Figuring out the keys to a healthy lifestyle can be confusing among the hundreds of recommendations from experts, but which factors are the most important for a long and healthy life? A study published in PLOS Medicine by Julianne Holt-Lunstad and colleagues, averaged the effects of hundreds of studies to provide some clues about which health behaviors might have the most powerful ties to longevity.
What they found was that social connectedness (having a large, supportive social network) had the strongest associations with longevity. The effects of exercise, diet, and moderating substance were still important for a healthy lifestyle, but having strong social connections was the most powerful.
Other research shows that strong social connections show significant ties to better immune functioning, less cardiovascular disease, and lower levels of stress. So, it’s important to make time for strengthening your social ties, even when you’re strapped for time. You can try activities with others such as running groups, team sports, or spending some quality time with a friend over a healthy meal. The decision to make time to focus on your social connections may be the healthiest decision you ever make.
