Last Updated on February 12, 2021 by Jeff
Learn more about the influential report that’s making waves in the fitness community.
Longevity is influenced by a wide range of factors, including a number of genetic traits which are impossible to control. Nonetheless, there are a number of healthy choices that you can make in order to live better today and enjoy a healthier tomorrow. In fact, a recent study from Harvard University suggested the following five healthy habits throughout adulthood can add, on average, ten years of life expectancy. Let’s take a quick look at the five habits mentioned in this study.
1. Eat a Healthy Diet
The phrase “you are what you eat” was originally coined by French Lawyer Anthelme Brillat-Savarin — and although our understanding of the science behind nutrition has evolved significantly, the basic notion that our lives are heavily impacted by our dietary choices holds true. Check out the Top Fitness Mag Healthy Diet archives for more info on making smarter food decisions.
2. Exercise Regularly
Staying active is crucial to anyone who wishes to enjoy a long and healthy life. Regular physical activity helps the heart and lungs to function normally. It also burns calories and helps you to maintain a healthy body weight. A number of studies have even shown that exercise provides a significant boost to mental health, helping to minimize the impact of common conditions such as mild to moderate depression and anxiety.
3. Maintain a Healthy Body Weight
The health benefits of maintaining a healthy body weight should be obvious. Unfortunately, millions of American adults struggle with being overweight or obese. If you are looking to lose weight and improve your health, check out this recent article from Top Fitness Magazine on achieving and sustaining weight loss.
4. Moderate Drinking
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a nice beer, wine, or cocktail every now and then. In fact, healthy adult women can enjoy one alcoholic beverage every day if they so choose — and for men that number may be as high as two standard drinks per day. However, drinking to excess on a regular basis can cause long-term harm to the liver, heart, and brain. Binge drinking (defined as four or more beverages in a two hour period) is especially detrimental.
5. Don’t Smoke
Studies estimate that roughly one in every five deaths in America is related to smoking. Common health conditions associated with smoking include lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, strokes, asthma, and sexual/reproductive dysfunction. Smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the nation. If you or someone you love smokes, consider utilizing this CDC list of quit smoking resources.
Build a Healthier Life!
Clearly, there are no “quick fixes” in this list of healthy habits: they are long-term commitments to healthy living. However, making these choices, day in and day out, can do more than simply help you live longer — they can help you have more energy, feel better, and enjoy each day a little bit more.