3 Longevity Lessons: #3

Being social with others is amazing for your health! In fact, this research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology states that a healthy social network can help you live up to 50% longer. And you don’t have to be a social butterfly or Instagram Influencer with zillions of followers either. This study from Psychosomatic Medicine says that all you need is just four or more good friends to lower your risk of early death by up to 200%!

One specific way of being social that popped out in another research project published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine was to volunteer. Helping others and being altruistic in some way is so healthy for your body and mind that older adults who volunteer even as little as two hours/week reduced their risk of death.

So the science is clear. Find your peeps and play cards together, take walks, laugh and catch up over a coffee, and get involved with some cause that matters to you. All these things nourish our mind and body, and these studies show the outcomes in terms of happier longer lives.