Want to give yourself an edge in the game of life? MSNBC.com reports that incorporating these 12 extremely simple steps into your daily routine can greatly increase your lifespan.
1. Ditch the coffee and soda for a nice cup of tea. The International Journal of Cancer reports that drinking the brewed beverage regularly can slash your risk of kidney cancer by 15%.
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2. Plan your Z-time. A British study shows that less than 6 hours or more than 9 hours of shuteye a night doubles your risk of early death!
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3. Wait until after your shower to pop in your contact lenses --the University of Illinois found that wearing those babies in the shower puts you at greater risk for an eye infection.
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4. Add some red wine to your diet. The cardiac benefits have been known for years, but an Israeli study shows that vino can also help you stay lean by helping your body block fat absorption.
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5. Empty your lint trap --it can prevent your dryer from being one of the 315 that catch on fire every year.
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6. Check your thyroid levels. The American Journal of Medicine found that a mildly underactive thyroid can increase the risk of heart disease by 65%.
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7. Lean back at work. Scottish and Canadian researchers discovered that chairs angled at 45 degrees are much better for your back than those positioned at a straight 90-degree angle.
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8. Be careful of air fresheners! You want the house to smell clean, but some contain phthalates which can disrupt your hormones! Suggestion --open a window or put lavender or peppermint oil on the light bulbs.
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9. Add vitamin D to your diet, 400 ius per day will reduce your risk of early death by 7% according to a review in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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10. Wipe your house clean. Spanish researchers found that using spray cleaners as little as once a week can increase your risk of an asthma attack by 76%.
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11. Make your broccoli healthier. Italian researchers recommend steaming the veggie to increase the amount of cancer-fighting compounds as opposed to boiling, which can lower the levels of these natural antioxidants.
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12. Move at least once an hour. Genes that cause heart disease, diabetes and obesity can "activate" if you sit for hours on end when only a few minutes of activity can keep these at bay.
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