There is no shortage of contradictory studies telling us the “best” ways to live our lives: drink red wine, don't drink alcohol; eat chocolate, avoid all sweets; and on and on. But there is some advice that has stood the test of time – and multiple teams of researchers.

Here's what the “longevity experts” can all agree upon:

Get some sleep. No, really. The media has created this prevalent but ultimately false heroic archetype of the Champion of Industry who sleeps under his desk at the office or goes for long, to-be-admired stretches without sleep. What Hollywood doesn't show you is that same guy keeling over from a heart attack at age 45. Sleep helps you recover from illness more quickly, and reduces your risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Wake up and move. Countless studies have shown that exercise and regular physical activity reduce the risk of not only heart disease and diabetes, but depression and some forms of cancer as well. Your minimal goal should be two and a half hours of moderate exercise weekly.

Stop smoking. Sure, you know smoking cuts down your life expectancy, but did you know by how much? A 50-year British study shows that quitting at age 30 could increase your lifespan by an entire decade. Kicking the habit at age 40, 50, or 60 can add 9, 6, or 3 years to your life, respectively.

Eat like a Greek. More than 50 studies involving more than 50 million people show that a Mediterranean diet full of fruits, vegetables, olive oil, fish and whole grains directly lowers your risk for obesity, high blood sugar, hypertension, and, consequently, heart disease and diabetes. 

Buckle up, and wear a helmet. We spend so much time focused upon medical issues here that we forget that accidents are the fifth most common cause of death in the U.S., and the top cause of death for people ages 1 to 24. Seat belts reduce the chance of death or serious injury in a car accident by 50 percent, and most bike accidents are head injuries, so wearing a helmet is only common sense.

Take time out each day to manage stress. You don't have to go all full lotus position for an hour, just take ten to twenty minutes a day to breath deeply, practice yoga, or even take a guided meditation app on your iPhone.

Connect with your Higher Power, and the rest of the congregation. It's documented: people who attend religious services tend to live longer than those who do not. In a 12-year study of people over age 65, those who went more than once a week had higher levels of a key immune system protein than their peers who didn't. If you are a skeptic, then you may view the strong social network that develops among people who worship together as contributing to the overall health of the worshippers.