Maintaining five healthy habits — eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, keeping a healthy body weight, not drinking too much alcohol, and not smoking — during adulthood may add more than a decade to life expectancy, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
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The long-chain omega-3 fats eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are as close to a fountain of youth the world has to offer. . . . In a study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, . . . individuals with the highest levels of EPA and DHA in their blood had the lowest rates of heart disease and the slowest rates of chromosomal aging. To reap the benefits, munch on fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, halibut, mackerel and sardines. Not a seafood fan? Take a fish oil supplement.
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Eat a Rainbow of Fruits and Vegetables: People who eat a wide assortment of fruits and vegetables have lower rates of chronic disease, including hypertension, coronary disease, and stroke. They also maintain healthier body weights and live longer. Why should you taste the rainbow? The diverse colors of fruits and vegetables represent different nutrients and antioxidants, with properties that can fight aging from a number of angles.
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If your thigh muscles are weak, chances are you will become more frail as you age. So it’s time to strengthen those thighs to keep you young and agile.
Standing on one leg strengthens your thigh muscles. Every morning, stand on only your right leg for 10 seconds. Then switch to your left. Repeat three times on each leg for best results. Being able to balance will not only strengthen your thighs, but your brain as well!
Want the secret to living a longer and healthier life? Scientists have found ways to prolong the healthy lifespans of worms, mice, and even monkeys. Their work has revealed exciting new clues about the biology of aging. But solid evidence still shows that the best way to boost the chance of living a long and active life is to follow the advice you likely heard from your parents: eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and stay away from bad habits.
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If you want to live a long, healthy life, make sure you’re among the nonsmokers. Smoking contributes to heart disease, osteoporosis, emphysema and other chronic lung problems, and stroke. It makes breathing during exercise much harder and thus can make activity less enticing. It appears to compromise memory, too.
The news does get better. People who quit smoking can repair some, if not all, of the damage done. After a smoker quits, the risk of heart disease begins to drop within a few months, and in five years, it matches that of someone who never smoked.
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Plenty of research suggests that eating healthy foods can help extend your life and improve your health. Studies reveal that a healthy diet can help you sidestep ailments that plague people more as they age, including heart disease, hypertension, cancer, and cataracts.
There is no shortage of new and conflicting advice on diet and nutrition. Stick to the basics with more broad-based changes, such as cutting back on meat; eating more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains; and striking a healthy balance between calories in and calories out.
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