NEWS: Drinking a Glass of Wine and Taking a Walk May Be Key to Longevity

For 15 years, Dr. Claudia Kawas and her team from the University of California have been investigating why some people reach 90-years-old and beyond and others don’t. The 90+ Study began in 2003 to answer the age old question: Why do some people live longer? It followed 1,700 90-year-olds and examined their daily habits. Some of these habits included drinking coffee, talking to neighbors, getting out of the house, having a positive attitude, getting 15 minutes of exercise a day, and drinking wine.

Dr. Kawas spoke about her findings and the keys to longevity at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual conference in Austin, Texas. She revealed that nonagenarians who consumed approximately two glasses of beer or wine a day were 18 percent less likely to experience a premature death than those who abstained. Those who took moderate exercise every day (between 15 and 45 minutes) had an 11 percent lower risk, and drinking two cups of coffee gave a 10 percent lower risk.

“I have no explanation for it, but I do firmly believe that modest drinking improves longevity.” – Dr. Claudia Kawas

Centenarians from the blue zones regions of the world often drink up to two glasses of wine every day as a way to “downshift” from the stressors of daily life. Sardinians, in particular, drink the garnet-red Cannonau wine. Drinking a glass of wine with a plant-slant meal and a group of your closest friends can only enhance the experience and the benefits.