Many tips are available on how to live longer. Individually, some of them could add up to 10 years to your life. Although these tips can help you extend life, the following are the most important things you must do to increase your longevity.
Exercise
Although you may hate the word exercise, it is undoubtedly the best single thing you can do to help keep your body healthy and live longer. Moderate exercise, even if only for 15 minutes several times each week, will increase your blood flow. The result is that more nourishment gets to all your body parts to keep them healthier.
Vitamin D
Although exercise is the best thing you can do for longevity – it is not the easiest. Making sure you get enough vitamin D is the easiest. This vitamin is very important to your health – including helping to prevent bone disorders, diabetes, cancer, and infections, and it strengthens muscles and preserves brain health. It can also help reduce depression and the likelihood of developing multiple sclerosis.
All you need to do to get the required amount is to get some sunshine for about 15 minutes a day. You can even have some fun while getting it. You could go for a walk in the park, go for a bike ride, have a picnic, swim, and more. With these activities, you can get your exercise and vitamin D at the same time.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
For most people, the best health comes when they have a healthy body weight – measured by BMI. Sitting around the house because of COVID has increased BMI for many people. Losing some or all of those extra pounds could help you live longer.
Holding on to that extra weight can cause many health problems that can shorten your life. The problems include cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and various types of cancer. Bariatric surgery – and similar types – can help someone that is morbidly obese.
Eat a Healthy Diet
The human body is made and strengthened by the nutrients you eat. When you supply your cells with excellent building materials – the right minerals and other nutrients – you will be considerably healthier than if you ate a lot of junk food. Good eating also strengthens your immune system, enabling you to fight off diseases better – and live longer.
Eating right will largely follow the Mediterranean diet. Meals need to include plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and less red meat, fried foods, sugar, and processed foods.
Reduce Stress
Stress is a silent killer if it is not brought under control. It is also subjective and cannot be measured. Many people are not aware that they live with nearly constant stress. The symptoms you may experience with too much stress include aches and pains – often in your shoulder, neck, or back, high blood pressure, headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, digestive issues, ED, and more. The individual may also have depression, anxiety, or panic attacks.
If you want to live longer, stress needs to be controlled. There are many ways to do it, but you must take action. Exercise is an excellent way to reduce stress because it will produce endorphins, which help you feel less pain and be more relaxed. Learn to say “no” to new responsibilities. Seek to stay positive and get more sleep.
These five things are among the most important areas that you need to work on to live longer. Get started today and enjoy life more and longer – because you will be healthier.