Living well into your golden years takes some luck, but a few simple lifestyle changes can really stack the odds in your favor. It's common knowledge that taking care of your body will help you live longer, but new studies have shown that bad habits like smoking, drinking and not exercising can cut your life short by as much as 12 years.
Fortunately, correcting bad behavior isn't that hard to do. Follow these healthy living tips to keep your body fresh and young:
Curb Your Appetite
Leaving a little food on your plate can help you lead a healthy life. Numerous studies have proven that eating meals until you are about 80 percent full has a positive effect on your life expectancy. When you stop eating before you're completely stuffed, your body produces less T3; that's the hormone that slows down your metabolism and accelerates the aging process.
You can also fix your appetite by looking at what you eat and trying to eat more of the foods that will help you feel fuller sooner. Nutrition analysis is important in understanding your foods nutritional components and how your food can help you feel fuller and live healthier.
Watch Less TV
Being sedentary can take a big toll on your health. A study done in 2010 showed that people who watched more than four hours of TV daily were more likely to suffer from health problems. When compared to people who watched two hours or less, the TV fanatics were 46 percent more likely to die an early death.
Avoid Sunburn
A bit of sun is good for you; it's a healthy way to get a good dose of vitamin D. It becomes a problem when people stay in the sun long enough to get burned. If you're going to spend an extended amount of time outside, sunscreen can help prevent the cancer and premature aging that overexposure can cause.
It's never too late to add sunscreen to your routine; look for something that has an SPF of 30 or higher. Remember, all of your exposed skin can burn, so you don't want to concentrate on just your face. Make sure to cover your arms, legs and neck.
Make New Friends
Loneliness can be a killer. People are social creatures, and they need human contact to survive and be healthy. People who don't get out much are more prone to getting heart disease; loneliness can be just as dangerous as smoking or having high cholesterol. If you're feeling isolated, try to get out more; it keeps you active, and it curbs feelings of loneliness and depression.
There are a lot of simple things that you can do to make sure that your body stays healthy. You don't have to be a fitness expert to take proper care of your body. If you stay active, eat clean and avoid unhealthy activities, you'll stay healthy and happy for a long time to come.