On my way to 100

According to http://www.livingto100.com/, my calculated life expectancy is 91 years.

That's pretty good. To live ALL the way to 100, they recommend the following:

+ 0.5 years
Minimizing or cutting out your caffeinated coffee consumption completely could provide you with about half a year more in life expectancy

A half a year?? I think I will continue to enjoy my coffee every day even if it means I will only living to 99.5 years of age. Because at least I will still be in my right mind, according to this study, that says coffee may reduce the risk of dementia. A+.

+ 2.0
If it is ok with your doctor, taking an 81 mg aspirin every day improves your hear and brain health and could help you delay or escape a heart attack or stroke. Taking an aspirin each day, perferably in the evening, could add 2 years to your life expectancy.

Couldn't I just keep exercising, eating healthily, and doing crossword puzzles to keep my heart healthy and my mind clear? 97.5 years. I can handle that.

+ 1.0
The more you can get fast foods out of your diet the better. While you are already doing a pretty good job of doing so, completely removing fast foods from your diet could add a year to your life expectancy.

No more buffalo wings? No more Tostadas? No more pizza? These are our guilty pleasures when we cannot grab a glass of wine or a mojito. 96.5 years. Still good.

+ 0.5
Osteoporosis (brittle bones) is a terrible disease that becomes more common with older age. Among the important ways to prevent osteoprosis, it is important to have adequate amounts of calcium in your diet. Add more dairy products to your diet or take 1500 mg of calcium a day. Doing so could add a half a year to your life expectancy.

This I understand. I do need more calcium in my diet, and not just in multivitamin form.

+ 1.0
Iron is likely an age-accelerator and increases risk for age-related diseases. Stopping your iron supplement could add a year to your life expectancy.

I don't eat much red meat (although broccoli is pretty good - I should eat more of that) ... and I always thought iron was a good thing. Apparently not!

+ 5.0
Increasing your exercise regimen to 4 days a week could add a year and a half, to 5 days a week could add 3 years, to 6 or 7 days a week could add 5 years to your life expectancy

Wow. FIVE YEARS. Why is my couch so darn comfortable?

+ 1.0
Examining yourself for cancer could add a year to your life expectancy

That's what my doctor said. I still don't know what I'm looking for.

+ 0.5
Getting your blood sugar checked could add half a year to your life expectancy

Here I thought I was just naturally sweet?


So when it comes down to it, 91 years old is pretty good. Maybe when I'm 90 I'll wish that I examined myself for cancer, took aspirin every day, drank more milk, had my blood sugar checked, drank less coffee, and cut out the fast foods...but right now, 90 still seems so far away. Ask me again in 2073. We'll talk then, and maybe write some memoirs.

I'm excited to see what the future holds!