Healthy Habits to Add 10 Years to Your Life
By Sara Butler
People have been looking for the fountain of youth for eons. Everyone would love to live longer and to live well in the process. Harvard researchers have found that adding years to your life may be easier than you think -- no fountain required. If you can adopt a few healthy habits by age 50, then you can add 10 years or more to your life. Here’s what you need to know!
Quit Smoking
Smoking is the enemy of longevity. Smoking contributes to chronic health problems that shorten the lifespan such as:
- Heart disease
- Emphysema
- Lung disease
- Osteoporosis
Smoking makes breathing more difficult, which then makes being active more difficult -- and being active is another key to a long, healthy life.
Eat a Healthy Diet
There’s plenty of research out there to suggest that a healthy diet can improve your quality of life, improving your chances of bypassing chronic diseases such as cancer, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Of course, there’s plenty of conflicting advice out there about what you should and shouldn’t eat. Your best bet is to stick to the basics. You should:
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- Eat whole grains
- Strike a balance between calories in and out
- Cut down on red meat that’s high in saturated fat
Eating well will help you to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, which also adds years to your lifespan. If you’re struggling with achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, discuss it with your chiropractor. They may have some suggestions to help!
Keep Your Mind Sharp
As you get older, it’s important to help your brain make new connections. That means you should never stop learning and trying new things. In your spare time, volunteer, read, try a new hobby, and make sure to keep your social network strong. Being with people is one way to help you keep the neurons in your brain firing!
Brush and Floss
Many people don’t equate their dental health with their overall health and longevity, but it’s well documented to be the case. You should see a dentist regularly as well as floss and brush each day in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy. This will, in turn, improve your cardiovascular health and add years to your life!
Living longer isn't a secret -- it's easy to do if you simply take care of your body and your mind.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Rowlett, Tex.