Surprising longevity predictors

Don't smoke. Eat your fruits and veggies. Get plenty of exercise.

We can all recite these mantras for living a long and healthy life in our recommended eight hours of sleep every night. However, poking around in the nooks and crannies of scientific journals turns up a number of offbeat studies about unexpected longevity indicators. Although some of the statistical associations are accidents of birth, a good number point to -- sometimes surprising -- changes you can make today that may add years to your life expectancy.

• Eat candy. A couple of Harvard researchers figured that if candy tasted so good, it couldn't be bad for you. They surveyed Harvard alumni and found that men who indulged their sweet tooth in moderation lived on average nearly a year longer than men who never ate sugary confections and chocolate. So stop denying yourself, and treat yourself to a sweet.
• Floss your teeth. Your dentist was right. Not only may regular flossing help you prevent gum disease; it may also protect you from heart attack or stroke. Bacteria that inflame the gums can migrate through the bloodstream and irritate your cardio-vascular system. Researchers have found a correlation between periodontal disease and the risk of cardiac problems and stroke. The takeaway message: Always floss after eating candy.
• Row, ski, play ball, conduct an orchestra, or run a business. Your occupation or chosen form of recreation may impact your longevity. Different studies have found favorable longevity rates among symphony conductors, corporate executives, cross-country skiers, major league baseball players, and rowers. Scientists haven't pinned down why these diverse occupations and pursuits seem to confer an advantage, but if you are looking for a new career or a new sport in midlife, you may want to give them consideration.
• Get a nickname. Remember those major league ballplayers? Well, those with nicknames live about 2.5 years longer than their peers without affectionate monikers. That's according to a study by Wayne State University researchers.
• Have faith. Faith confers surprising benefits. A study published in the scholarly journal Health Psychology found that "the association of religious involvement and mortality was robust." Increasing your religious involvement - attending services, joining a congregation, having faith, and taking comfort from it - may increase your lifespan.
• Call a friend. Longevity researchers looking at Australians over age 70 found that those with good networks of friends and confidantes lived longer. Ditto for Swiss octogenarians. A night out with the boys, a girls' road trip, or just meeting a pal for coffee once a week may ensure that you are going to enjoy those friendships for a long time.
• Get married. UCLA researchers crunched the stats and found that the death rate was "significantly higher" among unmarried people than for individuals who were married and living with their spouse. The effect was strongest for those who had never married. That's a powerful argument to get back into the dating scene.
• Have a baby. The New England Centenarian Study found that mothers who naturally conceived and delivered children later in life lived longer. Birthing babies in your 40s or 50s is an indication that your reproductive system - and probably the rest of you -- is aging more slowly. Getting pregnant again won't cause you to live longer, but it might indicate that you will.

Luck of the draw

Of course, some longevity indicators are beyond our control, including gender. Women outlive men across the board. No word on whether a sex change (gender reassignment surgery) affects your life expectancy.

Some studies show that shorter, smaller people live longer than taller, bigger people. Think about dogs: The average chihuahua lives 12-15 years, whereas Irish wolfhounds last only 6 or 7. Losing height to osteoporosis won't help you.

In one study, researchers who looked at birth dates and mortality figures found a statistical correlation between month of birth and death rates. Austrian and Danish children born in the winter had longer life expectancies than those born in the summer.

In a study for the Society of Actuaries, scientists in Chicago mined online databases for predictors of exceptional human longevity. They found that first-born daughters and sons are more likely to reach 100 than their later-born siblings. This same study found that, back in 1900, western farm families raised more future centenarians than eastern, urban families of that era.

Earlier studies that lefties might die earlier than righties have been called into question. So if you're a southpaw who was concerned about your odds of long-term survival, you probably don't have to switch hands.

Why not give the Eons longevity calculator a try and see some of the things you can do to keep yourself healthy and living longer.