Live More Than Most

People Born in These 2 US States Live Longer Than Most People, Study Says

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Time to pack!

MARISA SPYKER / COASTALLIVING.COM 

If you, like many others, have made it your New Year’s resolution to get healthier, chances are there’s a number of doctor-prescribed ways you’re going about it: Eating more seafood, doing more burpees, cutting back on booze.


But researchers have long maintained that a surprise factor — your location — can also heavily impact your health. And, according to a new study, the best way to add more years to your lifetime just might be to add more “vitamin sea” to your life.

A new report from the National Center for Health Statistics recently analyzed the life expectancies and demographics from more than 65,000 geographic regions in the U.S. to draw conclusions on factors which might contribute to better health. And, good news if you were born near a beach, states which top the list for the highest life expectancies happen to have plenty of them.

According to the results, children who are born between 2010 and 2015 will live the longest if they hail from Hawaii, where the average lifespan is 82 years. Those born in Florida aren’t far behind, with an average life expectancy of 80.1 years. (By contrast, the lowest state life expectancy is 59 years.)

While the findings reveal factors which might contribute to the significant discrepancies — such as unemployment rates and education levels — we can’t help but believe that the ocean has at least a tiny bit to do with it. Coastal towns consistently rank among the nation’s healthiest and fittest, and multiple scientific studies have linked improved mental and physical health with a proximity to the ocean. (Sunshine, the color blue, and the sound of the waves are all found to relieve stress — and stress is a major contributor to shortened lives.)

Perhaps the perfect prescription for a “new year, new you” is a new home in Hawaii or Florida? Either way, it’s worth a try — and a whole lot better than doing more burpees.

This Story Originally Appeared On Coastal Living