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Five Tips To Live LongerDrink green or black tea Both green and black teas contain a concentrated dose of catechins, substances that help blood vessels relax and protect your heart. In a study of more than 40,500 Japanese men and women, those who drank 5 or more cups of green tea every day had the lowest risk of dying from heart disease and stroke. Other studies involving black tea showed similar results. Avoid Soda Scientists in Boston found that drinking one or more regular or diet colas every day doubles your risk of metabolic syndrome--a cluster of conditions, including high blood pressure, elevated insulin levels, and excess fat around the waist—that increase your chance of heart disease and diabetes. Controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels, preventing diabetes, and not smoking can add 6 to 9 1/2 healthy years to your life. One culprit could be the additive that gives cola its caramel color, which upped the risk of metabolic syndrome in animal studies. Eat purple food Concord grapes, blueberries, red wine: They all get that deep, rich color from polyphenols—compounds that reduce heart disease risk and may also protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to research. Polyphenols help keep blood vessels and arteries flexible and healthy. What's good for your coronary arteries is also good for your brain's blood vessels. What's more, in a recent human study, researchers found that eating 1 or more cups of blueberries every day may improve communication between brain cells, enhancing your memory. Walk instead of drive People who walk for about 30 minutes a day--are more likely to live longer than those who walk less, regardless of how much body fat they have, according to a recent study of 2,603 men and women. Similarly, overweight women can improve their heart health by adding just 10 minutes of activity to their daily routine, says recent research. So take a walk on your lunch hour, do laps around the field while your kid is at soccer practice--find ways to move a little more, every day. Be Outgoing Outgoing people are 50% less likely to develop dementia, according to a recent study of more than 500 men and women ages 78 and older from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Participants also described themselves as not easily stressed. Researchers speculate that their more resilient brains may be due to lower levels of cortisol--studies show that oversecretion of this "stress hormone" can inhibit brain cells' communication.
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