Scientists are desperate to discover the secret to extending the human lifespan.
But while concrete answers are still decades away, experts are still using the latest research to try to live past their 100th birthday.
While some turn to supplements derived from a tree that existed before dinosaurs walked the Earth, others swear by an ingredient in energy drinks that's being praised for its anti-aging potential.
Here, three longevity experts reveal the habits they stick to in hopes of avoiding an early grave…
Aside from healthy eating and exercise, living until you're 120 is largely down to genetics and luck, experts say
Dr. David Clancy of Lancaster University, who has spent decades researching how to delay the onset of age-related decline, says exercise is the path to longevity.
A host of studies have linked exercise to a lower risk of dying young, with scientists claiming it improves heart health and lowers cholesterol and blood pressure.
However, a study from researchers in Finland this month questioned the effectiveness of exercise in extending lifespan.
After examining the exercise habits and biological ages of thousands of participants, they concluded that people who exercise more may live longer simply because they eat a healthy diet and get enough sleep, as opposed to the amount of time they spend in the gym.
Dr. Clancy explained that staying fit can also help rid the body of senescent cells, known as “zombie cells.”
Dr. David Clancy of Lancaster University, who has spent decades researching how to delay the onset of age-related decline, says exercise is the path to longevity
These are cells that eventually stop dividing, but also refuse to die – a process attributed to aging and stress.
Instead, they build up in the body and accelerate aging, releasing toxins that fuel inflammation and are thought to promote tumor growth.
Dr. Clancy admits that while he “wishes” he was a gym fanatic to help get rid of these cells, he doesn't exercise as much as he'd like – and that's why he's turned to other methods.
He takes Ginkgo biloba capsules, which cost up to 41 cents each at pharmacies, in the hope of boosting his cells.
The once-a-day supplement is made using the dried leaves of Ginkgo, the world's oldest living tree. Fossils of the leaves have been found dating back more than 200 million years – before dinosaurs roamed the world.
The extract is said to be rich in antioxidants and beneficial for heart health, brain function and even eye health.
However, biogerontology lecturer Dr Clancy is taking it because he believes the supplement can boost mitochondria – the powerhouse of cells that are essential for making energy and a variety of body processes, but 'don't work as well in older people'.
Meanwhile, David McCarthy, an associate professor at the University of Georgia who has studied human lifespan and was previously a researcher at the University of Oxford's Institute of Aging, swears by taking taurine supplements.
The chemical, which occurs naturally in the body, meat and fish and is added to energy drinks, is praised for its anti-aging potential.
It is vital for maintaining calcium and electrolyte levels and supports the central nervous system and immune system. It is thought to support the heart, brain and metabolism. Supplements sold in stores cost as little as 14 cents per daily pill.
David McCarthy, an associate professor at the University of Georgia who has studied human lifespan and was previously a researcher at the University of Oxford's Institute of Aging, swears by taking taurine supplements
A US study A study published in June found that rats that had taurine in their diet lived about 10 percent longer in laboratory conditions than rats that did not receive it.
As a result of that bombshell investigation Mr. McCarthy takes a taurine supplement daily.
Professor Joao Pedro de Magalhaes from the University of Birmingham has spent decades studying the genetic, cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging
Mr McCarthy's work includes a study, published in March, that looked at lifespans in 19 countries to investigate aging. It concluded that people born in 1940 could live to be 125 years old, while those born in 1970 could see their 141st birthday.
In addition to taking taurine supplements, Mr. McCarthy also leads a healthy lifestyle – exercising, getting plenty of rest and not drinking too much alcohol – to improve his health in the present.
He said: 'The general problem with taking unpleasant actions today that thirty or forty years into the future may have an effect – or it may not – is that thirty or forty years is a long time, and if the action is very unpleasant it may not be worth doing.”
He added: 'I exercise regularly, but more because I enjoy it than because I believe it will prolong my life.
Gingko is the world's longest-lived tree and its extract is said to be rich in antioxidants, which are beneficial for heart health, brain function and even eye health.
'I also try to get a lot of sleep and consume alcohol in moderation – but again, because both improve the quality of my life today, and not because of concerns about the distant future.'
But the exception to this rule is smoking, which he quit due to long-term health problems, despite the fact that he “enjoyed” it.
Fellow biogerontologist Professor Joao Pedro de Magalhaes from the University of Birmingham has spent decades studying the genetic, cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging.
He has authored more than 100 publications and given more than 100 invited lectures, including three for TEDx on the subject.
However, he eschews supplements linked to anti-aging, believing there is no “magic pill” that can turn back the clock.
Instead, Professor Pedro de Magalhaes has adopted habits that he thinks will keep him alive longer, including cutting out meat and alcohol.
Eating a healthy diet and taking supplements if the diet is deficient in important nutrients, such as omega 3, found in oily fish and nuts, can help extend your life, experts say.
Eating too much red meat has been linked to high cholesterol and colon cancer for decades.
Meanwhile, it has long been known that alcohol increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and some forms of cancer, as well as liver disease and pancreatitis.
In addition to avoiding meat and alcohol, Professor Pedro de Magalhaes says he also follows his mother's advice: 'Don't drink too much, don't smoke, eat healthy food such as fruit and vegetables and avoid fats and sugars, exercise, plus avoid behaviors with high risks, such as drugs and jumping out of planes.'