 Health & Nutrition
Thoughts on
Aging
Lifestyle Choices and Living Longer - April 28, 2011
(1 minutes: 56 seconds)
 WMA (audio
only)
Audio/Video Script:
Dr. LaVona Traywick
Assistant Professor - Gerontology
[Announcer] Welcome to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona Traywick,
Assistant Professor of Gerontology with the University of Arkansas Division of
Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
[Dr. LaVona Traywick] What you do to your body throughout your life course will have a big effect
on how well you will age. You may be familiar with the health tips that tell you
not to smoke, to drink in moderation, or to watch your cholesterol. But did you
know that taking up a hobby can add 2 years to your life? Or that your heart can
benefit from a vacation? Other ways that you can lengthen your life include:
catching more sleep to allow your brain to rest and nerve cells to repair.
You can add 3 to 4 years of life by losing excess weight. Some researchers
believe that physical intimacy helps you sleep better, boosts your immunity, and
releases heart-protective hormones - adding an extra 3-5 years to your life. For
an additional 6 years of living, listen your dentist and floss your teeth.
Flossing keeps your gums healthy and reduces your risk for heart disease and
stroke. Mental exercises, including reading regularly and sweating over a cross
word or Sudoku puzzle helps brain cells stay active. When combined with healthy
lifestyle habits, a mental boost can prolong your life by 2 years and even lower
your risk for Alzheimer's disease.
So let's use this research to our advantage and make smart decisions about
certain behaviors to help us live a longer, more fulfilling life.
[Announcer] Thank you for listening to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona
Traywick. To learn more about this and other topics, contact your local county
Cooperative
Extension Service office.
Sources:
Dr. Amy Hosier, University of Kentucky--Extension
CBS News: Quick Fixes to Add Years to Your Life! (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/14/earlyshow/saturday/main5645326.shtml)
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