Live Well

Guardian UK: Happy ever after: 25 ways to live well into old age - Determined to enjoy longer and healthier lives, two women researched the science to find the key. Here, they share what they discovered

(20.) Meditate

Meditation isn’t just hippie woo woo: research shows it has a powerful effect on the brain. It appears to reduce stress and promote empathy, and regular practitioners seem not to lose grey matter, or suffer reduced concentration, as they age. Just 15 minutes a day is enough to strengthen telomeres, the “caps” that protect our DNA and, according to a Harvard study, to have a positive impact on blood pressure levels.