Our goal is to help the Branford community in every way possible by connecting people who care with the causes that matter. At the heart of our mission is improving your life, which is why we’re inspired to share a recent study on longevity led by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

After analyzing decades of data, researchers were able to pinpoint 5 lifestyle factors that can dramatically lengthen life expectancy. The study found that people lived longer with every factor they adopted.

Here are their 5 keys to living longer:
1. A healthy diet
You know the drill: Increase your consumption of veggies, fruits, nuts, whole grains, healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids, and decrease your intake of red meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, trans fats and sodium.
2. Exercise
The goal is 30 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous exercise.
3. Moderate alcohol intake
This means one drink a day for women and two for men. A drink is considered to be 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces distilled spirits.
4. Not smoking
Never having smoked is the healthy habit that was considered in this study, but ex-smokers should still be proud. Just the act of quitting smoking can dramatically lower your risk for lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and many other health problems.
5. A healthy body weight
The study defined a normal body mass index (BMI) as between 18.5 and 24.9. Don’t worry if you don’t know your BMI. Most people don’t. Just strive to maintain a weight you feel good about.

We hope this blog inspires you to do something fun and healthy, like taking a stroll with your loved one along the beautiful Branford shoreline! Learn more about BCF or donate today.