Recently published research has discovered that the importance of sleep is beyond poignant if you want to live a long and healthy life.
The Importance of Sleep: Sleep Well and Live to 100! photo by 5stagesleepshot.com
According to Yahoo, New research from UnitedHealthcare took a look at centenarians and baby boomers, and asked the baby boomers about the “secrets of aging success” and evaluating whether the latter are taking the necessary age to 100.
The findings show the importance of sleep, where 71 percent of the centenarians say they get eight hours or more of sleep each night. Moreover, over 80 percent centenarians say they regularly consume a balanced meal. In contrast, only 38 percent of baby boomers admitted to getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep, while only 68 percent of boomers say they consume a healthy diet.
While the majority of centenarians believe the importance of sleep is vital in order to live a long and healthy life, they also point to social connections, exercise and spiritual activity as some of the keys to successful aging. In the survey, 89 percent say they communicate with a family member or friend every day, about 67 percent say they pray, meditate or engage in some form of spiritual activity, and 51 percent say they exercise almost daily.
Although in the areas of socializing, exercise and spiritual activity the baby boomers match up fairly well, yet, they fall short when it comes to the importance of sleep and a healthy diet. The survey also indicated overworking may contribute to the lessening of expected age as76 percent of surveyed baby boomers say they work at a job or hobby almost every day, where as only 16 percent of centenarians work.
According to the Census Bureau, as of late 2010, the U.S. had an estimated 72,000 centenarians. By the year 2050, that number is expected to reach more than 600,000.
All in all, the survey found that a healthy diet along with the importance of sleep are crucial factors when it comes to living a long and healthy life.
The Importance of Sleep: Sleep Well and Live to 100!
