You must have heard that the best form of defense is an offense. This is true if you want to live a long and healthy life. You need to make proactive, preventive, and healthy life choices that will have a positive impact on your health every day. Anyone who wants to be healthy at an old age must start that while they’re still young.
Being in good health doesn’t happen by accident or wishing; it’s a product of healthy habits that are practiced consistently. Incorporating healthy habits into your current lifestyle will help make sure you don’t only live longer but also well. To be certain you’ll live a long and healthy life, you need to start by making new life choices. Here are some habits to help you live longer:.
1. Avoid Eating Processed Foods
According to a survey by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 7,000 people consume 3,300 mg of sodium every day. This isn’t helpful for your body at all, as it can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke.
There have also been more records of life-threatening diseases in the last 30 years, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, cancer, and diabetes, to mention a few. This is as a result of the drastic change in diet from natural diet to the consumption of processed foods.
It takes less time to prepare, with some already prepared and preserved in cans. Fast food restaurants are in every corner for quick bites but what they don’t tell you is that they’re less concerned about your health and are focused more on profit.
Do yourself a favor and eat more natural and healthy food; diets high in fiber and other food types you can prepare yourself for are linked to greater longevity. The fewer processed foods you consume, the more chances there are of you being healthy even at an old age.
2. Add Spices to Your Diet
Shocked to see eating spices as a healthy habit to cultivate? Well, eating chili peppers can add years to your life. A 2016 analysis of dietary habits of males and females aged over 23 showed those who reportedly ate hot peppers reduced their chances of dying by a whopping 13 percent.
You don’t have to be a big fan of spices. Adding just small quantities is healthy. There are different types of blenders, depending on your need. Nutri Ninja Personal and Countertop are the good folks that have come up with what’s probably the best blender for spices that you can purchase. If taking it raw is a little scary, blending them would be a better option.
3. Rest and Take Vacations When Due
Most people get sucked up into a cycle of work and more work for many years; they never realize it has been years since they had some time off for their mental and physical health.
Not taking time off work might not be helpful for your health. Another study of men with a high risk for coronary artery disease showed those who didn’t take their annual vacations had a 32% chance of dying from a heart attack. A similar situation applies to women, who rarely take vacations. They are more likely to have a heart attack or develop artery disease in the long run.
Rest can be taken for granted but its effect on a person’s health can be. Developing a healthy habit of getting enough rest is important to set yourself up for good health.
4. Visit Medical Professionals
Frequent and daily exercise is one of the most recommended ways to live healthily. Studies have found that consistent and intense workouts like running can increase your average lifespan by four years. Medical professionals know this, and wellness and health programs, like those at a wellness addiction treatment center, know that. It’s worth visiting these health professionals for the help you need.
5. Quit Smoking
One of the most preventable causes of death is smoking tobacco as reported by the NIH. Quitting can be hard if it’s something you’re used to. But if living long is important to you, that is enough inspiration to help you.
No matter how far along you are, your body can return to normal. You’d notice an improvement in blood circulation and the possibility of getting cancer keeps getting slimmer every year after.
Apart from the benefit staying free has on you, your loved ones also benefit, as they’d not be secondhand smokers anymore and you’d also be looking younger.
6. Exercise
Next, you need to ensure that you are taking regular trips to see the right medical professionals. This includes a dentist to keep a check on your family’s teeth and a doctor if you notice any significant changes to your body. You might also want to think about visiting a cognitive therapist to deal with mental health issues that might be causing you stress.
It doesn’t have to be too complicated or stressful; it can start with simple, easy exercises before migrating to more complex ones.
7. Being in Contact with Your Loved Ones
Socializing with people who matter to you is very important, as it can help you avoid depression and anxiety. Whether you’re young or elderly, staying around people you love gives you hope. This can, in turn, give you a reason to live among other things.
In Conclusion
Living a long, healthy life might come off as a privilege to some, but as we grow older, we simply learn to appreciate each moment spent with our loved ones. It is a reward unto itself, and it’s exactly what brings meaning to our lives. Taking better care of yourself and getting rid of all the nasty habits isn’t always easy, but it’s worth giving it a shot, isn’t it?
