It seems like every day, another guru is introducing a “cutting edge” diet or supplement or “never-before-used” lifestyle strategy to help you live longer. Unfortunately, most of these anti-aging “hacks” are just old ideas repackaged with clever branding and trending buzzwords. The truth is there are five strategies you can implement right now that have proven, over long periods of time, to help you look and feel younger.
Intermittent Fasting
Our very own Dr. Purita has written about intermittent fasting before, but in a nutshell, it involves restricting your calorie consumption to one eating window throughout the day while avoiding eating the rest of the time. Some people fast for sixteen hours and eat during an eight-hour window, and some do the same thing for a fourteen-hour fast and a ten-hour eating window. There are lots of intermittent fasting variations, and intermittent fasting (IF) is a proven method to help people restrict calories and lose weight, which increases longevity.
Reducing Stress
Reducing your overall stress load is a time-tested method of lowering inflammation in your body and decreasing your blood pressure. Whether you employ yoga, meditation, reading, or a mindfulness app, reducing your stress is a surefire way to increase your life span.
Better Sleep
Sleep is your body’s number one method of resting, recuperating, and recovering from the stresses of the day. People who operate for days on end without enough sleep are often compared to people who are under the influence of alcohol. There are several strategies to improve your sleep, from simple things like removing TVs and blue lights from your room to supplements, sleep monitors, and more. A more rested you is a healthier, younger-feeling you.
Boost Brain Activity
In order for your brain to function to its fullest late in life, you must keep challenging it and learn new things. For people over 60, it is critical that you introduce daily obstacles to boost brain activity. Learn a foreign language. Solve crossword puzzles. Play chess. Find something to do daily that will keep your brain engaged and thinking.
Exercise
The healthier your heart, the healthier your body, and nothing increases the overall strength of your muscles and cardiac system like exercise. Exercise not only increases metabolism but also increases range of motion, reduces the risk of injury, and increases energy, which will keep you feeling younger than your age.
