If you are planning on living a long and healthy life, there are a few things you should know first.
As it turns out, the effects of both good and bad habits are cumulative so start living a healthy lifestyle early!
Professor at the department of family medicine and community health from University of Minnesota, Dr. William Roberts, points this out during a new interview for EatThis, adding that “you cannot outrun your past.”
Basically, try to build good habits as soon as possible and remain consistent and you should most likely reap the benefits in your later years.
CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen also stresses that getting enough physical movement and also seeing a physician regularly are two things that make up the basis of a healthy and long life.
Wen goes on to share that “There’s a lot of evidence about the things we can do proactively that can improve our longevity as well as the quality.”
With that being said, here are other good habits you should start implementing right now!
1. Keep your BMI within a healthy range
According to the CDC, body mass index is able to assess our potential risk for various health issues.
Furthermore, a study from 2018 showed that maintaining a healthy BMI can lengthen one’s life by over a decade!
It has also been associated with lowering the risk of passing away from cancer and cardiovascular disease.
2. Follow proper nutrition
Plant based is the way to go but your diet doesn’t have to be totally restrictive.
If you’ve been eating unhealthily, start small, implementing little changes and choosing healthier alternatives for all your favorite dishes.
One PLOS Medicine study showed that you could lengthen your life significantly just by cutting on processed and red meats and adding more veggies, legumes, nuts, grains and fruits into your diet.
3. Take care of your mental health
Sadly, mental health is often neglected even by those focused on keeping their bodies in top shape.
But in reality, Wen points out that this neglected part of us “contributes a huge amount to overall health and well-being.”
After all, stress and anxiety have been shown to affect sleep, blood pressure, alcohol intake and dietary choices.
Some things you can do is go on a walk, meditate, be present in the morning, journal and take a lot of breaks from your devices.
Practicing mindfulness can really lower cortisol levels, which has been dubbed as the stress hormone.
4. Get enough sleep
Those who sleep under seven hours per night regularly tend to have higher levels of cortisol as well as blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
To improve sleep patterns, keep your bedroom dark, cold and quiet and only use it at night.
5. Cut on drinking
Alcohol, especially in high amounts can become a direct toxin to the heart muscle, leading to heart failure!