Boys, if your idea of an ideal girl is based solely on beauty – not the brain – because you are clever enough for two, think again.

Swedish scientists found out in a study that a wife’s intelligence has more to do with a man’s long life and good health than his education.

In a study published at PubMed.com, “for men, the wife’s education is more important for the mortality risk than his own education when the man’s social class is included in the model.”

It’s easy to see why. Educated women are more likely to share and influence their good lifestyle habits to their family – and husband. Educated women are better at processing advice and knowledge about healthy lifestyles and passing these on to positively affect the couple’s general way of living life.

They tend to know what healthy foods should be served, what vices to avoid (less alcohol, more exercise, yoga, etc.) better than men would. (Or is it simply because men just wouldn’t mind not minding an unhealthy lifestyle?)

Along this line, the phrase “Carla effect” easily comes to mind. Since French President Nicolas Sarkozy was married to Carla Bruni, people say Sarko is better, and that “there is definitely a serenity in his life now.”