25 ways to live longer

Cancer-proof your diet
About 40 per cent of cancers are diet related, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research. Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day to reduce your risk of cancer of the lung, digestive tract, bowel, bladder and breast.

Enjoy a cuppa
Green and ordinary black tea pack the same amount of antioxidants and have equal benefits. Harvard researchers found that drinking one cup of black tea a day cuts heart disease risk dramatically. And scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre found that drinking tea boosts the survival rate, following a heart attack, by 28 per cent.

Don't take work home
This can be a sign that you feel unable to cope, which can raise stress. According to research from Johns Hopkins University, in the US, stressed people are 20 times more likely to develop heart disease. Prolonged tension also depletes the immune system and robs the body of its antioxidant store, thought to help prevent premature ageing.

Learn to relax
Try a relaxation technique such as yoga or meditation, both of which are proven to help alleviate stress. Relaxation reduces blood pressure and helps reduce stress-related conditions such as depression.

Check your bowels
If you experience any dramatic change in bowel habits - such as an unexplained increase in constipation, or increased looseness or passing blood - you should see a doctor immediately. At worst it could be bowel cancer, which is often discovered too late, after it's already spread.

Get a pet
Families who own a dog or cat are less stressed and visit their doctors less often than those who don't, say scientists from Cambridge University. Pets make you feel optimistic and relaxed, which lowers your blood pressure. Dogs give best results, but even a goldfish in a bowl works.