Here’s a hypothesis that’s been playing in mind. At this time, it’s difficult to know if it’s a fact or just a weird concept.

As humans, I think we are given a certain age.

Let’s say the magic number is 300. We are meant to live up to 300 years old.

However, our age gradually degrades. Years or days are subtracted (or added) depending on what you do with your life. And perhaps, if you are taking care of yourself well, you get to add from what’s been subtracted. Just like the growing trend: carbon offsetting.

For example, let’s say every cigarette stick takes 30 days of your life. So a pack costs you about 20 months of your life.

So you’re left with 298 years and 4 months. Then multiply that with how many packs you consumed in your lifetime.

Perhaps we could look at it this way (note that I’m just vaguely putting in these numbers):

• 500 grams of beef: -20 days
• 500 grams of wagyu beef: -10 days (more healthy fat and you have to calculate for the happiness factor, raising your dopamine and serotonin levels)
• 1 Hamour fish (but consumed plastics in the ocean): -30 days
• 1 litre of coke: -2 months
• A leaf of organic green veggie: +2 days
• A leaf of green veggie (but sprayed with chemicals): -8 days
• 20 push-ups: +30 days
• 20 pull-ups: +50 (because it’s obviously harder than push-ups)
• A bottle of beer: +/- 10 days (depending on the quality)
• A gallon of ice cream: -60 days (BR or Selecta?)
• 10 km of running: +3 months
• 1kg of carrots: +3 months
• Glass of water from plastic bottle: -5 days
• Glass of water from faucet: -3 days
• Glass of water from an expensive ilter: +1 day
• Glass of water from mountain spring:
• 1 cubic foot of inhaled smoke from cars: -90 days
• 10 cubic feet of fresh air in the middle of the forest: +40days
• Falling in love: +10 years
• Heart-broken: -8 years (depending on how you cope)

If we actually do the Math for all of these, how much years do we have left?

Surprises and others

So the above examples would just be a general rule. Your genes could also be an important factor to consider. How about your mental well-being? Some other factors we also wouldn’t be able to account for are the surprises like heart attacks, critical illnesses, accidents, etc.

And then..

And then there’s the objection I often hear that goes like this: “I know people who lived healthily but died young, and there are some who I know who are heavy drinkers/smokers but still alive today at 90”.

There are always exemptions to the rule. Who knows? It could be 1 in 1000 or 1 in 100,000,000 humans. And if you think you’re one of the special ones — well, lucky you! And if you’re not an exemption, you could mitigate the risks.

And so.. what’s my point? Well, if I may suggest — that you make an extra effort to be healthy.