Will These Tips Help You Live Longer?

Who doesn't want to live forever? Unfortunately modern science hasn't been able to tell us the secrets to immortality yet — but luckily some of the oldest people on the planet have shared their secrets wtih Glamour about what it takes to live a long life. Because if we can't life forever, we may as well try to live as long as possible, right? There's a reason we refer to lengthy amounts of time as "a lifetime" — when we say that something "happened a lifetime ago" or "took a lifetime to accomplish," we know that it's an impressive achievement.

As useful as all of the advice dealt out by the folks in the video — which, of course, is titled "How to Be the Oldest Person Alive" — I wasn't surprised to find that most of it was about the stuff going into our mouths. What to eat and drink were probably the most common suggestions given from people who reached that century age mark. But you know what was surprising? Exactly which food and drink items they credited with their lengthy lives. Remember the woman who said that Miller High Life was her big secret? Most of the suggestions were more in line with that philosophy than the one most nutritionists would probably espouse.

Maybe the truth to living a long life all comes down to your genes. And if that's the case, then maybe what we can learn from the words of wisdom these longest living individuals are giving us isn't necessarily how to live the longest life, but instead how to live the happiest one. Who knows? Maybe they've got it all figured out after all.

Here are a few highlights; scroll down to watch the full video.

1. What To Eat

According to these experts, here's are the foods they swear helped them achieve their advanced years:

• One banana a day and six Anacin pills
• Waffles and sausage for breakfast
• Pork, eggs and lard
• A roll of bread and milk with lint seeds every morning
• Honey every day
• A vegetarian diet

2. What To Drink

I think the first one is my favorite. Now I finally have an excuse to have some whiskey with breakfast.

• Whiskey in the morning
• Water
• Vinegar and pickles
• A tablespoon of olive oil every day
• A glass of wine everyday
• Donkey milk

3. Physical Health Habits

I can get on board with sleeping longer I'll tell you that right now.

• Sports
• No drugs or booze
• Sleep 10 to 14 hours a day
• Have a good cigar
• Cigarettes

4. Mental Health Habits

Probably the most important and touched on topic was mental health and how to let things go.

• Laugh
• Don't stress
• Don't want so much
• Greet each day with a smile
• Have a positive attitude
• Read the newspaper
• Sing
• Never let anything phase you

5. Social Life Habits

This one is kind of a given.

• Have lots of friends
• Love people

6. Family

Not only was this the only advice directly about family but it was also repeated by multiple people who've lived the longest. I've been saying this for years now: No children equals a long and happy life — for some people, at least.

7. Spirituality

Connecting with life on more than one level seems to be important when it comes to living a long life, here's what kept these people around:

• Always be curious about life
• Nature
• God
• Buddha and the sun

Watch the full video and learn how to live longer here:

Images: Giulia van Pelt/Flickr; Glamour Magazine/YouTube (7)