At 96, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, or more commonly known as Queen Elizabeth II, lived a long and healthy life. Now, while some credit can be given to her royal upbringing, there’s something to be said about how long the late queen lived.
In fact, there are a few things we can learn from King Charles IIIs’ mother when it comes to improving one’s lifespan. Yes, the tips below may not necessarily make you the figurehead of a 417-year-old monarchy. However, they will definitely help boost your health and improve your longevity.
Queen Elizabeth’s Longevity Secrets
1. Never skip breakfast
There’s no better way to start off the day than with a healthy breakfast, and that’s something the world’s longest-reigning monarch understood. In fact, the Queen enjoyed a bowl of Special K cereal, which is rich in folic acid, B vitamins, and iron every day at 8:30 am sharp.
It’s perfectly fine if you’re not a fan of cereal. However, it is important to start off your day with a healthy and hearty meal, especially if you want to live longer. That’s at least according to one 2019 study that found that individuals who regularly skipped breakfast were 32% more likely to die from all causes than people who regularly ate breakfast.
2. Have a cup of tea
The art of drinking tea hails from China, and it has now been adopted firmly in British culture. The Queen herself would never begin her day before enjoying a cup of Earl Grey tea, with no sugar, and a little milk.
There are plenty of benefits that tea drinkers can enjoy, such as a strengthened immune system and a reduced risk of both cancer and heart disease. As for which tea is the best for your health? Well, there are plenty of options at your disposal, but we would definitely recommend green tea, as well as black tea, like Earl Grey, which has recently been found to lower the risk of death from all causes.
3. Keep your brain busy
Not only was she the longest-reigning monarch, she was also likely the busiest. Whether it was speaking engagements or meetings with British parliamentarians, Queen Elizabeth definitely kept herself and her brain busy.
If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it, and that’s the last thing you want to happen to your brain. One study found that those who follow a busy schedule are more likely to experience better brain processing, improved memory, sharper reasoning, and better vocabulary.
Now, while we’re not saying that you should take on more than you can handle, try not to get into the habit of keeping your brain idle. Reading a book, watching a documentary, or completing a jigsaw puzzle are all great and fun ways to keep your brain active.
4. Adopt a beloved pet
If you’ve ever seen any pictures of Queen Elizabeth taking a stroll, you’ve definitely seen her beloved corgis following closely behind. The devotion that the Queen had to her band of adorable dogs was beautiful to watch, and it may be one of the reasons behind her long life.
According to a study published in Circulation, dog owners were 24% more likely to live longer than those who didn’t own dogs. However, the benefits of owning a pet aren’t just limited to dogs. One study found that cat owners are 30% less likely to suffer a heart attack.
5. Keep on moving
You can’t live a long and healthy life without breaking a sweat.
While Elizabeth II was no gym fiend, Elizabeth II kept active in her own special ways. Whether it was strolling around her gardens with her corgis, or going horseback riding, Elizabeth II was all about physical activity.
Photo by Benjamin Combs on Unsplash
6. Embrace nature
Whether it was taking strolls or gardening, Queen Elizabeth had a bit of a green thumb, and it served her health well.
Gardening isn’t only a great way to stay active, but spending time in nature has been proven to cause one to live a longer, and more fulfilling life.
MAIN IMAGE CREDIT: theroyalfamily/instagram
Want to know more?
The Queen’s passing has impacted many, and children in the UK will be particularly sensitive to her death. So how do you speak to your children about her passing?
Queen Elizabeth II/Royal Family Official Website
References
Festini, S. B., McDonough, I. M., & Park, D. C. (2016). The Busier the Better: Greater Busyness Is Associated with Better Cognition. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 8, 98. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2016.00098
Inoue-Choi, M., Ramirez, Y., Cornelis, M. C., Berrington de González, A., Freedman, N. D., & Loftfield, E. (2022). Tea Consumption and All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in the UK Biobank : A Prospective Cohort Study. Annals of internal medicine, 10.7326/M22-0041. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.7326/M22-0041
Kramer, C. K., Mehmood, S., & Suen, R. S. (2019). Dog Ownership and Survival: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Circulation. Cardiovascular quality and outcomes, 12(10), e005554. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.119.005554
Ofori-Asenso, R., Owen, A. J., & Liew, D. (2019). Skipping Breakfast and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Death: A Systematic Review of Prospective Cohort Studies in Primary Prevention Settings. Journal of cardiovascular development and disease, 6(3), 30. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcdd6030030
