NINE WAYS TO LIVE 100 YEARS!

Researchers have discovered that people who live to be 100 years old share certain traits in how they eat, sleep, exercise, and deal with stress. Here are nine things they do to stay healthy that can help you make it to the century mark too . . .

#1.) DON'T RETIRE. People tend to gain weight after they retire, which makes the risk of chronic disease skyrocket. People who live to be 100 retire later in life and stay active afterward by volunteering and working outdoors.

#2.) FLOSS EVERY DAY. A 2008 study showed that daily flossing reduces the amount of bacteria in your mouth. This bacteria is thought to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in the arteries, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.

#3.) KEEP MOVING. Exercise is the only real fountain of youth that exists. It's like maintaining your car: You don't have to do it, but your car will definitely run better if you do. You don't need to be a body builder to see the effects.

--In fact, people who see the biggest payoffs from exercise are the ones who go from doing nothing to taking a 30-minute walk once a day.

#4.) EAT A FIBER-RICH CEREAL FOR BREAKFAST. Getting a serving of whole-grains each morning helps maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the day. And that can drastically lower your chances of developing diabetes

#5.) GET AT LEAST SIX HOURS OF SLEEP. Instead of skimping on sleep to add more hours to your day, get enough sleep and add years to your life. Six hours a night is the bare minimum. And people who reach the century mark make sleep a top priority.

#6.) CONSUME WHOLE FOODS, NOT SUPPLEMENTS. People who eat fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain breads age more slowly. There's no evidence that vitamins and supplements have the same anti-aging effect.

#7.) BE LESS NEUROTIC. People who live to be 100 years old don't internalize stress or dwell on things. They're great at rolling with the punches. It's hard to change the way you react to stress, but things like yoga, exercise, meditation and deep breathing can help.

#8.) BE A CREATURE OF HABIT. Centenarians tend to live by strict routines. They maintain a healthy diet and take part in the same kinds of activities their whole lives. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is a good start.

#9.) STAY CONNECTED. Being social helps people avoid depression, which can lead to premature death. In fact, some experts think that the biggest benefit elderly people get from exercise is the social interaction that often comes with it.

--Whether that's going for a walk with a friend or taking a group exercise class, staying connected to other people will keep you around longer . . . maybe even a hundred years.