Have Faith and Live to Be 100!

There are a lot of factors that determine one’s longevity, the big ones being diet, exercise and general health. But did you know that faith and spirituality can increase your lifespan? It’s true! Dan Buettner, an author and explorer, notes that centenarians tend to be likeable, emphasize family, have purpose in life and a strong sense of faith. He reiterates, “People who are living a long time have a reason to get up in the morning.”

Italy, Japan, and Costa Rica all rank way up there for number of centenarians. Wise food choices and having access to some healthcare make for a good start, but Buettner says that reconnecting with faith and family contributes to overall health and joins all of these positives together.

Americans are prone to looking for easy solutions to their aging woes, whether that means popping crazy diet-fad pills or tricking themselves into thinking age is conquerable through superficial cosmetic procedures. It could just be that rather than looking outward for “cure-alls”, we should be looking inwards, drawing on spirituality to give ourselves that overall foundation.

Do you feel that being faithful or spiritual has kept you young, or extended your life? [Nationalgeographic.com]