Plenty of sushi
Sometimes older people are stereotyped as being pretty unadventurous when it comes to food, but that's not always the case!
When asked about the secret to his longevity, 90-year-old Harry from Tuscany revealed that he tried to eat and enjoy sushi as often as possible.
Get a good night’s sleep
Everyone knows the importance of getting a good night's sleep, so it should surprise no one to know that many octogenarians credit their long lifespan to plenty of shuteye.
Specifically, adequate sleep is known to strengthen the immune system, enhancing the body's ability to fight off infections and illnesses in old age.
Two raw eggs a day
One study into the lifestyles and habits of people who have lived to over 90 turned up an unusual health hack. Joanne from Iowa confessed that she enjoys two raw eggs every morning, lightly scrambled and mixed into tomato juice.
It sounds pretty gross in terms of preparation, but it is true that consuming eggs carries various health benefits.
The golden rule
Not every longevity hack comes down to nutrition and exercise. When surveyed, several people aged 95 or over attributed their long life to the golden rule: aka, their ability to treat other people as they themselves wished to be treated.
It is true that those who practice kindness, gratitude, and mindfulness find themselves afflicted with mental illness at much lower rates.
Avoid romance altogether
When Bianca from Praiano was asked what she attributed her long and happy life to, she gave a puzzling and hilarious answer.
Bianca revealed that she believed she had managed to live long into her 90s by avoiding romance altogether. When she was younger, she turned down numerous date offers and even marriage proposals, and she kept that going throughout adulthood.
Gymnastics and swimming
While the people surveyed across various longevity studies have all attributed their long lives to different things, most people asked did mention some form of exercise, with gymnastics and swimming coming up most frequently.
Both swimming and gymnastics offer a workout that is good for cardiovascular health and developing muscle tone, while also being low-impact and easily adjustable for differing ability levels.
Morning push-ups
Sometimes you have to do things that are beneficial to you long term, but pretty painful or unpleasant in the moment. That is the philosophy of Tony from Greece, who starts every morning by dropping to the floor and doing 20 push-ups.
The practice is supposed to support continued mobility and strength, while also allowing him to start his day with a concrete achievement.
A pork-rich diet
Everyone has at least one food they swear by when it comes to eating healthy. While for many people that food is kale, spinach, or something similarly green, the elderly population of Italy has a different approach.
Many octogenarian Italians have landed on pork as a cornerstone of an ideal diet, attributing to it their long lifespans.
Olive oil is the key
Olive oil isn't liquid gold, but it's basically the next best thing. Not only is it rich in monounsaturated fats, which have been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, but it's also packed with antioxidants.
With all those health benefits, it's no surprise that many of those who have lived to 90 and beyond credit their longevity to olive oil.
Do crossword puzzles
It's important to take care of both your body and brain as you age. Those who have managed to live a long time employ various strategies to stay sharp, such as doing crossword puzzles.
Completing regular crossword puzzles has been linked to a reduced risk of conditions like dementia, as well as an increased ability to focus on tasks for longer.
Lots of oatmeal
One of the weirder hacks for a longer life was shared by Doreen from England, who said that she believed in the power of eating oatmeal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Doreen claimed that eating oatmeal as often as possible had helped her reach the grand old age of 98. Bafflingly, she said she enjoyed her oatmeal totally plain!
Plenty of bacon
Sometimes, something doesn't have to be technically good for your body in order to contribute to you living a long and happy life. Things that bring you joy are also essential to health and longevity.
That's why it makes total sense that several octogenarians surveyed mentioned bacon as absolutely essential to their life and crucial to their well-being.
Getting up at 5AM
Getting up at 5AM requires a serious amount of self-discipline, but results in an unbeatable feeling of accomplishment first thing in the morning.
Maybe that's why so many elderly people attribute their long lifespan to their ability to adhere to a strict pre-dawn morning routine.
Stay away from alcohol
Everybody knows that, for as enjoyable as it can sometimes be, alcohol consumption isn't conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
Therefore, it should surprise no one to know that many octogenarians have attributed their ongoing health and vitality to their lack of desire for libations.
Sunbathing
Sunbathing is an activity that has both benefits and risks. While research has shown that feeling the sun on one's skin can lead to an uptick in mood and productivity, protracted UV exposure can also lead to skin cancer.
Nevertheless, many elderly people have stated that sunbathing (with appropriate protection) is a crucial part of their health and wellbeing routine.
Knitting
The image of an older person knitting on a sofa or a porch is such a cliche that it almost seems like fiction, but many elderly people still enjoy passing their time with yarn and needles in hand.
The benefits aren't just limited to a steady supply of new sweaters either, as knitting has been shown to improve coordination, mental sharpness and clarity and mood.
Drinking coffee
While most would argue that drinking too much coffee rots your stomach, stains your teeth and ruins your breath, not everyone from the older generations agree.
Many people of advanced age have attributed their long lifespan in part to their coffee habit, saying that they make a point to enjoy a cup of Joe multiple times every day.
Morning coffee with whiskey
Starting the day with a cup of coffee isn't exactly groundbreaking, but William from Tennessee has an unusual hack for levelling up his morning beverage: whiskey.
William has claimed that the reason he has reached his late 90s is because of his love of an Irish coffee, which he enjoys every morning before embarking on his daily tasks.
Cigars
While many octogenarians have given explanations for their continued health that broadly align with the opinions of the scientific community, things aren't always that simple.
When asked, June from Arkansas claimed that it was her daily ritual of an evening cigar in front of the television that had allowed her to live such a long and happy life.
Being humble
Before modern ideas like "adequate nutrition" and "work-life balance" entered the conversation, many people believed that longevity had more to do with character than anything else.
That might be why many elderly people have said that the key to a long and healthy life is to battle vanity at every turn, and instead embrace modesty and frugality.
A nightly glass of port
For Thomas from Marseille, the idea that a shot of whiskey enjoyed daily could be healthy is laughable. However, he has his own idea what the elixir of life is, and it's also pretty unusual.
When surveyed, Thomas said that his nightly glass of port while reading the newspaper was essential to his continued health and wellbeing. Whatever works!
Enjoy your chocolate
Nobody would dare argue that chocolate isn't delicious and mood-boosting, but could it be true that it's also good for you?
Many elderly people have named chocolate as central to their health, which makes sense, as the flavonols in darker chocolate have been proven to increase blood flow to the brain and strengthen memory.
Have people to look after you
Independence is an admirable trait but, according to many people lucky enough to see their hundredth year, it can only take you so far.
When asked, many centenarians said that the key to a long life was accepting that they would need some help, and a willingness to lean on family and friends for support.
Watch your portion sizes
Everything in moderation: even moderation; that's the health hack that many elderly people have claimed has allowed them to live a long, healthy, and happy life.
Walking the line between making meals that bring joy and satisfaction, while not overindulging in huge portions or unhealthy foods, is the key to longevity according to many.
Read the news every day
Ask 100 random people what impact they thought reading the news had on their health, and you would probably get a resounding answer of negative.
With that said, many people in their 80s and 90s have said that reading the newspaper every day has allowed them to retain a lot of focus, mental clarity and memory.
Avoid stress where possible
This next health hack is a bit of a no brainer. According to many happy retirees, the thing that has allowed them to living well for so long is a lack of stress.
Chronic stress has been linked to high blood pressure, diminished heart health and gastrointestinal issues, amongst other things. So if you can cut back on stress - do so!
Eat until you're only 80% full
As loathe as you might be to leave the last two slices of pizza in the box, many people of advanced age have claimed that doing so might be the key to a longer and healthier life.
Many people grow up learning to ignore their body's hunger cues in order to join the "clean plate club", but over time this can have a damaging effect on blood sugar regulation, discipline and gut health.
Have a large circle of friends
"Laughter is the best medicine" is a respected adage for a reason. Having a solid group of friends who you see and hear from often has been associated with better health outcomes across the board.
Loneliness is an epidemic amongst older people, and so those who manage to retain community and connections report feeling more energetic, happy and healthy.
Drink plenty of tea
Any British person knows the value of a good cup of tea. It can warm you up on a cold winter morning, make sad news feel a bit more manageable, and relax you after a tough day.
Therefore, is it any wonder that many older people attribute their tea consumption to their long and healthy life?
Hang out with funny people
Everybody likes to laugh, there's no doubt about that. However, research is increasingly showing that having a giggle with friends might make you healthier as well as happier.
Over time, regular laughter can decrease artery inflammation, increase positive hormone production and improve heart health. So get yourself some funny friends!
Make sure to floss
Nobody likes to floss but, like flipping your mattress every once in a while and cleaning behind the couch, it's an annoying task that's crucial to long-term wellbeing.
When surveyed, many people in their 80s, 90s and beyond stressed the importance of dental health, often lamenting their ability to hang on to their teeth in old age. So, floss!
Don’t sit for too long
Along with cheap, unhealthy convenience foods and chronic stress, sitting might be the biggest threat to the health of people of school and working age.
Sitting for more than 30 minutes at a time has been linked to diabetes, poor heart health, weight gain, depression and dementia, which is why it's worth making movement a part of your daily routine.
Eat plenty of garlic
Every decision you make about your health involves trade-offs. For example, if you decide to go all in on the health benefits of garlic, you might find that no one will sit next to you in the office.
Despite what it can do to your breath, many elderly people have cited garlic as being central to their diet, health and wellness regime.
Read a book a week
The health benefits of reading are numerous. Not only can a reading habit contribute to better sleep, improved focus and better mental clarity, but it can also decrease your chances of developing mental illness.
While it can be difficult to find the time to pick up a book, putting the work in to develop a reading habit will serve you well in later life, as many older people know.
Spend time in water
The health benefits of being near a lake or ocean have been espoused since the Victorian era, and they're something that many octogenarians know about and make the most of.
Sea water has been known to clear the skin, boost the immune system, reduce stress and improve mood. That's partly why so many retirees decide to live on the coast!
Eat plenty of nuts
Unless you're allergic, making nuts a larger part of your diet is a quick and easy way to improve your health basically overnight.
Nuts are an underutilised source of healthy fats, micronutrients, protein and fibre - all of which can help you live a longer and happier life.
Wait to retire
Given that stress is one of the great lifespan limiters, it makes sense that many people assume an early retirement is the best path to a long and healthy life.
However, studies have shown that those who wait to retire have better physical stamina and mental health, and they often retain these benefits further into old age.
Have a lot of houseplants
Stuffing a home full of house plants might seem like a quintessentially Millennial thing to do, but many older people are equally aware of the health benefits of surrounding yourself with life.
Having a lot of houseplants is associated with lower stress levels, improved sleep, boosted mood and productivity, and mental clarity. What's not to like about that?
Sleep less than eight hours a night
Everybody knows that sleep is crucial to health, but one of the longest-raging battles is what exactly that means. While many people adhere to a strict eight-hour minimum, others disagree.
Marjorie, from Andalucia, has claimed that she attempts to get between six and seven hours of sleep a night, in order to feel the maximum benefits in terms of alertness and motivation.
Meditate plenty
Research is still uncovering the many links between mental and physical health, but one thing is clear: a calm mind is associated with better physical outcomes too.
Therefore, it's no surprise that many elderly people stress the importance of mindfulness and meditation to their longevity, whether they find their flow by walking in nature or sitting quietly on the porch.