Longevity is often on many people’s minds, especially as they age. Scientists are constantly working to advance the battle against aging. And we’ve done a lot to make things better. The development of modern medicine has significantly increased life expectancy.
We have better living conditions and better social security blankets. Society has developed, and as a result, people can enjoy longer lives. Of course, modern society has created some problems that affect the standard of living.
But overall, there’s no denying that people are living better now than ever before. Still, no matter how hard we try, we cannot beat aging. It’s a natural process, and everyone is bound to experience it. But that doesn’t mean you should be complacent and just let it happen.
There is a difference between accepting that aging is inevitable and doing nothing to ensure that we age well. If you don’t take care of yourself, longevity is out of the question. Instead, you need to make sure you have the best possible future. So, according to doctors, what can you do to increase your longevity and ensure a better life for you?
How to delay aging?
1 – An active lifestyle slows down aging
All the studies who analyze the impact of an active lifestyle point to one conclusion. The bottom line is that the more active you are, the longer and better you will live. However, keep in mind that longevity is always relative. An active lifestyle will allow you to live longer than if you weren’t busy. Research shows that two to three hours of exercise a week increases life expectancy by five to seven years. In addition, it allows you to age better.
Sedentary people often struggle with mobility issues as they age. In addition, they must worry about many other problems. From heart problems to digestive issues, they all make your life more complicated as you age. But the more active you are, the less you have to worry about these things. Not to mention, having an active lifestyle improves mood and cognitive health.
The studies show that active people have a significantly lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The best part is that it’s never too late to be active. You also don’t have to become a fitness expert to reap the benefits of an active lifestyle. If you’re concerned about longevity, you should exercise a few hours a week. On the other hand, if you don’t want to do something physically strenuous, consider taking daily walks.
Even thirty minutes walking a day can improve your health. If you have a busy schedule, try walking to work more. Or walk when you have errands to do, like when you go shopping. If you want to be more active, consider running, biking, or going to the gym. Or take up active hobbies like dancing. After just a few days of activity, you’ll start to reap the rewards. Your mood will immediately improve.
You’ll have more energy, your digestive health will be better, and you’ll generally feel happier. But the real benefits are long term. The more active you are, the longer and better you will live as you age.
2 – Be careful what you eat at each age to delay aging
Everyone likes to be comfortable and enjoy a quick, tasty meal. But the frozen pizzas you eat twice a month could be one of the reasons you live shorter. The Western diet is so unhealthy that it can take years off your life. This diet contains a lot of processed or pre-packaged foods. It also incorporates a lot of red meat, high dairy content, high-sugar products and low consumption of vegetables.
This diet is one you are probably very familiar with. It’s almost too easy to buy frozen nuggets and pop them in the oven. It might seem like the perfect meal after a long day. But such a diet is not something you should strive for. Especially if you are interested in delaying aging, you should change your diet and try to eat healthier.
The investigators concluded that the ideal diet includes more vegetables, whole grains, and nuts. You should also avoid red or processed meats and processed foods. If you want meat, consider eating more chicken and fish. This diet can add literal years to your life. For example, resuming this diet at age 20 will add ten years to your life.
But even if you get it back at eighty, you can still add up to three years to your life. Still, this diet is difficult to follow, mainly because of what supermarkets offer. Most people eat highly processed and unhealthy foods. It would help if you tried to buy more at farmers markets. But if this is not possible, cut some foods from your diet. For example, stop eating processed cereals for breakfast.
Instead, swap it out for oatmeal or even a few apples. And, most importantly, take the time to cook at home. This habit will ensure that you no longer have to rely on frozen or pre-packaged meals. If you don’t have time to cook, try preparing food yourself. Every weekend, prepare a few meals that you can put in the fridge and eat during the week. Small changes like these will do wonders for slowing aging.
3 – Be social, especially as you get older
One of humanity’s greatest enemies is loneliness. It’s one of the main reasons people struggle with mental health issues. A careless person is much more likely to develop depression than a social person. Of course, almost everyone has people around them. And you still interact with many people on a daily basis. For example, you have to interact with your co-workers on a daily basis.
But that doesn’t mean you’re socializing like you should. To slow aging, you must build strong connections with others of all ages. Isolated people may face a higher risk of premature death than social people. This risk can reach 50%. Some scientists have even argued that social isolation can reduce life expectancy at a rate similar to that of smoking. Isolation affects people psychologically and physically.
Some believe that the lack of human connection weakens the immune system. This makes people more susceptible to contracting infectious diseases. Isolation affects longevity. Therefore, to increase your life expectancy and well-being, strive to create deeper connections. This doesn’t mean you need to have dozens of friends. Being social in the traditional sense is good, which means being open is beneficial.
And it would be best if you also actively try to find people you can connect with. But it’s not enough to just casually get along with the people you need to interact with. Many people think they are sociable because they get along well with their co-workers. But this is not entirely true. It would be best if you put some effort into finding people you could connect with.
It is essential to have a few friends with whom to share everything. Not only will these people always be there for you, but you can have a good time with them. So find someone you can talk to about your issues, but who also wants to go on a spontaneous trip just for the fun of it.
4 – Find hobbies you enjoy
When they reach adulthood, many people make the mistake of focusing too much on their work. That might not sound so bad, but you shouldn’t live to work. Instead, you must work for a living. Even if you enjoy your job, it’s still something that generates a lot of stress and worry. Things can get even worse if your job bothers you.
If you don’t like what you do and don’t even have hobbies to cheer you up, your life will be dismal. But the impacts of not having hobbies are not just psychological. This can affect its longevity. When you have no way to disconnect from the problems of your daily routine, your health suffers, especially as you age. You can’t release all the tension, so all that stress builds up.
This can affect your health, causing serious health problems. Also, stressed people are much more likely to develop heart problems, among other things. But when you make time for the hobbies you love, you have an outlet for all that stress and tension. Not only that, but these hobbies can bring you absolute joy. Some activities are helpful if you don’t know which hobbies might be right for you.
Reading, cooking, gardening, even having a pet – all of these activities are linked to longevity. So, you can start by trying some of them. But the best thing you can do is follow your dreams. So give it a try if you’ve always loved to dance but never took lessons. Even if you’re older, that doesn’t mean you can’t do it.
There are special classes for adults that you can sign up for. The same goes for any other passion you have. At least give away the things you think you’d like to try. Sooner or later you will find the right hobby for you.
Final Thoughts on Delaying Aging and Aging Gracefully
Longevity is something that concerns everyone. We all worry about how long and how well we will live. But many people seem to think there is nothing they can do to increase their life expectancy. Or, even if you want to, you might not be sure what to do about it.
You might be worried that you’re too old to improve anything. But this is not the case. Even older adults can improve their quality of life by following a few simple tips. An active and healthy lifestyle is the simplest solution to the problem of longevity. You should watch what you eat and dedicate a few hours a week to physical activity.
You don’t even have to do anything drastic. Even taking daily walks can significantly improve your life. Also, you need to take care of your emotional health. It would help if you made an effort to create stronger connections with people. It’s also essential to pick up some genuinely exciting hobbies. Finally, remember to have fun and really enjoy your life.
By Lakeisha Ethans. Article in English