We know that making healthy choices can help us feel better and live longer. Maybe you’ve already tried to eat better, get more exercise or sleep, quit smoking, or reduce stress. It’s not easy. But research shows how you can boost your ability to create and sustain a healthy lifestyle.
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Health Facts
Health facts giving you accurate advice for healthy living.
Longevity Tip ~ Sense of Purpose
Purpose. The Okinawans call it Ikigai and the Nicoyans call it plan de vida; for both, it translates to “why I wake up in the morning.” Knowing your sense of purpose is worth up to 7 years of extra life expectancy.
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Wellness Tip ~ Bounce Back Faster
People who are emotionally well, experts say, have fewer negative emotions and are able to bounce back from difficulties faster. This quality is called resilience. Another sign of emotional wellness is being able to hold onto positive emotions longer and appreciate the good times.
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Wellness Tip ~ Connect, Connect, Connect
a\A strong group of confidants is a health booster — no medication required. “Having a reliable support system goes a long way to decrease stress in our lives, and less stress means that we are happier and healthier overall. . . . Those stressful, drama-filled relationships (you know the ones) can end up working against you and hurt your health, well-being, especially if you turn to unhealthy habits like junk-food binges or drugs and alcohol to cope. [Watch out] your friends bad habits might rub off on you. So mom was right: Choose your friends wisely.
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Longevity Tip ~ Think Twice
An 80 year study found people who are conscientious — meaning they pay attention to detail, think things through, and try to do what’s right — live longer. They do more for their health and make choices that lead to stronger relationships and better careers.
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Wellness Tip ~ Get Rid of the Poisons
Take a look around your home. Do you know what’s in your household goods and products? Some chemicals can harm your health if too much gets into your body. Becoming aware of potentially harmful substances and clearing them out can help keep you and your family healthy
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Longevity Tip ~ Calm Down
The Oldest Person in the World and Successful Aging
What about Jeanne Louis Calment, from France, who was born in 1875 and has the longest confirmed human lifespan on record, living to the age of 122? She said her longevity could be attributed to a diet rich in olive oil, but also to drinking port wine and eating large amounts of chocolate (not to mention smoking a few cigarettes a day since she was 20). She also stated that being calm allowed her to age well (“that’s why they call me Calment,” she said). She outlived both her daughter and her grandson by several decades. Calment reportedly remained mentally sharp until she died in 1997, at age 122, saying, “I’m interested in everything but passionate about nothing.”
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Wellness Tip ~ Healthy Brains
Vitamin B12 is a powerhouse. It helps make DNA, nerve and blood cells, and is crucial for a healthy brain and immune system. Your metabolism wouldn’t run smoothly without it. But B12 isn’t like other vitamins. It’s only found in animal products like eggs, meat, shellfish, and dairy. Up to 15% of people don’t get enough B12, and they’re more likely to be vegetarians, have celiac disease or other digestion problems, or be an adult over 50. The signs of vitamin B12 deficiency include exhaustion, rapid heartbeat, brain fog, and other symptoms, says Maggie Moon, RD, a Los Angeles–based nutritionist and owner of Everyday Healthy
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Longevity Tip ~ Think Positive
There are countless reasons why getting older is great. (Senior discounts! Way more wisdom!) So instead of succumbing to tired stereotypes, think about what you love about your current age. Yale University research shows that older adults who see aging as a good thing live almost eight years longer and have a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who view aging negatively. “Having a positive view of aging is associated with both living longer and living better,” Dr. Kaiser says.
It turns out, the fountain of youth was inside your head all along.
Wellness Tip ~ Smoking Kills
Don’t smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke
The worst thing you can do for your health is to smoke. Smoking greatly increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and many types of cancer, including cancer of the lung, throat, mouth, colon, and bladder. No amount of smoking is safe—not even one cigarette a day. Breathing secondhand smoke also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
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