3 Longevity Myths An Expert Wants Us To Ignore

Longevity seems to be the word of the moment, with the exciting potential for a longer, healthier life capturing the attention of millionaires and the Vatican alike. But while the more extreme steps some take in the hopes of an unnaturally extended lifespan may grab headlines, expert after expert recommends simple steps: eat well, exercise, get enough sleep, and stay social.Author and public health researcher Professor Devi Sridhar, whose longevity-focused book How Not To Die (Too Soon) is set to come out on 12 June, says even that doesn’t take it far enough.“Have you ever questioned why, despite the avalanche of self-help books and optimisation hacks, we remain embroiled in multiple global health crises?” her book’s blurb reads. “The stark reality is that we’ve been sold a monumental lie.”HuffPost UK spoke to Professor Sridhar about some of those myths.Myth #1: Your lifespan is completely in your handsProfessor Sridhar’s book focuses on how individual health tips “distract” us from the reality: our lifespan isn’t all in our control. A Social Determinants Of Health paper found that “40% of an individual’s health is determined by socioeconomic factors such as education, occupation, or income,” compared to only 30% determined by lifestyle choices (such as not drinking or exercising). So, she said, we should see government policy as a far more effective way to “significantly extend our lifespans” than the latest superfood.Myth #2: Lifespans are getting longer across the boardAs financial inequality booms, Professor Sridhar said some people may be left with shorter lives, despite healthcare improvements.Life expectancy is “tightly linked to income,” she explained.“The basic drivers of health are linked to resources – whether money, time, social networks, access to green space or leisure centres and gyms, nutritious food, and so increased inequality means the bottom quintile struggling to maintain existing life expectancy, or even going backwards.” In England, the life expectancy for men in the most deprived areas is 73.5 years, compared with 83.2 years in the least deprived areas (where life expectancy has fallen over the past decade).Earlier this year it was reported that the number of children living in poverty in the UK is at an all-time high (since records began in 2002). There are 4.45 million children living in a household of relative low income, according to the BBC. Myth #3: You need to get everything just right to achieve a longer life When it comes to health and longevity, the professor told us that “perfection is a myth”.Let’s say you have a “nutritionally poor” day of eating, she said – “just make the next day different with more vegetables, fruits and grains, and [the] same with exercise.” Speaking of which, the movement enthusiast said those who expend “mild to moderate effort (even weekend warriors who exercise just 1-2 times per week) get the bulk of the benefits” of working out. “Same for diet. What are you eating 80% of the time?” she added. “Basically, don’t make food or diet or sleep something to stress about. Stress is also implicated in dying too soon!” Though we do have some control over our longevity, then, ignoring the impact of policy on our lifespan, assuming they’ll improve no matter what, and stressing too much about your individual one might not be the best way forward.Related...3 Diet Rules A Longevity Expert Swears ByLongevity Expert Said Women Should Be Able To Do 11 Push-Ups – And Experts Have Thoughts'There’s No Silver Bullet': The Longevity Lie A Doctor Wants You To Stop Believing

Comments

Breaking news

Even Fox News isn’t impressed with Musk dodging question over alleged drug use

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Millions Across 3 States Told to Close Windows, Limit Outside Activity

More than 150 are dead and 3,000 made homeless as rainfall unleashes massive flooding in Nigeria

Britain will spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2034 with 10-year plan to be revealed in days, Labour confirms

'No doubt' UK will spend 3% of GDP on defence in next parliament, says Healey

Why these 3 Scottish attractions are among the best family days out in the UK

And Just Like That Season 3 Cast: Here's Where You've Seen The New Stars Before

'We've Got A Nice Groove': The And Just Like That Cast Look Ahead At What's To Come In Season 3

CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN: ‘Trump deportation tsar orders 3,000 immigration arrests a day’

Boy, 3, found dead after falling into swimming pool at family home as mum pays tribute

Healey sees defence spend rise to 3% of GDP by 2034

CNN Guest Describes Donald Trump’s Whole Personality In Just 3 Words

Nearly 3,000-year-old Mayan city with ‘remarkable’ architecture unearthed in Guatemala

Guatemala court convicts 3 ex-paramilitaries of war crimes for rape and gives them 40-year sentences

Schoolgirl, 16, ‘raped in woodland’ in horror broad daylight attack 3 years ago – as cops issue e-fit in hunt for man

And Just Like That... Season 3 Episode 2 – Release Date, Schedule, How To Watch

Hundreds of Thousands Told Not To Drink Alcohol in 3 States

Trump administration reverses planned closures of 3 dozen US mine safety offices

Gene Hackman’s 14 Greatest Starring Roles - #3: The Sins of Harry Caul

Body found in search for missing girl, 3, who fell into Baitings Dam reservoir

He Took a Wrong Turn Into Canada. The Price? 3 Weeks in ICE Custody.

Breaking news

Even Fox News isn’t impressed with Musk dodging question over alleged drug use

What do we know about the suspect and victims of the Boulder ‘terror attack’ that left multiple people injured?

Moment Colorado terror suspect is captured by police after attack at pro-Israel event

Zelensky: drone strike on Russian planes was organised next to Russian secret police HQ

Ben Affleck ROASTS longtime BFF Matt Damon over his burly gray beard

Terrifying moment golf star Jordan Spieth nearly strikes a fan at close range after huge blunder

Minister's confusion on funding betrays the disarray at the heart of the MoD, by former British Army colonel PHILIP INGRAM

ANDREW PIERCE: Oh Kemi, you're getting too blue for the Commons

Poland presidential election on a knife-edge as race between liberal pro-EU candidate and right-wing 'hooligan' rival is too close to call after exit polls

Maya Jama looks sensational in a glamorous floral gown as she steps out in Mallorca ahead of new Love Island series

Blake Lively's former director details her behavior during first acting job amid Justin Baldoni legal war

I've fixed thousands of brains and seen proof we have a soul... just look at conjoined twins, even trees

The Albanian mafia fuelling Britain's drug-driving epidemic: How Eastern European Narcos are flooding the UK with £4bn of cocaine - and the heartbreaking consequences

The moment star witness in Diddy trial fell for a classic defense team trap... but everyone missed it: revealed by prosecutor DAVID GELMAN

Debt-ridden wedding firm took nearly £50,000 from couples despite already having gone BUST

Love Island fans emotional after one-off 10 year anniversary special sees Caroline Flack briefly back on screens - but slam ITV for failing to include a tribute to late host

We moved to Australia to work down the mines! British women reveal how they're raking in £4,400 for two weeks of work - and still find time for sunbathing

Wealthy neighbours go to war with £100m tech tycoon over his plans for 'vanity' 7760 sq ft Chelsea mega-basement that'll take two years to build

We live in the cheapest seaside town in the UK - it's in the middle of nowhere and it rains all the time - but we love it

Where ARE you safe on Britain's trains? Maps reveal crime rail hotspots as sex offences and violence soared to all-time highs

Millionaire property developer is being prosecuted over 'wanton vandalism' of Victorian pub after his gang of workers smashed up historic tiles

Labour is accused of making an embarrassing retreat on defence spending as Defence Secretary downgrades 3 per cent GDP military pledge to an 'ambition'

David Blunkett warns Keir Starmer about scrapping the two-child benefit cap saying it will only inspire families to have more children

Teenage Muslim-convert who plotted Isle of Wight Festival terror attack and has knifed TEN prison officers since being jailed is named for the first time

WFH staff are leaving British businesses exposed to a lethal cyber attack that will 'cripple' their firms and wipe them out

Brave Sir Chris Hoy's cancer openness is helping to save lives as Olympic hero says his Instagram is 'stacked' with messages from men saying they have been spurred on to get tested

Former PM Liz Truss helps notorious bare-knuckle fighter launch his new whiskey in bizarre promo video - just months after he was freed from jail

The Tinder row that rocked missing teenager Pheobe Bishop's housemates - as bizarre video emerges of 'cheating' boyfriend singing soppy love song in the car he now lives in

Jason Sudeikis offers touching tribute to uncle George Wendt after his passing at 76

Cardi B goes Instagram official with new beau in steamy photo amid Offset divorce drama

Keir Starmer comes under pressure to sack his top legal adviser after he likened Right-wing British politicians to Nazis as minister refuses to say his job is safe

Female prison guard, 26, who had phone sex with inmate and flooded his mother with more than 900 messages faces jail

Molly-Mae Hague's Love Island 2019 audition tape is revealed for first time as she and Tommy Fury are branded one of show's success stories in 10 year anniversary special

Revealed: Sir Lindsay Hoyle splurged nearly £5,500 of taxpayers' cash on private planes during a Caribbean tour to paradise islands

Man, 50, who set fire to the Koran outside the Turkish consulate in London says he never would have come to Britain if he 'knew this country does not have free speech'

Doctors warn of a horrifying new side effect of taking fat jabs - with the elderly and frail especially at risk

Former glamour model who dated host of stars before settling down with Rose West's son reveals what it's like to be the serial killer's 'daughter in law'

Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial LIVE updates: Details emerge about different coloured plates at cook's home

Essex Boys gangland killer Michael Steele is released from jail despite ministers' last-ditch bid to keep triple murderer behind bars

Salman Rushdie says he is 'over' knife attack as author reveals 'important moment' he returned to New York lecture stage where he was repeatedly stabbed

How Zelensky's men plotted 'Op Spider's Web' that blew $7bn hole in Putin's 'irreplaceable' nuke bomber fleet: Experts praise 'genius' attack but warn of 'violent' response from humiliated Kremlin

Mormon wives on swinging scandals, friendship fallouts and religious backlash

Unpacking the South African land law that so inflames Trump

Lockerbie: Remembering the victims of Flight 103

The Papers: 'UK sends warning to Putin' and 'wish you were beer'

Martial law fractured South Korea. Can this election heal the nation?

Veteran has 'burning fire' to correct pension 'robbery'

Students warned of subject cold spots as universities cut courses

'I spent half-term looking for somewhere for my family to live'

Pharmacists warn drug shortage affecting cancer patients

Live Updates: 6 People Burned in Attack on Event for Israeli Hostages in Colorado

New series starring Scotland's Home of the Year favourite to film in Hebrides

Farage branded 'clown in a circus' as he visits Scotland ahead of by-election

Families of 1994 Chinook crash victims prepare to take government to court

FBI and law enforcement respond to 'terror attack' in Boulder, Colorado

Investors say they took advantage of market instability caused by Trump’s tariffs

Millennial investors bought cheap stocks in Trump tariffs market turmoil