In the USA, the two major risk factors for premature death are due to smoking and high blood pressure.

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Even in middle age, adopting a healthy lifestyle can lower the risk for heart disease and premature death.

Supplements for Longevity
There is currently no evidence that taking supplements or hormones (such as human growth hormone) will make us live longer. However, it seems reasonably safe to take small amounts of certain supplements that have shown in preliminary research to be helpful.

Antioxidants
People think that a longevity secret is to take as many antioxidants in high doses. But more is not necessarily better. If you plan to take them, use low doses, even it means taking a portion of a capsule.
Acetyl-l-carnitine and the antioxidant Lipoic Acid are interesting nutrients that may be beneficial, more research is needed before making recommendations.
Carnosine appears to be able to extend the lifespan of cultured cells, and rejuvenate senescent cells.
Resveratrol from red wine has potential. Eat a few grapes a week or drink a couple of ounces of wine a few times a week. Wine has many beneficial polyphenols.
Royal Jelly has been studied in rodents.
Vitamin D supplementation may improve longevity in those who have a low intake of vitamin D.

Longevity Statistics
Japanese girls born in 2007 can expect to live until they are 86 years old, which would make them the longest survivors in the world. Boys born in 2007 can expect to live to the age of 79, ranking third after Iceland and Hong Kong.

A report issued by the National Center for Health Statistics indicates improved American longevity in the US. American adults are living longer, fewer babies are dying in infancy, and the gap between white and black life expectancy has narrowed during the past decade. In 2000, average life expectancy at birth hit record highs, with men at 74.1 years and women at 79.5 years. A century earlier, life expectancy was 48 years for men and 51 years for women. Those who reach age 65 now live to an average age of 81 for men and 84 for women. It is unclear whether this trend in longevity will continue.

2001--For men, life expectancy rose from 74.3 in 2000 to 74.4 years in 2001. Women's life expectancy rose from 79.7 to 79.8 years. White women have the highest life expectancy, 80.2 years, followed by black women (75.5 years), white men (75 years) and black men (68.6 years).

Japanese girls born in 2006 can expect to live to an average age of 85.8 years, making them the longest-lived in the world. Japanese men fare less well, with a life expectancy of 79 years, second to men in Iceland at 79.4 years. Japan's women have topped the world's longevity ranks for 22 years, something researchers have attributed to their healthy diet and tight social ties, among other factors.
   Japanese girls born in 2007 can expect to live until they are 86 years old, which would make them the longest survivors in the world. Boys born in 2007 can expect to live to the age of 79, ranking third after Iceland and Hong Kong.

The field of longevity and anti-aging is full of promises and unsubstantiated claims. As of now, there is no definitive research in humans of any substances or techniques that have been proven to extend longevity. However, there are a number of steps we can take to potentially live longer. These include:

Longevity enhancers - Secrets of Longevity
1. Have a positive attitude and improve your coping skills to daily stress. Embrace the philosophy that "It's not what happens to me, it's what I make of it." In a sample of people aged 50 and older who were followed for an average of 23 years, respondents who reported having a positive attitude toward aging lived an average of more than 7 years longer than those who had a more dismal view of getting older. Do you want to be happier? Take a look at my book on Happiness.
   A 50-year long study suggests that longevity is improved in men and women who are active, emotionally calm, and organized.  Psychosomatic Medicine, July / August 2008.
    Optimists live longer, healthier lives than pessimists. Researchers at University of Pittsburgh, led Dr. Hilary Tindle, looked at rates of death and chronic health conditions among participants of the Women's Health Initiative study, which has followed more than 100,000 women ages 50 and over since 1994. Women who were optimistic were 14 percent less likely to die from any cause than pessimists and 30 percent less likely to die from heart disease after eight years of follow up in the study. Optimists also were also less likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes or smoke cigarettes. March 2009.
    Emotionally stable, intelligent men may live longer than neurotic, less intelligent men. Men with neurotic traits -- a tendency to worry and to experience emotional ups and downs -- and lower cognitive ability have a higher mortality rate than men without these traits. Psychosomatic Medicine, May 2009.

2. Keep a healthy weight and reduce the number of calories consumed, but not to the point of starving. Caloric restriction prolongs life in animals, but less is known in humans. Cutting calories may do more than help people shed excess weight. According to a new report, a low-calorie diet may also slow age-related changes in the heart's genes that can lead to chronic disease. In the study, "middle-aged" 14-month-old mice were fed either a normal diet or one restricted in calories. When the mice reached 30 months of age, or the equivalent of 90 years of a human life span, the researchers analyzed their heart tissue. The hearts of mice on the low-calorie diets showed nearly 20% fewer age-related genetic changes and also appeared to have less DNA damage than those of mice on regular diets. Restricting calories also inhibited potentially disease-causing changes in the immune system, and suppressed apoptosis, or programmed cell death.
   A telephone poll conducted by ABC News found that 73% of respondents would not restrict their caloric intake in order to live longer.
   Mouse study: eating less at any age prolongs life.
   Bottom line: reduce caloric intake, but not to the point of having a miserable time.
   The size of an aging man's belly and the bulk of his biceps provide a more accurate picture of his mortality risk than body mass index (BMI) alone. As people age they typically lose muscle mass and gain belly fat.

Diet Rx for caloric restriction
This natural appetite suppressant works without stimulants. Diet Rx has no added caffeine, ephedra, ephedrine alkaloids, synephrine, hormones, guarana, ginseng, or stimulating amino acids. 

Benefits of Diet Rx
All natural appetite suppressant, decreases appetite so you eat less
Helps you maintain healthy blood sugar levels
Helps you maintain healthy cholesterol and lipid levels
Provides a variety of antioxidant from two dozen herbs and nutrients
Provides healthy fiber
Improves energy
Balances mood
Improves mental concentration and focus
Improves will power and choice of food selection

3. Consume a healthy diet. Reduce consumption of foods cooked at high temperature. Drink more tea, particularly green tea. By relying more on steaming, boiling and stewing to cook foods and using acidic marinades on meat cooked with dry heat, people may be able to stay healthier. These strategies will reduce the amount of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), or glycotoxins that people consume with their food. The more AGEs healthy people eat, the greater their levels of inflammation and oxidative stress. Use the sugar substitute stevia which contains stevioside, a safe sweetener with no calories.

4. Regular exercise and keep physically active. Regular stretching or yoga is helpful in keeping joints and ligaments supple. If you are sedentary, even a small increase in activity can enhance your longevity by a couple of years.
   People who want to increase longevity may do so by running or engaging in regular vigorous activity. In one study done at Stanford University in California, middle-aged members of a runner's club were half as likely to die over a 20-year period as people who did not run. Running reduced the risk not only of heart disease, but of cancer and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's. Any type of vigorous exercise will likely do the trick.
   Fitness, strength and flexibility do not inevitably fade away with age, and are more often a matter of lifestyle choicest. Often, the discomforts of middle-age, like lower back pain or stiff joints, are blamed on aging alone. However, a well-rounded exercise routine that includes aerobic activity, strength training and stretching can help people offset the effects of aging.

5. Avoid smoking cigarettes. Smokers die ten years younger on average than non-smokers
   As if smokers need another reason to kick the habit, California scientists have discovered that nornicotine, a byproduct of nicotine, the substance that makes cigarettes so addictive, causes a type of chemical reaction in the body similar to that which occurs when sugar is scorched or food goes bad. This reaction is thought to play a role in diabetes, cancer and other diseases. The interaction between sugars and proteins can produce substances called advanced glycation endproducts, or AGEs. The accumulation of AGEs appears to contribute to the aging process and certain diseases. Guided imagery may help quit smoking.

6. Have strong connections to others, whether through family and relatives, marriage, children, pets, or connecting with nature, planet earth, and the universe.

7. Get a deep sleep. Getting a deep sleep is probably the most important longevity secret.

8. Keep your mind young and active by learning. Doing crossword puzzles or watching the show Jeopardy can do wonders in maintaining mental sharpness and word recall.
   The more educated you are, the less likely you are to become chronically ill or disabled, and your chances for greater longevity will improve. But, the amount of money you make plays a bigger role in whether your illness progresses.

9. Try to surround yourself with nature. Green trees in the neighborhood, sunshine in the home, are linked to longevity.

10. Limit coffee intake to one or two cups - chronic coffee consumption has a detrimental effect on aortic stiffness and wave reflections, which may increase the risk of cardiovascular or heart disease.

11. Have loving and caring friends. Research suggests that having a strong network of friends helps people live longer.

12. Take care of your teeth and mouth to prevent gum disease. Smoking can cause gum disease.

13. Work as long as you can. It is widely held that early retirement is associated with longer life expectancy and later retirement is associated with early death. According to a report in the October, 2005 issue of British Medical Journal, the long-term survival of people who retire early at age 55 or 60 is no better than that of those who retire at 65. On the contrary, survival rates appear to improve with increasing age at retirement. This seems to be the case for both high- and low-income groups.
   Participating in volunteer activities may add years to an older person's life. Volunteering may improve health by expanding retirees' social networks, increasing their access to resources and improving their sense of self-worth.

14. Drink more tea, and less sodas and sugared drinks. Limit fruit juice intake to no more than 8 ounces a day since fruit juices have a lot of fructose. Many delicious herbal teas are available, including green tea, rooibos herb, rose hips, fennel herb, licorice, etc.

15. Treat enlarged prostate if it causes frequent visits to the bathroom at night. Frequent awakening and getting up during the night, which is common in older adults, appears to predispose susceptible subjects to cardiovascular events.

16. Taking certain supplements in low dosages. Low blood levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased risk of death from any cause.

17. Drink a couple of ounces of wine a few times a week.

Longevity and birth weight
Low birth weight increases the risk of dying early as an adult, but people born extra-heavy are at greater risk too. Epidemiology, March 2008.

Longevity and genetics
One of the most important influences on longevity is genetics, something we cannot influence with our present scientific knowledge. People who have parents and grandparents who live long are more likely to also live a long life.

High Blood Pressure and Longevity
High blood pressure can take years off both life expectancy and time lived free of disease. Research, based on data from a long-running U.S. heart-health study, found that the impact of high blood pressure on life expectancy may be more significant than previously estimated. Researchers found that high blood pressure at the age of 50 shaved about 5 years off men's and women's lives. It also caused them to endure 7 more years with cardiovascular disease compared with their peers who had normal blood pressure in middle-age. It's well known that high blood pressure raises the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney failure, but only a few studies have looked at how blood pressure affects longevity.

Exercise and Longevity
Even small changes can help confirmed couch potatoes improve their health and enhance longevity. Although the benefits of exercise and a healthy diet are well known, people may think they have to make major changes in their lifestyle to obtain any results. But data from a large study of 15,000 middle-aged and elderly people living in England shows that any increase in physical activity is beneficial.

Longevity Research Update
As the first of the 75 million baby boomers touch 60 in January, there's good news for the men: They are catching up to women in life expectancy. A new "Longevity Index" by Credit Suisse First Boston shows that while women still live four years longer on average, men are gaining twice as fast in the age race. Medical experts say women are working harder, smoking more and undergoing more stress, which leads to the No. 1 killer -- heart disease.

A new finding may explain how stress could ultimately lead to a decrease in longevity. Chronic psychological stress is associated with accelerated shortening of the caps, called telomeres, on the ends of chromosomes in white blood cells -- and thus hasten their demise -- according to a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Telomeres promote chromosome stability. Telomeres shorten with each replication of the cell, and cells cease dividing when telomeres shorten sufficiently. The team investigated the theory that psychological stress affects telomere shortening and thereby contributes to a decrease in longevity. Their study included 39 healthy, premenopausal women who were primary caregivers for a child with a chronic illness, and 19 age-matched mothers of healthy children who served as a comparison "control" group. Stress was measured with a standardized questionnaire, and telomere length was measured in participants' blood samples. Within the caregiving group, the longer that a woman had been a caregiver, the shorter was the length of telomeres. In the 14 women with the highest stress scores, telomeres averaged 3,110 units in length; the 14 with the lowest stress had telomeres that averaged 3,660 units. In adults, telomeres shorten by an average of 31 to 63 units per year, so the scientists estimate that the 550-unit shortening in the high-stress group translates to 9 to 17 additional years of aging.

The world's oldest person on record, a Dutchwoman, died in August 2005, aged 115. Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper, a former needlework teacher born on June 29, 1890, died in her sleep. "I eat a herring every day and I drink a glass of orange juice every day for the vitamins," the Ajax Amsterdam fan told journalists on her 114th birthday. The record for the longest life is held by French woman Jeanne-Louise Calment who died aged 122 in 1997

The compound that makes red wine a healthful drink may also hold one of the secrets to longevity. Researchers found that resveratrol acted on fruit flies and worms in the same way as a method known to extend longevity of animals including monkeys -- sharply restricting how much they eat.. The finding opens the possibility that people could take a pill to achieve the same benefits as strict dieting to live longer, healthier lives, said David Sinclair of Harvard Medical School in Boston, who led the study. "We found this chemical that can extend longevity of every organism we give it to."

Older adults with a bright outlook on the future may live longer than those who take a dimmer view. 
Researchers in the Netherlands found that older men and women judged to have optimistic personalities were less likely to die over the nine-year study period than those with pessimistic dispositions. Much of this reduced risk was due to lower rates of death from cardiovascular disease among the most optimistic men and women in the study. They were 77 percent less likely to die of a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular cause than the most pessimistic group-regardless of factors such as age, weight, smoking and whether they had cardiovascular or other chronic diseases at the study's start.

Use of carnosine as a natural anti-senescence drug for human beings.
Biochemistry (Mosc) 2000 Jul;65(7):869-71.
Carnosine is an endogenous free-radical scavenger. The latest research indicates that apart from the function of protecting cells from oxidation-induced stress damage, carnosine appears to be able to extend the lifespan of cultured cells, rejuvenate senescent cells, inhibit the toxic effects of amyloid peptide (A beta), malondialdehyde, and hypochlorite to cells, inhibit glycosylation of proteins and protein-DNA and protein-protein cross-linking, and maintain cellular homeostasis. Also, carnosine seems to delay the impairment of eyesight with aging, effectively preventing and treating senile cataract and other age-related diseases. Therefore, carnosine may be applied to human being as a drug against aging.

Foods cooked at high heat linked to inflammation
People may be able to lower their risk of heart, diabetes, and possibly other diseases by consuming cool foods, or dishes cooked at relatively low temperatures, such as salads and tuna fish, preliminary research suggests. Foods cooked at high temperatures spurred the production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), compounds in the blood that stimulate cells to produce inflammation. While AGEs are normally produced in the body at a slow rate, they can be toxic and form more quickly when food is heated to high temperatures. Inflammation is associated with heart disease among all people, but people with diabetes are thought to be particularly vulnerable. People who consumed foods cooked at lower temperatures had lower levels of both AGEs and inflammatory proteins than people who consumed the same foods cooked at higher temperatures. After 6 weeks, levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and concentrations of the inflammatory protein C-reactive protein (CRP) had also risen among those consuming the diet high in AGEs and declined among those in the reduced AGE group. TNF-alpha and CRP are both markers showing increased inflammation.

Mitochondria and acetyl-l-carnitine
Mitochondrial decay has been postulated to be a significant underlying part of the aging process. Decline in mitochondrial function may lead to cellular energy deficits, especially in times of greater energy demand, and compromise vital ATP-dependent cellular operations, including detoxification, repair systems, DNA replication, and osmotic balance. Mitochondrial decay may also lead to enhanced oxidant production and thus render the cell more prone to oxidative insult. In particular, the heart may be especially susceptible to mitochondrial dysfunction due to myocardial dependency on beta-oxidation of fatty acids for energy and the postmitotic nature of cardiac myocytes, which would allow for greater accumulation of mitochondrial mutations and deletions. Thus, maintenance of mitochondrial function may be important to maintain overall myocardial function. Herein, we review the major age-related changes that occur to mitochondria in the aging heart and the evidence that two such supplements, acetyl-l-carnitine (ALCAR) and (R)-alpha-lipoic acid, may improve myocardial bioenergetics and lower the increased oxidative stress associated with aging. We and others have shown that feeding old rats ALCAR reverses the age-related decline in carnitine levels and improves mitochondrial beta-oxidation in a number of tissues studied. However, ALCAR supplementation does not appear to reverse the age-related decline in cardiac antioxidant status and thus may not substantially alter indices of oxidative stress. Lipoic acid, a potent thiol antioxidant and mitochondrial metabolite, appears to increase low molecular weight antioxidant status and thereby decreases age-associated oxidative insult. Thus, ALCAR along with alpha lipoic acid may be effective supplemental regimens to maintain myocardial function.

Smokers: Pop a Vitamin C Pill Before You Puff
Almost everyone is aware of the harm cigarette smoke causes to lung tissue and reduce longevity, but not as many people realize that smoking causes damage to arteries, and this harm occurs relatively quickly. Short-term cigarette smoking is associated with endothelial dysfunction. The endothelium is the the layer of cells that lines the heart and blood vessels and smoking is known to cause dysfunction of this important tissue. A study conducted at the Athens University Medical School in Athens, Greece, examined the effect of orally administered ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on cigarette smoking-induced endothelial dysfunction. In this double-blind, randomized, crossover study, 19 healthy subjects were examined by high-resolution ultrasonography of the brachial artery (the artery in the arm) before and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after smoking a cigarette. Measurements were performed on two different days, 2 hours after oral administration of 2 grams of ascorbic acid or placebo. After smoking, blood flow dropped to less than half of the baseline value. Thereafter in the placebo group, blood flow increased to 70% of baseline value in 90 minutes, but in the ascorbic acid group blood flow increased to 70% of baseline value in half the time. The researchers conclude, "Oral administration of ascorbic acid attenuates endothelial dysfunction after short-term cigarette smoking by shortening its duration."
      Dr Sahelian says: For those who are not able to stop their smoking habit, it would seem that taking vitamin C partially mitigates the harm caused to the blood vessels. A dose of 200 to 500 mg of vitamin C taken once or twice a day seems reasonable.

Additional potential longevity enhancers:
Being financially stable
Having a satisfying career
Healing old and new emotional wounds
Having a personal religious or philosophical belief system that gives meaning to this world.
Driving safely, wearing seat belts, minimizing the use of cell phones while driving.

A new finding may explain how stress could ultimately lead to a decrease in longevity. Chronic psychological stress is associated with accelerated shortening of the caps, called telomeres, on the ends of chromosomes in white blood cells -- and thus hasten their demise -- according to a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Telomeres promote chromosome stability. Telomeres shorten with each replication of the cell, and cells cease dividing when telomeres shorten sufficiently. The team investigated the theory that psychological stress affects telomere shortening and thereby contributes to a decrease in longevity. Their study included 39 healthy, premenopausal women who were primary caregivers for a child with a chronic illness, and 19 age-matched mothers of healthy children who served as a comparison "control" group. Stress was measured with a standardized questionnaire, and telomere length was measured in participants' blood samples. Within the caregiving group, the longer that a woman had been a caregiver, the shorter was the length of telomeres. In the 14 women with the highest stress scores, telomeres averaged 3,110 units in length; the 14 with the lowest stress had telomeres that averaged 3,660 units.In adults, telomeres shorten by an average of 31 to 63 units per year, so the scientists estimate that the 550-unit shortening in the high-stress group translates to 9 to 17 additional years of aging.

The compound that makes red wine a healthful drink may also hold one of the secrets to longevity. Researchers found that resveratrol acted on fruit flies and worms in the same way as a method known to extend longevity of animals including monkeys -- sharply restricting how much they eat.. The finding opens the possibility that people could take a pill to achieve the same benefits as strict dieting to live longer, healthier lives, said David Sinclair of Harvard Medical School in Boston, who led the study. "We found this chemical that can extend longevity of every organism we give it to."

Japanese women had a life expectancy of 85.59 years in 2004, making them the world's longest living group for the 20th consecutive year. Japanese men trailed with a life expectancy of 78.64 years, which placed them second for longevity after Icelandic men, who live an average of 78.8 years.

Octogenerian has a Baby
An 88-year-old Indian farmer has become the father of a baby boy. He says he has sex daily and wants more kids. "I don't want to live to 100 but, as long as I live, I should be able to enjoy sex," said Virmaram Jat, who lives in a village in the Barmer district in the western desert sate of Rajasthan. The prosperous farmer, with a flowing white beard and a weather-beaten face, says he takes long walks every day and has been drinking fresh camel milk since childhood. The paper reported his latest wife -- his third -- is 45 years younger and delivered male twins last month, but only one boy survived. The octogenarian, who is a vegetarian and has never smoked cigarettes or drunk alcohol.

Longevity secret emails
Q. Do DHEA hormone and pregnenolone hormone increase longevity?
   A. In high doses, DHEA and pregnenolone may shorten longevity since they could increase the risk for cancer and heart arrhythmia. But it is possible, that in some people, low doses such as 1 or 2 mg may have health benefits.
 

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