We are aware of how important it is to eat healthy and get plenty of exercise for a long life. For example, there is a lot of research advocating the consumption of the Mediterranean diet to increase life expectancy. However, there are simple changes you can incorporate into your daily life to potentially help you live longer. A study involving 2,000 people proved that the ability to sit up and get up is linked to living longer.
BLUE ZONE PEOPLE SIT THIS WAY
Leslie Kenny, founder of Oxford Healthspan and co-founder of the Oxford Longevity Project, suggested eating and resting in a squatting position. This habit is common in a region known as the “blue zone”, the five longest inhabited places in the world. He explained: “The blue zones are the regions of the world where people live the longest. In these blue zones, people often spend plenty of time outside in the sunshine for active activity such as hiking, hiking, and gardening.
INCREASES BODY STRENGTH AND BALANCE
“For example, in Okinawa, Japan, they get plenty of outdoor exercise, but are known for their ‘ground culture’ as they eat their meals and even rest in a squatting position. A simple act like getting up and down from the ground regularly builds lower body strength and improves balance. I spent two days with a 103-year-old woman and saw her get up and down from the ground 30-40 times, which is about 30-40 squats a day.”
WHAT DOES RESEARCH SAY?
This is supported by research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. He tested the theory that the ability to sit on the floor without using your hands or knees is an indicator of a longer life. “Although cardiorespiratory fitness is strongly associated with survival, there is limited data on indicators of musculoskeletal fitness,” he said.
PARTICIPANTS WATCHED FOR YEARS
“Our goal was to evaluate the relationship between the ability to sit up and rise from the ground and all-cause mortality.” To try this out, more than 2,000 adults aged 51 to 80 conducted a sit-to-stand test. Individuals were scored from zero to five, subtracting one point from five for each support (hand/knee) used. Final scores ranging from zero to 10 were obtained by adding the sitting and promotion scores and were stratified into four categories. During the six-year follow-up period, 159 deaths occurred (7.9 percent of participants).
The study said: “Lower sit-stand test scores were associated with higher mortality. The application of a simple and safe assessment tool, such as the test, in general health examinations, can add relevant information regarding functional abilities and outcomes in non-hospitalized adults.”
TRY IT AT HOME
Miss Kenny recommended that you try the test at home. “Just sit on the floor and get up from your seat without using your hands. If you can get up like this, you’ll get an A*. If you need to use your hands, call it B. If you have trouble standing up, you won’t get a passing grade.”