How to live past 100: The ‘eight rules’ Aussies swear by for a long, happy life

Daily Mail Australia readers have revealed what they believe to be the eight secrets to a long life, and most of them will make you instantly happier and healthier.

Men and women, plus those in aged health care, nursing, medicine and the fitness industry weighed in on the topic, with many agreeing healthy social connections, a good attitude and movement are at the core of ‘longevity’.

This comes after FEMAIL spoke to Lorraine Kaemphel from Coffs Harbour, NSW, who is set to celebrate her 100th birthday this November and is still the picture of health both inside and out.

She attributed her ‘remarkable’ age to a positive outlook, loving family, a healthy diet and a passion for tap dancing that has kept her ripping up the dancefloor since she turned 70. 

1. Prioritise time with family and friends

As we age it can be easy to forget to maintain connections and to lose our interest in others, but isolation can be seriously damaging to our health as well as our happiness. 

A study by Harvard University of a group of older people concluded that those who felt more lonely were 40 per cent more likely to die in the next few years, compared to those who had strong social ties. 

And Australia is in the midst of a loneliness epidemic – with a national report confirming that one in three Aussies feel isolated, meaning that many of us lack the meaningful connections that support a long and happy life. 

‘Making connections – even brief one-time conversations – can enrich the lives of whoever partakes,’ one reader in the aged care industry said. 

‘I am ancient. Love and fascination for all the other ‘animals’ that surround us gets me out of bed,’ another agreed.

One Aussie also put her grandparents health and happiness down to their close social connections and their involvement with things going on in their community. 

2. Know the ‘magic number’ of days to exercise

Whether it’s walking, dancing, or doing house work, most Aussies believe that movement is the secret to remaining vital once you reach your golden years. 

And we don’t need to exercise for hours or engage in anything too intense, with 150 minutes per week of mixed activity being the recommended minimum amount. 

Professor Ken Nosaka, from Edith Cowan University in WA, told FEMAIL that we need to exercise at least three times a week, with short bouts of exercise daily. 

Consistently making time to be fit and active is one of the most accessible ways to ensure that you are thriving well into your older years

The health expert said that even five minutes every day will positively impact our health and longevity, and Aussies agreed with his ‘move it or lose it’ approach. 

‘My grandmother and her sister who are in their 90s are both really active, they’ve never stopped moving whether it was power walking through the shops at 6am or running errands,’ a reader said. 

‘My grandmother is 97. No health problems. What she says is that becoming lazy will be the death of you. Although she has slowed down, she makes sure she continues doing laundry,’ another added. 

‘I remember my 98-year-old neighbour always telling me never stop moving. She had an active life… always walking around the neighborhood, volunteering, going to community events, etc,’ a third said. 

Experts have said that just 150 minutes per week of mixed exercise is enough to keep our bodies ticking well into our golden years

3. Check your attitude

Life will have its ups and downs regardless of how we approach it, and many Aussies think that one secret to reaching old age is to keep a good outlook and perspective. 

‘I’ve been an ER surgical RN for more than thirty years. What I’ve seen over the years besides good genetics is the patient’s attitude,’ a reader wrote.

‘It doesn’t matter what’s thrown at them. They keep moving forward with a positive attitude and a smile on their faces. People who volunteer at a hospice hospital or nursing home also have the same positive attitude towards a patient. 

‘Hospice patients especially need a smile and a hand to hold. ‘

Mildred Kirschenbaum, a centenarian from the US, said that she attributes her ‘incredible ‘ longevity to always looking on the bright side. 

‘Change your attitude. Look at the positive side of life. I think that’s what got me this far,’ she added. ‘I try my best not to sweat the small stuff.’

But one Aussie reader disagreed: ‘My aunt had a hilariously bad attitude and was grouchy, she lived to be 105.’

Avoiding ultra processed foods, eating fresh fruits and vegetables and trying not to over-eat is the diet that many believe will give us the best chance to live a long and healthy life

4. Practice balance training

According to most Australians, taking care of your legs and especially hips is vital in avoiding age-related falls that can suddenly shorten your life.

‘Stay fit enough to avoid falls. Once you fall you are basically done,’ a reader said. 

‘If you break your hip, it’s all over. My aunt died at 99 after breaking her hip, plans for a big 100th birthday bash already well underway,’ another added. 

‘As we age, our legs, knees and hips are the first to start losing stability,’ a third said.  

Simple at-home balancing exercises such as standing on one leg have been to shown to decrease the risk of falls among the elderly by a third. 

5. Be independent 

A nurse with a 95-year-old mother said that she believed that her mum thrives due to still living in her own home with the caregiving and support of her adult children. 

And independence was a thing that many ageing Aussies valued dearly and wanted to hold onto for as long as possible.

‘The minute I need my family to take care of my basic needs like I’m a child and I’m disrupting their lives – then take me home, God, please,’ one woman said. 

Simple balancing exercises, such as practicing standing on one leg, can reduce the likelihood of a catastrophic fall by up to one third

6. Rethink drinking and smoking

Aussies agreed that smoking and drinking excessive alcohol is a bad idea if you’re hoping to be around for a long time. 

‘Not drinking or smoking are often huge factors in longevity. Both of them are carcinogens and really age the skin,’ one said. 

Dr Tim Stockwell, a Canadian scientist, said drinking more than 35 standard drinks per week is likely to shorten lifespan by an average of a couple of years.

But one man argued that some people who drink regularly – and even every day – still manage to reach a very old age.

‘I know people that never drink or smoke, kept a healthy lifestyle and died before 50. I know few with very unhealthy lifestyle, drinking, smoking, obese with heart disease, diabetes and in their late 80s,’ he said. 

7. Watch your serving size

It comes as no surprise that most Aussies attribute health and longevity to what we put on our plates. 

While most consider fresh fruits and vegetables the cornerstone of eating well, it’s also important not to consume more food than our body needs.

One woman whose mother and sister are thriving well into in their nineties said that they both shunned extremely ‘calorie laden food’.

They enjoyed a balanced diet and also avoided over-eating, if there is more food on their plate than they need they simply ‘save it for later’. 

Dieticians also emphasise avoiding ultra processed foods, saying that eliminating or limiting them from our diets contributes drastically to our health and longevity. 

8. Give your DNA a hand

One Aussie said that the two secrets to aging well  were ‘genes and genes’, but most people think it isn’t simply a case of lifestyle versus genetics. 

‘It’s both. You can have good genes but if you don’t look after yourself, you can squander them. You can have ‘bad’ genes and still age quite well if you take extra care of yourself,’ one reader said.

A few people also revealed some of the quirkier reasons behind their loved ones’ longevity. 

‘My grandfather lived to 101 and had the best attitude in the world, he was a joy to be around and didn’t drink, smoke and he walked everywhere.’ one woman said. 

‘He ate popcorn for dinner twice a week and a bowl of bread covered in milk once a week, and melted butter with a dash of sugar for dessert,’ she added. 

‘My aunty lived to 103 in her own home with no outside help, she peppered her language with obscenities, and she didn’t give a flying fajita about anything or anybody, that is why she lived so long,’ another said.