Mormons have great life expectancy, better than any other group in the U.S. A lot of the reason for this is that the Mormon religion specifically forbids smoking. While 20+ percent of U.S. adults still smoke, the rate for Mormons is much lower. This explains some of the increased life expectancy seen in Mormon communities, but not all of it.

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There is a new online course you can take that will deliver anti-aging techniques and staying young ideas weekly to your in-box. Topics include sleep and aging, mental fitness, eating fro a long life, sex and relationships, longevity to-dos and much more. Sign up for the course today, it's free!

Longevity and life expectancy are impacted by your weight, or so you would think. Research shows that being slightly overweight at middle age might not be bad for you in terms of life expectancy and longevity. Can being overweight not be as bad as we think?

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A common complication of diabetes is damage to the circulation and nerves in the foot. This can often lead to serious problems, including amputation. Simply wearing the correct shoe size can do wonders to prevent diabetes-related foot problems.

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You see pedometers everywhere now. If you go to a business conference, chances are some company is giving away pedometers. There are even books and CDs that come with pedometers. Walking and using pedometers is being promoted as a major way to deal with the obesity epidemic. But do pedometers really make a difference? Do they really help people be healthier? That was the questions a team of research had.

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Bitter melon (also known as the balsam pear) is a plant that is found in Asia. In Asian medicine, bitter melon is often used for a variety of illnesses. One of the most interesting using of bitter melon is to help reduce blood sugar. This effect has been tested in animals.

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Put a lean person who can't run a mile next to an overweight person who can. Now, take your pick, who is more likely to live longer? A lot of us (myself included) would assume that the lean person will have a better life expectancy. A lot of us would be wrong.

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Relaxation is good for your health. Every time you worry, feel anxiety or overreact you could be shortening your life. Instead, like good wine, try to mellow with age. As you get older, react to things with patients. This could increase your life expectancy. If you don't relax, you could risk shortening your life, according to a study on neuroticism, anxiety and life expectancy.

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I can't say for certain whether or not your doctor believes that religion can influence your health. But if I had to play the odds, I'd say she does.

While still a very controversial topic, the influence of religion on health is being more and more openly discussed in the medical world. Many doctors believe that a higher power intervenes on behalf of patients, and that miracles do happen. If you want to discuss religion with your doctor, it may not be as taboo a subject as it seems.

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It is tricky to figure out the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on life expectancy and longevity. The problem is that people are normally older when they are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and they may have multiple conditions impacting their life expectancy. More on Alzheimer's disease and life expectancy.