Eight habits that could help people live more than 20 years longer have been identified by researchers. While it’s long been known that certain lifestyle factors can influence lifespan, the American study isolated the eight factors that have the biggest impact – being physically active, being free from opioid addiction, not smoking, managing stress, having a good diet, not regularly binge drinking, having good sleep hygiene, and having positive social relationships. The research was presented at Nutrition 2023, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, and used data from 719,147 people enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Million Veteran Program. It found low physical activity, opioid use and smoking were associated with around a 30-45% higher risk of death, while stress, binge drinking, poor diet, and poor sleep hygiene were each associated with around a 20% increase, and lack of positive social relationships was linked with a 5% increased risk of dying. Men who had all eight habits at age 40 were predicted to live an average 24 years longer than men with none of the habits, according to the findings, and women with all eight habits in middle age were predicted to live an extra 21 years, compared with women with none of the habits. Xuan-Mai Nguyen, health science specialist at the Department of Veterans Affairs, said: “We were really surprised by just how much could be gained with the adoption of one, two, three, or all eight lifestyle factors. Our research findings suggest that adopting a healthy lifestyle is important for both public health and personal wellness. The earlier the better, but even if you only make a small change in your 40s, 50s, or 60s, it still is beneficial.” The researchers say the findings highlight how lifestyle factors contribute to chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, which are associated with premature disability and death. How to embrace the eight healthy habits Inspired to give your own lifestyle a boost? “If making these small but mighty adjustments could help you to live for an extra 20 years, maybe it’s time to make those changes,” says life and wellbeing coach, Natalie Trice. She shares the following insights and tips… 1. Do more exerciseRegular exercise can help prevent a wide range of major diseases – plus it’s great for keeping stress levels in check. “Going for a walk, having a swim, running with friends, even just a good old dance-off in the kitchen can get your heartbeat up and those feel-good endorphins pumping – so get your trainers on and start moving,” says Trice. 2. Manage stressTrice suggests adopting simple stress-busting practices such as mindfulness meditation, and enjoying hobbies and sports. “These can profoundly impact overall wellbeing, as you bring your stress levels down,” she says. “This isn’t about pretending everything’s great, but rather looking at easy habits you can adopt that will take down the stress, which can lead to anxiety and burnout.” 3. Don’t smoke Quitting smoking is an essential step in improving health and potentially adding years to your life. Trice points out that while some people may think reaching for a cigarette takes the edge off their stress, there are healthier ways to cope. “Maybe going running or taking up yoga could be the release and focus you need, and one that will help you live longer, smell fresher and feel better,” she suggests. “Also, with the cost of cigarettes going up all the time, giving up will free up cash for the things in life that really need to be paid for.”If you are struggling to quit smoking, talk to your GP about options available to help. 4. Don’t binge drink“By cutting down on booze, you’re doing your body and brain a massive favour,” says Trice. “Drinking every night will impact your body and could affect your sleep and work performance. Enjoy life, but if you want to enjoy it for longer, then keep tabs on your drinking.” Official guidelines suggest drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol a week (equivalent to six medium glasses of wine of six pints of beer), spread across at least three days. 5. Eat healthily Generally speaking, a balanced diet that’s rich in fibre, whole grains, fruit and veg and lean protein, with heavily processed and sugary foods kept to a minimum, is linked with better health. “We all know about eating five-a-day but doing this can be tough if you’re busy with family and work. If you can start to do this, you’ll feel better,” says Trice. “Focus on eating regularly and thinking about what you put in your body, so that it works for you, not against you.” 6. Don’t take drugsRecreational drugs can harm health in a number of ways. Trice suggests those affected start by speaking to a trusted friend or their GP, and “look at the support which could not only extend your life, but save it”. 7. Try to get good sleep Trice says: “It’s vital that we look at getting a decent night’s sleep, as this can help you feel so much better. Making sure you have a sleep routine in place can be helpful and can be as easy as having no screens in the bedroom, having a bath or shower before you hit the sack, as well as making sure the temperature is right and you have curtains to keep the light out in the mornings.” 8. Nurture positive social relationshipsTrice observes: “If you’re able to nurture a supportive network of friends, colleagues and family, this can lead to improved mental and emotional wellbeing and a longer life.” Lacking social connections? Look at local volunteering opportunities and community walks and groups. Making friends can take time, but even finding ways to regularly spend time and interact with others can help. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live George Alagiah: What are the signs of bowel cancer? Carol Vorderman says she no longer sunbathes after health scare Carol Vorderman: Why my skin cancer scare means I no longer sunbathe

An abandoned home that looks completely normal on the outside has been discovered filled to the brim with children's toys. Barbie dolls and retro toy figurines fill most rooms of the house, with most of them still in pristine condition. The property was visited by professional urban explorer Dave, better known as Freaktography, who shared his findings online with shocked viewers. "Not looking like much from the outside it was quite clear that this home had been vacated or abandoned not long ago," Dave told Need to Know. "We almost passed it up as it seemed to be too new for our liking, however after finding an obvious way inside we stepped in just to see if there was anything worth shooting. "We quickly realised this was an abandoned house of toys, old retro toys from the late 70s and early 80s. "Old lunch pails, action figures, very old Barbie dolls, books, old cameras. "This house was a retro toy collector's dream." The photos showcase the wide range of toys including an old box stuffed with figurines like E.T. and a Smurf, as well as Star Wars products. Although most of the toys are in good condition, some have been played with a little too hard – one doll no longer has eyes and the face appears to be scuffed. There are also three life-sized baby dolls, a Fisherprice Movie Viewer and a Wendy Walker doll. It is not clear how long the house has been abandoned and who lived there. Social media users have been left feeling nostalgic by the findings. One person wrote: "All this stuff, it looks like my childhood, right down to the Fisherprice Movie Viewer. "It was one of my favourite toys growing up, you can’t find one any more, for anything! "It makes me feel slightly sad for whoever the kid was that owned this stuff, I know that that kid would be my age now, but I still feel sorry for them." Cathi wrote: "Looking at this house of toys one doll stands out – it was a Wendy Walker doll. "I got it when I was about 5 and she was very special to me even though I was a tomboy. "The other toys date from the 70s and very early 80s." Elisa added: "Someone needs to find that owner so those toys can be saved. “Lucky Green, The large doll in the middle of the three dolls is a rare doll from Canada." Lindsey said: "How does one know it is abandoned? Only in this house for instance that it looks like it still belongs to someone. "It seems to have been to some extent and the belongings are taken care of. "I hope any relatives can be found to claim these wonderful things before someone comes in and takes them or destroys them." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

A look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets by Samuel Indyk As markets continue to push back

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Follow live coverage as Brighton & Hove Albion face Southampton in the Premier League today. Manchester City are reigning champions after beating Liverpool to the finish line in a neck-and-neck 2021/22 title race where a comeback win on the final day of the season against Aston Villa secured a fourth title in five years for Pep Guardiola's side. Jurgen Klopp's Reds were on course for a quadruple last season but were forced to settle for just an FA Cup and Carabao Cup win and will return trying to win the title again just as they did in 2020. It was a dramatic season for Chelsea a year ago with Roman Abramovich now replaced by Todd Boehly as owner in west London. He will want an instant return on his hefty investment at Stamford Bridge while Tottenham, back in the Champions League, will want to kick on once more too. It's not all about the action at the top though with Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest promoted to the top tier for 2021/22 and hoping to hold their own against the best English football has to offer and avoid the drop. We will bring you all the action and updates from today's game in the live blog below:

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A “monster” catfish has been caught in Italy’s River Po. The huge fish measured 9ft 3in, or 285cm, making it the largest ever to be caught. However, it will not break the world record, thanks to angler Alessandro Biancardi’s kindness. While the catfish surpasses the current record holder by 40cm, set by another fish pulled from the Po in 2010, Mr Biancardi decided to release his catch back into the river. He managed to pull the fish to the surface of the water and realised he had “hooked a monster” after a 40-minute battle. Read More Piers Morgan wishes Prince Harry ‘luck with privacy campaign’ after court criticism Prince Harry suffered ‘huge amount of paranoia’ from press intrusion, court told Influencer culture and unwanted fame - with Curtis Sittenfeld

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Burnley host West Ham at Turf Moor knowing a win would take them off the bottom of the Premier League table and reignite their domestic campaign. Vincent Kompany’s men have only won once in the league this season, beating Luton 2-1 at the start of October. They have lost their last six fixtures across all competitions and desperately need a change in fortunes. West Ham, meanwhile, are ninth in the table and have hopes of earning a place in Europe next season. Games like these, against lower half teams, are must wins if David Moyes’ men hope to finish inside the top seven. Can they defeat the Clarets today? Follow the latest action from the Premier League below.

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