Good Friends Are the Secret to Long Life

We all know that exercise, diet, and stress are factors in the longevity equation. But pals? Researchers at Brigham Young University analyzed the results of 148 studies (involving more than 300,000 participants) and found that people with strong social ties have a 50 percent lower risk of dying. In fact, the researchers concluded that having good friends can extend your life to the same degree as quitting smoking.