In times like these, there are plenty of reasons to be concerned about longevity. After all, life expectancy in the US has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years, amid a storm of health crises that threaten to erode decades of progress in human health.
Although living a healthy life is becoming more elusive for the population as a whole, the fact remains that your own lifespan will be determined almost entirely by your lifestyle choices. So, are you wondering how to live a long and healthy life? Make sure to read these important tips for living longer, inspired by the habits of the healthiest people among us.
1. Get Moving
This is probably the single most important piece of advice for how to be healthy throughout your life. Long periods of sitting still have been repeatedly linked to poor health and premature death. Especially if you work at home or sit at a desk all day, it is essential that you get moving as much as possible. Just fifteen minutes of moderate exercise per day adds three years of healthy life for the average person.
2. Stop Smoking
We cannot have any discussion on how to live longer without mentioning smoking and its incredibly harmful effects. Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide. Smokers live for 10 years less than non-smokers, on average, and suffer poor health for much longer periods of their lives. It is never too late to quit. A person who quits completely before the age of 40 reduces the risk of dying from smoking-related illnesses by more than 90%.
3. Get Your Vitamins
Diet plays a critical role in your health and your lifespan. There are far too many healthy living diet tips to list here, but a good starting point is to maximize your vitamin intake wherever possible. Vitamins B, C, D, and the rest help with immunity, general wellbeing, energy levels, and more. You can pack your diet with all of your daily vitamins with easily-added “superfoods” such as sea moss, which you can learn more about here.
4. Sleep Well
Poor sleep leads to poor health – this is pretty much undisputed. Those who sleep six to eight hours a night every night have much better health and lifespan prospects than those who do not. If you have trouble maintaining healthy sleeping patterns, try your best to practice good sleep hygiene. Avoid screens before bed, try sleep aids such as melatonin, and maintain a regular schedule as much as possible.
5. Safeguard Your Mental Health
Good mental health and wellbeing are essential for living a long and healthy life. While this is much easier said than done, it is nonetheless important to underline the importance of good mental health. Steps such as socializing more, sharing your problems with others, and spending more time outside have all been proven to have a strong positive impact on health and lifespan.
More Advice On How to Live a Long and Healthy Life
Improving and extending our healthy years is more important than ever. If you are looking for more tips on how to live a long and healthy life, we have got you covered. Make sure to consult our expert Health and Fitness guides to learn more.
