Learn how your lifestyle influences your ability to stay healthy as you age, including how you can increase your vitality and longevity.
September 2022. This article is independently written by Shelby Golding. All opinions given are hers. Shelby has been certified as a personal trainer and nutritional specialist since 2007. In 2008, she found her passion for writing about these topics and hasn't looked back.
The top causes of death in the US, including heart disease, diabetes, the flu, Alzheimer's, and cancer, aren't always avoidable. However, many of them can be treated and prevented if you start making health-conscious decisions early in life. The sooner you start, the better off you'll be.
Keep reading to learn what you can do to stay healthy as you age, including lifestyle choices you need to make right now to maintain your vitality.
The Anti-Aging Lifestyle Approach
Aging is a gradual process that depends on many small acts of wellness. You need to take stock of your healthy and unhealthy habits to ensure that the good outweighs the bad to maintain your health as you age.
1. Protect Your Skin
The skin is the body’s protective barrier against bacteria and environmental hazards. Healthy skin also helps the body to create vitamin D, which supports healthy bones and muscles.
Your skin loses fat and grows thinner as you get older. When you take care of your skin, you stop yourself from "looking your age." However, wrinkles, age spots, and dull, dry-looking skin are some of the first signs of age to appear to the naked eye.
You can help the skin stay healthy as you age by spending less time in direct sunlight, applying sunscreen, wearing long sleeve shirts, and standing in the shade to save your skin from harmful UV rays. Protecting your skin will also prevent you from developing skin cancer, the most common and deadly cancer in the US.
2. Diet for Longevity
The diets of the world's supercentenarians have been hyper-analyzed to discover what they did differently. A few diet trends among the world's oldest living people were a love of vegetables, eating smaller meals, and enjoying your food.
Some, like the oldest man in recorded history, attributed his old age to eating only until he was 80% full. Others smoked cigarettes and drank every day. Nevertheless, they offer insight into the many ways you can live a long life as a group.
The experts all agree that diet plays a crucial role in longevity. But, as the supercentenarians show, a healthy diet doesn't have to mean eating salads all the time. Instead, focus on a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Indulge occasionally, but stick to the basics if you want to live a long life.
Some, like the oldest man in recorded history, attributed his old age to eating only until he was 80% full. Others smoked cigarettes and drank every day. Nevertheless, they offer insight into the many ways you can live a long life as a group.
The experts all agree that diet plays a crucial role in longevity. But, as the supercentenarians show, a healthy diet doesn't have to mean eating salads all the time. Instead, focus on a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Indulge occasionally, but stick to the basics if you want to live a long life.
3. Focus on Brain Health
Alzheimer's disease, and other common neurodegenerative disorders, are becoming increasingly common in the United States. In 2022, approximately 6.5 million Americans over 65 live with Alzheimer’s.
The brain inevitably starts to shrink when you're around 30 to 40 years old, and the shrinkage increases dramatically in your 60s. However, just because your brain gets smaller doesn't mean your cognition has to decline.
Take care of your brain to support critical cognitive functions like memory, learning, and mood as you age. A few ways you can improve brain health are getting enough sleep, staying connected to family and friends, exercising regularly, and eating brain-supporting foods.
4. Get Enough Sleep
Everyone seems to know that you need at least eight hours of sleep per night to function. However, most people seem to ignore how much sleep contributes to a healthy lifestyle. Rest supports brain health, immunity, digestion, weight, stress, mood, and many other aspects of wellness.
Continuing studies into the importance of sleep have even revealed that sleep deprivation will make you age faster. A 2015 study showed that insufficient sleep only takes one night to make an older adult's cells age more quickly. The US qualifies sleep deprivation as less than seven hours of sleep.
Continuing studies into the importance of sleep have even revealed that sleep deprivation will make you age faster. A 2015 study showed that insufficient sleep only takes one night to make an older adult's cells age more quickly. The US qualifies sleep deprivation as less than seven hours of sleep.
5. Don’t Overindulge Too Often
While a few of the world's supercentenarians were known to indulge in cigarettes, alcohol, and other unhealthy habits, most people would do better to avoid them.
Most of the harmful consequences of drinking alcohol and smoking result from overindulgence. People who drink moderately live longer than people who abstain or drink heavily. Over time, excessive drinking increases your risk of developing cancer, liver damage, immune system disorders, and brain damage.
Smoking cigarettes in any amount is dangerous for your health. For example, you're nine times more likely to die if you smoke even one cigarette per day than someone who doesn't smoke. Thankfully, when you successfully quit smoking, your health and longevity will improve dramatically.
6. Don’t Stop Learning
Education is often tied to a longer lifespan. For example, a 2017 study on the genes related to a long life showed that each year spent learning after school added a year to the person's predicted longevity. In addition, many of the negative degenerative processes associated with aging are less common in the brains of academics.
Just like you'd work out your muscles to maintain physical health, you need to exercise your brain to keep your mind performing well. But you don't need to be in school to get the benefits. Instead, you simply need to engage your brain by indulging your curiosity.
Reading, learning a new language, picking up a new hobby, or taking a class are ways to keep learning throughout your life.
Slow Down Aging
Aging can't be reversed, but you can slow it down. These lifestyle changes will help you to live a longer, healthier life. Remember that the earlier you change your habits, the greater the effect. So adopt as many as possible to improve your longevity and stay healthy as you age.
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Disclaimer: Kailo should not be used if you have a pacemaker or if you are pregnant. Always consult your doctor or health care professional before using Kailo.
And if pain is getting you down and keeping you from doing the things you love, your Kailo Pain Patch can help. Just apply Kailo near the site of pain and breathe a sigh of relief as you go on about your day. A recent clinical study showed that 99% of patients felt pain relief with Kailo within 10 minutes of using Kailo.
Disclaimer: Kailo should not be used if you have a pacemaker or if you are pregnant. Always consult your doctor or health care professional before using Kailo.
