Simple life hack could see you live for three more years and it will cost you nothing

For those of us looking to become a little healthier, there's always some new diet or life hack out there.

While many of them are legit, and can actually help you live a longer healthier life, many come with a hefty price tag too, making it harder for people on a budget.

But what if there was another way... a free way?

'Blue zone' expert Dan Buettner has once again taken to social media to offer tips on how to extend your life, this time with a free life hack that can extend your life, potentially giving you another three years.

For those not in the know, 'blue zones' - while often debunked by experts - are claimed to be areas where people tend to live longer due to the healthy lifestyle and diet, such as areas in the Mediterranean.

While much of Buettner's recent advice on how to extend your life has been around what to eat, and what not to eat, this time he's offered a much simpler solution to extending your life.

How to extend your life by three years

Buettner explains that if you want to extend your life, pills and supplements aren't the way to go. Instead, all you need to do is simply take the time to go for a walk every day.

In a post on Instagram, Buettner says: "If you’re sedentary (someone who spends too much time seated) and simply start walking 20 minutes a day, you can add three years to your life expectancy."

As Buettner explains: "If you move from getting zero physical activity, to just 20 minutes of walking a day, it adds three years to your life expectancy". As always, he signs off by saying "and we'll see you when you're 100".

The good news for anyone looking to lead a longer, healthier life is that this healthy life hack is completely free. No pills, no expensive food required, just the drive to get up and get walking.

Is it really that simple?

We all know that walking is good for you, let's face it, there's no ground-breaking new information coming out here. But, is Buettner's claim that you can extend your life by three years accurate?

According to the National Centre for Sport & Exercise Medicine website, there's truth in Buettner's claim.

A recent study found "in both measures they found that moderate exercise (or ten minutes of brisk walking a day) was associated with a three year increase in life expectancy, while 22 minutes of brisk walking could increase life expectancy by as much as five years."

While the amount of time you should walk, and the expected gain to your life expectancy differs slightly between Buettner's claim and the recent study, both agree that walking equals a longer life.

So stop reading this, get off your butt, and get moving if you want a longer life! It's that simple.