By now, you’ve been inundated with every bit of advice necessary to live a happier and healthier life. You’ve been told to get some sleep, stop smoking, and eat more vegetables. There might be one more thing to do to add to your list, according to research: live near the coast. But not just any coast.

Researchers from Ohio State University dove into the records of over 66,000 Americans. They found a compelling pattern: people who lived near an ocean’s coast tended to live at least a year longer than the national average of 79. Meanwhile, individuals living in urban areas near inland water sources, such as rivers or lakes, actually had slightly shorter life expectancies.

At first glance, that might sound backward. Water is water. But not all bodies of water are created equal. The study su

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