Where is the fountain of youth? Is it hiding at the bottom of your salad bowl? Perhaps it is within your spirulina wellness shot or at the end of a good night’s sleep. People think that genetics primarily influence life expectancy, but the reality is that genes play a much smaller role than people think. As it turns out, environmental factors like diet and lifestyle habits play bigger roles. In this article, we cover various habits to form right now to help you live a longer life.
Stay Physically Active
The more you move now, the better your chances are of maintaining that mobility into your older age. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults engage in 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity every week. You can also do some strength training a couple days a week to maintain muscle mass. Regular exercise may help you achieve:
- Weight loss
- Improved mood
- Reduced risk of developing chronic health conditions
Prioritize What Makes You Happy
Happiness does not get enough attention when it comes to your health. How happy you feel can make a big difference on your mental health, physical health, and longevity. A 2023 study found that happiness was significantly associated with living longer. Study authors suggested that happiness alone will not add years to your life. It can help, so long as you couple it with other factors that contribute to optimal mental and physical health. Make sure to set aside time to do things that bring you joy, be it drawing, reading, bowling, calling people, or playing video games. You can also keep a gratitude journal to help increase levels of happiness and optimism.
Nurture Your Social Circle
Research suggests that a healthy social network can contribute to a longer life and better health. A strong social circle may also help you react in a less negative way to stress, which may explain its effect on longevity. Offering your support to others may increase your happiness and sense of purpose. Always remember to both accept care from friends and family and offer it in return whenever you can.
Eat A Balanced Diet
These days, there are diets that offer support to the brain, heart, joints, gut, and overall health. Generally speaking, dietitians encourage people to increase their intake of plant foods, as they may decrease the risk of diseases and promote overall health. Many studies link a plant-based diet to a lower risk of premature death, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and more. Focus on consuming a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes.
Avoid Smoking
It shouldn’t even have to be said, and yet it does. Nicotine is highly accessible and addictive, especially when you consider the popularity of flavored vapes, nicotine pouches, and traditional cigarettes. Smoking increases the risk of lung cancer, being responsible for about 90% of cases. It also increases the risk of stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, and other cancers. Smoking damages nearly every organ in the body, affecting everything from lung function to reproductive health. Quit smoking, if you do smoke, to help reduce your risk of life-threatening disease. It’s never too late to quit.
Try To Avoid Chronic Stress And Anxiety
It’s almost a guarantee that you will encounter some stress, and perhaps some anxiety, at some point in life. A 2024 review found that chronic stress and anxiety can increase the risk of developing conditions like heart disease. The review also found that men are more likely to experience chronic stress and anxiety compared to women. If you regularly experience stress or anxiety and find that it interferes with your everyday life, consider speaking with a mental health professional. They may help you establish a treatment plan to help reduce stressors for ultimate relief.
Longevity may ultimately see out of your control, but a lot of healthy habits may help you thrive well into your old age. Following a plant-based diet, quitting smoking, reducing stress, exercising regularly, and even getting enough sleep can help you live a long and healthy life.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
