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How to Add 77 Years to Your Life … Maybe 
Living to the age of 100 is the health fanatic’s holy grail, and for years people have been looking the silver bullet that will add years to their lives. As it turns out, becoming a centenarian has a lot to do with your genes and environmental factors, but there are some simple steps that, statistically speaking, will add years to your life. Darren Dicks, head of annuities at Norwich Union, Britain’s largest insurance provider, says, “A person’s life expectancy is pre-determined to some extent by their genetic make-up, but there are a number of steps people can take to give themselves the best chance of living longer. While we aren’t really suggesting that someone adopting all of these practices will automatically add more than 70 years to their life, our research shows that broadly speaking these activities will have an effect on life expectancy.” Based on their insurance data, here are the top ways to extend your life. And take heart – not all steps are within your power to control: 
1. Be married/live with a partner + 1 year Norwich Union data shows people who are married or live with a partner can expect to live on average a year more than their single friends. 2. Maintain a healthy weight + 6 years Being severely obese (having a BMI of above 40) could reduce your life expectancy by around four years.. On the other hand, being underweight might reduce your life expectancy by around two years, so maintaining a healthy weight is vital. 3. Don’t smoke + 10 years People can add as much as 10 years to their lives simply by not smoking. Research carried out at the University of Helsinki has found that people who don’t smoke can expect to live up 10 years longer than those who smoke 20 cigarettes a day. 4. Love to laugh + 8 years 
According to scientific studies, people who laugh for 15 minutes each day could add an extra eight years to their lives. 5. Be a woman + 3.3 years Around the world, women tend to outlive men by around 10 per cent. According to Government statistics, currently in the UK women have a projected average life expectancy of 91.8 years at birth, compared to 88.5 years for men. 6. Clear out the clutter + 1 year People who live in jumble and chaos are more likely to feel stressed and depressed. Sorting out this disorder can add another year. 7. Eat well + 6.6 years According to Erasmus University in Rotterdam, a diet that includes daily consumption of garlic, wine, vegetables, fruits, almonds and dark chocolate could extend life expectancy by up to 6.6 years. 8. Eat less meat + 3.6 years 
A study carried out at Loma University, Loma Linda, Calif., in the US found that people who ate meat less than once a week on average lived 3.6 years longer than their carnivore counterparts. 9. Have a positive outlook + 9 years Studies have shown that those with an optimistic outlook are less prone to viruses and recover quicker from illnesses and injuries. These people tend to act in ‘healthier’ ways than negative people by taking more exercise and enjoying social activities. 10. Live in Eastbourne + 6.2 years According to The Grim Reaper’s Road Map, a study compiled by the University of Sheffield, inhabitants of West Eastbourne in East Sussex have the longest life expectancy of any town in Great Britain, living 6.2 years higher than the national GB average. Central Livingston in East Central Scotland has the lowest life expectancy in Great Britain at 67.2 years. 11. Keep the faith + 3 years Numerous studies have unearthed links between having a faith and enjoying a long life. According to the University of Pittsburgh, people who attend weekly religious services can expect to live around three years longer than non-attenders. 12. Be born later + 6.1 years According to England’s Government Actuary’s Department (GAD), people born 25 years ago had an average life expectancy of 84.6 years for men and 88.5 years for women. People born in 2009 now have an average life expectancy of 88.5 (males) and 91.8 (females). Predictions from GAD suggest that people born 25 years from now could live as long as 91.7 (men) and 94.6 (women). 13. Get a good night’s sleep + 5 years Poor sleep can contribute to a number of medical factors that can put people at risk of heart disease. Those who regularly get at least six or seven hours’ sleep can hope to live up to five years longer than those who sleep badly. 14. Floss your teeth + 6 years Flossing your teeth daily can add as much as six years to your life expectancy by removing harmful bacteria that can contribute to cardiovascular disease. 15. Get a pet + 2 years U.S. research shows that people with pets are less likely to suffer from depression and visit their doctors less often than those without. It is also said that stroking a pet can reduce blood pressure and stress levels.
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