Do you need to eat less to live longer? Or maybe a better question is: Would you eat less to live longer? Eating is one of the pleasures of life and I am not ready to give it up. The good news is that this whole “eat less, live longer� thingy is largely a myth anyway.

Research shows that you do not necessarily need to eat less to live longer, all you need is to follow a few simple rules.

Following more than 20,000 men and women ages 45 to 79, the EPIC-Norfolk Prospective Population Study identified four healthy habits that can add up to 14 years to the lifespan:

1. Eating at least five serving of fruits and veggies every day (as measured by blood levels of vitamin C).

2. Staying physically active.

3. Not smoking.

4. Drinking moderately, or having one to 14 drinks (a glass of wine or half-pint of beer) per week.

Two other recent studies underscore the importance of healthy living. The Physicians’ Health Study of 2,357 men (averaging 72 years of age) shows that vigorous exercise, blood pressure control, smoking abstinence, and weight management substantially increase the likelihood of living to 90 and beyond.

A second study shows that men who survived high blood pressure and heart disease to reach 100 years of age were more independent than women centenarians. Although admittedly fewer in number, male centenarians tend to have better cognition and physical functioning than females living to 100.

Exercise is important Looking at aging on the genetic level, researchers suggest that exercise is particularly important. “A sedentary lifestyle increases the propensity to aging-related disease and premature death,” says Lynn F. Cherkas, PhD, of King’s College, London. “Inactivity may diminish life expectancy not only by predisposing to aging-related diseases but also because it may influence the aging process itself.”

The bottom line Do not worry about eating less, follow four simple rules above and enjoy life. [source: Taste for Life]