lifespan<\/strong> of water drinkers was longer than those who avoided H2O. \u201cDecreased body water content is the most common factor that increases serum sodium, which is why the results suggest that staying well hydrated may slow down the aging process and prevent or delay chronic disease,\u201d explained study author Natalia Dmitrieva, Ph.D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with water, popular morning beverages coffee and tea may also add years of healthy life. That\u2019s because coffee has been shown in studies to reduce the risk for numerous chronic diseases that have reduced average American life expectancy<\/strong>. Coffee consumption lowers the risk of developing Alzheimer\u2019s and Parkinson\u2019s along with cardiovascular conditions and type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Green tea drinkers get similar benefits thanks to the beverage\u2019s abundant polyphenols and catechins which can also reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, how about a nightcap? While there has been heated debate over whether or not alcohol consumption decreases average lifespan<\/strong>, there are studies suggesting that moderate imbibing can reduce the risk of numerous chronic conditions. Red wine, for one, is often included as part of a heart healthy diet<\/strong>. That\u2019s because it\u2019s loaded with polyphenol antioxidants that may protect drinkers from not just cardiovascular disease but also diabetes and obesity. One nearly 30- year study revealed that male wine drinkers were over one-third less likely to die early than consumers of beer or hard liquor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite a concerted push amongst some in the medical community to make alcoholic abstinence the end game, light to moderate alcohol consumption has been shown to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, strokes, and all-cause mortality \u2013 especially in the Western populations. One large study showed that teetotaling abstainers died before those who drank moderately: \u201cmodest drinkers who were non-smokers had significantly 19% lower mortality risk compared to the non-drinker.\u201d While excessive alcohol consumption has been clearly linked to lowered life expectancy<\/strong>, moderate drinking may extend healthspan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Average American life expectancy<\/strong> has been declining, with mortality driven by everything from COVID to heart disease, cancer, and drug overdoses. Although it notched a small improvement in 2023, during the prior year not only were deaths of those over 65 up 20% (primarily from the pandemic) but mortality increased by 24% among the 25- to 35-year-old group while the 35- to 44-year-old group increased the most. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Much of the driving force among the young has been dangerous drugs and excessive alcohol consumption. It\u2019s impossible to lengthen lifespan while playing Russian roulette with the substances you consume. Tobacco has clear risks as well. The advice is simple \u2014 avoid dangerous substances and if you are imbibing develop a strategy to quit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sadly part of the decline in life expectancy <\/strong>is linked to a sudden rise in infant mortality. \u201cThis is the first time in my career that I’ve ever seen [an increase in pediatric mortality] \u2013 it\u2019s always been declining in the United States for as long as I can remember,” Steven Woolf, lead author of a recent JAMA article on the subject. “Now, it’s increasing at a magnitude that has not occurred at least for half a century.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n Indeed, the study noted not only that, \u201cAmerican children are less likely to live to age 5 than children in other high-income countries,” but that \u201cEven Americans with healthy behaviors, for example, those who are not obese or do not smoke, appear to have higher disease rates than their peers in other countries.\u201d Average American life expectancy<\/strong> trails places like Cuba, Czechia and Lebanon. Although the U.S. does better than most at keeping 75 year-olds alive, it struggles to help those under 50. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why it\u2019s doubly important for anyone who cares about longevity<\/strong> to eat healthy meals<\/strong>, drink plenty of water, and most importantly reduce or eliminate unhealthy behaviors like smoking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The body you have today is the one you\u2019ll have tomorrow and for the rest of your life. Making it the best machine it can should be a daily goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For those who aren\u2019t physically active, 15 minutes of moderate activity like walking, riding a bike or swimming is ideal. The goal should be to slowly increase the intensity and duration of the activity while paying attention to soreness or potential injuries. However, anyone who is consistently exercising needs to keep setting higher objectives. Studies show that having a goal – like running a marathon or competing in a tennis tournament \u2013 can help improve cardiovascular fitness while reducing cholesterol levels.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research examining 13 different studies showed that \u201cPhysical activity reduces many major mortality risk factors including arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer. All-cause mortality is decreased by about 30% to 35% in physically active as compared to inactive subjects.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, if you\u2019re already moderately fit, increasing cardio can really make a difference in increasing life expectancy<\/strong>. The goal is to increase VO\u2082 max \u2013 or the maximum amount of oxygen your body can absorb and use during exercise. Sometimes called oxygen uptake, it\u2019s improved by doing high intensity interval training such as alternating sprinting with jogging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is an incredible amount of evidence indicating that your VO\u2082 max can predict your risk for cardiovascular disease,\u201d Brady Holmer, a runner and performance specialist who is conducting PhD research on cardiovascular physiology told The Guardian. \u201cWhat\u2019s more, the association of VO\u2082 max with morbidity and mortality is stronger than that for the risk factors usually considered, like cholesterol, BMI and blood glucose.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n In one study \u2013 a meta-analysis examining millions of participants \u2013 those whose VO\u2082 max put them in the top third aerobically enjoyed a 45% reduced risk of death from any cause compared with individuals in the lower third. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, determining your baseline is vital. That\u2019s one way Kyla can really help<\/a>. Their at-home testing does more than provide actionable data on everything from cardiovascular health to kidney function. Because you\u2019ll have the opportunity to go over test results with a Kyla doctor, you\u2019ll gain insights into your health. Plus, thanks to the company\u2019s pioneering work with AI analytics and advanced testing, you\u2019ll learn exactly how your lifestyle affects your life expectancy. Using the Kyla app<\/a>, you\u2019ll be able to monitor your data conveniently while tracking your progress visually through graphs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Studies have consistently shown that stress reduces life expectancy. It can be difficult to manage stress. However, mindfulness \u2013 being fully present \u2013 and deep breathing should be a part of everyone\u2019s day. Meditation can also help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n High stress levels go hand in hand with lack of sleep. Prioritizing sleep and getting a consistent seven hours per night can go a long way toward improving longevity. In research examining the life expectancy <\/strong>of over 170,000 adults, well-rested men lived five years longer than the ones who were consistently tired. Women who got enough sleep added two years to their average life expectancy. Not getting enough sleep means increasing your risk for everything from obesity to cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today many of us live our connections online. Yet research shows that just having a few close friends in real life<\/em> can extend lifespans. Having a community \u2013 whether a church, temple, or bowling league \u2013 reduces stress and increases happiness. That\u2019s a recipe for longevity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ten years ago, Ezekiel Emanuel courted controversy when he authored an article in The Atlantic called \u201cWhy I want to die at 75.\u201d The director of the Clinical Bioethics Department at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and head of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania wasn\u2019t planning on committing suicide at the appointed time. Rather, he planned to phase out testing and extraordinary medical measures. He believed research was on his side – that physical and mental decline was inevitable once people hit three-quarters of a century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although that may have been true, Kyla believes the new frontier is fast approaching<\/a>. Longevity Escape Velocity can mean not only incremental improvements but extending healthy lifespans. Also known as age escape velocity or actuarial escape velocity, this occurs when technology can extend a person\u2019s life by more than a year for every year they are alive. It isn\u2019t about suffering through chronic conditions but overcoming them and extending your healthspan.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n We aren\u2019t there yet. In the meantime, the choices we make can go a long way toward lengthening longevity and delivering years or even decades of happy, healthy life.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are five proven ways to lengthen lifespan and keep extending it through diet, exercise and lifestyle changes. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":51967,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[{"id":40,"name":"Anti-Aging","slug":"longevity","link":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/blog\/category\/longevity\/"}],"tags":[409,408,394],"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/shutterstock_156727028-1-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64014"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64014"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64014\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64017,"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64014\/revisions\/64017"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kyla.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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