Most people can agree that living a long and healthy life is ideal. Especially when the alternative is passing away younger before you’ve lived your life to the fullest and reached your golden years. And while genetics will play a role in how long you live, so will your lifestyle factors. If you want to know the secrets to how to live a long and healthy life, then read on.
Eat a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet is everything when it comes to being, well—healthy! Eat balanced meals, and focus on consuming plenty of natural food sources. Whenever you have the choice to eat something that is naturally derived, or something that comes from a box or bag, the choice should be obvious!
This won’t just help you maintain a healthy weight, and therefore avoid obesity-related diseases like diabetes, but also reduce your chances of developing cancer. If you really want to go the extra mile, try to incorporate a fully plant-based diet into your week at least several times. This will naturally reduce your sugar intake and caloric intake.
Stay Active
It’s no big mystery—the people that live the longest are often the ones that move the most! A sedentary lifestyle is one of the worst things you can do for your body, as it weakens you and makes you more susceptible to injury.
Aim for at least 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise. That doesn’t mean you have to break a sweat, or even find yourself out of breath. Something as moderate as a brisk walk can burn a significant amount of calories and make a difference in your overall physical well-being. Not to mention, walking can even be fun!
It can be done by yourself while listening to a podcast or music you enjoy or enjoyed with friends and family. Plus, there’s no gym membership required!
Maintain Social Connections
One of the biggest health concerns among seniors is loneliness in their older years. Because they don’t have a job to go to on a daily basis, they may find themselves lacking social interaction, and in turn, feel isolated and lonely.
Believe it or not, loneliness can have an impact on your physical health. Studies show that people who regularly see their friends and family are much less prone to depression, and actually live much longer than people who isolate themselves.
Manage Your Stress
Stress isn’t just something that we feel mentally, we feel it physically! If you can manage to reduce the amount of stress in your life, then you may find yourself less prone to conditions like high blood pressure and even heart attacks.