Gr-eight ways to live longer

Proven benefits of olive oil use helps a healthier lifestyle

- NINA MASSEY

RESEARCHERS have identified eight habits that could see people live more than 20 years longer. 

The study found that low physical activity, opioid use, and smoking had the biggest impact on lifespan, and were associated with around a 30-45 percent higher risk of death.

While stress, binge drinking, poor diet, and poor sleep hygiene were each associated with around a 20 percent increase in the risk of death.

And a lack of positive social relationships was associated with a five percent increased risk of dying.

Meanwhile, a separate study suggests that incorporating olive oil into your diet could help reduce the risk of dying from dementia.

It found that consuming more than half a tablespoon of olive oil per day is linked to a 28 percent lower risk of dying from the condition, compared with those who never or rarely eat the oil.

The findings from both studies were presented at Nutrition 2023, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition being held in Boston.

The research that looked at lifestyle habits used data from medical records and questionnaires collected between 20112019 from 719,147 people enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Million Veteran Program.