3 easy habits for a long, disease-free life

Telomeres (tiny bits of DNA that influence longevity and health) have been causing quite a stir among researchers lately—and for good reason. The length of these protective caps on the end of chromosomes determine how quickly cells age, and how prone we are to having a stroke or developing cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, vascular dementia, diabetes and osteoporosis. Essentially, the shorter your telomeres, the shorter your lifespan. And yet, we don't have to be at the mercy of our genetics. Have a look at the following tips which help foster strong telomeres—as well as resistance to disease and aging.

Want to increase telomere length? Adopt these three habits

'Miracle grass' encourages longevity while dispelling disease

The Chinese mountainous region of Guizhou is famous for its sheer number of centenarians. After 10 years of research, scientists discovered a common link among these long-lived people: daily consumption of sweet tasting jiaogulan tea. The centenarians also had very low incidences of Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure. Researchers believe such disease-free longevity is due to the abundance of antioxidants and saponins found in the herb. Read more »