I recently got a big batch of bloodwork done, and I was pretty happy and relieved with the results. I recalled some website where you could input values from your bloodwork to find out your biological age (which can be younger or older than your actual age, depending on how fast you are aging and what your bloodwork reveals). Well I found the calculator and plugged in the values. And lo, I am a 51 year old with a phenotypic (biological) age of 41.25 years old!
Things I have probably done right: Healthy eater, mostly vegetarian; have been taking vitamins and supplements, and antioxidants, for years and years; I do not tax myself. I don't bite off more than I can chew; only one cup of coffee, and not every day, and I try to stay hydrated; lots of tea -- black, green, white, herbal -- it's so good for you; did yoga and lots of walking for years and years; laughter; I don't tend to be an angry or vindictive person. I have a good heart and generally do not enjoy holding on to negative, hateful emotions.
Thinks I have done have been unhealthy: I used to be chronically sleep-deprived, by choice, in high school, college and young adulthood; I used to smoke and still occasionally have a smoke; I have at times been a really heavy drinker in life, particularly when young, but also had a bad spell during Covid, for like two years of just heavy, heavy drinking; I don't always get enough exercise these days; I have had periods of grief, depression, anxiety, that made me fear not living as long as someone who is more sturdy in their nervous system.
What do you think are the most important things for staying young?