A heaped plate of food - and a brimming social calendar. Freedom from diets - and plenty of time for fun and meaningful activities. A peek at the new science of ageing reveals a new view of how to live long and prosper. And we're all for it.
With wisdom gleaned from some of the longest-living, healthiest cultures in the world, as well as new insights made possible by high-tech studies, researchers say that old views of ageing are simply outmoded. Yes, our bodies change. But an inevitable slide in health as we age? Absolutely not! Each of us can live strong, healthy, vibrant, energetic lives for a long time to come. They key? Actually, there are seven of them.
... Connect with friends and family
Read on - you may never see your bathroom scales, dinner plate or friends in the same way again.
Be prepared for surprises. Only three of the seven keys involve nutrition and fitness. The other four are related to your attitude, optimism and social interactions. As this discuss notes over and over, how you choose to live your life has far more impact on your health than any vitamin or pill. The philosopher Rene Descartes famously wrote, 'I think; therefore, I am', but the new science of ageing suggests that the important truth is really 'how I think is how I am'.
But first, the runners-up
The seven keys in the pages ahead represent the best advice for living a healthy, happy, vibrant, long life. But our experts also pointed to these five actions as being particularly beneficial for long life and long health. So we proudly present this 'silver-medal' advice first.
Drink lots of water After 60, your sense of thirst diminishes, so you may not even realise you're thristy. The benefits of water are vast - topping up your tank with five to eight glasses a day can cut your risk of a deadly heart attack by up to 54 percent and at the same time ease constipation, boost flagging energy and even lower your risk of cancers of the breast, prostate and large intestine, research suggests. And drinking three or more cups of tea a day may be as beneficial as drinking plenty of water, according to nutritionists from king's College, London. Tea rehydrates the body just as well as water, they say, and may also protect against heart disease and some cancers due to its high flavonoid (antioxidant) content.
Eat more frequently Three small meals and two or three snacks a day are a great way to get all the nutrition you need - and more. You'll keep your blood sugar lower and steadier to guard against diabetes and heart conditions associated with blood sugar problems. You'll avoid a starve-and-binge pattern that can lead to extra weight. And you'll have more chances to eat with friends and family - as nutritious for the mind and spirit as food is for the body. Let moderation replace deprivation, and you'll be happier and healthier.
Keep junk out of your body It's great to eat organic food when you can. But it's even more important to avoid the common food additives and ingredients that are potent health wreckers: excess sodium, trans fats, saturated fat, sugar and refined carbs. These have little nutritional value, and a diet high in such 'junk' food ingredients can increase your risk of obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease, put your blood sugar on a roller coaster and even fire up body-wide chronic inflammation - a powerful risk factor in everything from heart disease and stroke to cancer and more.
Get the rest you truly need Insomnia - exhausting and mysterious - becomes common as we age. Sleep patterns change radically after 55, when your body clock resets itself and levels of melatonin and growth hormone drop. Medical conditions, prescription or over-the-counter drugs, eating patterns, exercise habits, time outdoors and bedtime routine all play important roles in your sleep as well. And because we often don't know how to adjust an estimated 41 percent of women aged 80+ experience insomnia, as do 23 percent men aged 70+. Feeling sleepy all the time can be annoying and dangerous. But it doesn't have to happen: experts say it's possible to be well rested if you work with, not against, changing sleep cycles.
Learn to relax In a study that followed 202 women and men for more than 18 years, researchers found that those who practised meditation had a 23 percent lower risk of dying from any cause during the study and a 30 percent lower risk of death from heart disease. Cutting stress can help your body to heal faster, your mind function better and your digestion work better. You'll sleep better, too. The best
news: you don't have to sit alone in a room saying 'Om ...'. Spending time with friends, enjoying nature and listening to music promote the deep relaxation we all need.
With wisdom gleaned from some of the longest-living, healthiest cultures in the world, as well as new insights made possible by high-tech studies, researchers say that old views of ageing are simply outmoded. Yes, our bodies change. But an inevitable slide in health as we age? Absolutely not! Each of us can live strong, healthy, vibrant, energetic lives for a long time to come. They key? Actually, there are seven of them.
... Connect with friends and family
 | |||
| ... stress your mind in positive ways |
 |
| ...find something interesting to do |
Be prepared for surprises. Only three of the seven keys involve nutrition and fitness. The other four are related to your attitude, optimism and social interactions. As this discuss notes over and over, how you choose to live your life has far more impact on your health than any vitamin or pill. The philosopher Rene Descartes famously wrote, 'I think; therefore, I am', but the new science of ageing suggests that the important truth is really 'how I think is how I am'.
But first, the runners-up
The seven keys in the pages ahead represent the best advice for living a healthy, happy, vibrant, long life. But our experts also pointed to these five actions as being particularly beneficial for long life and long health. So we proudly present this 'silver-medal' advice first.
Drink lots of water After 60, your sense of thirst diminishes, so you may not even realise you're thristy. The benefits of water are vast - topping up your tank with five to eight glasses a day can cut your risk of a deadly heart attack by up to 54 percent and at the same time ease constipation, boost flagging energy and even lower your risk of cancers of the breast, prostate and large intestine, research suggests. And drinking three or more cups of tea a day may be as beneficial as drinking plenty of water, according to nutritionists from king's College, London. Tea rehydrates the body just as well as water, they say, and may also protect against heart disease and some cancers due to its high flavonoid (antioxidant) content.
Eat more frequently Three small meals and two or three snacks a day are a great way to get all the nutrition you need - and more. You'll keep your blood sugar lower and steadier to guard against diabetes and heart conditions associated with blood sugar problems. You'll avoid a starve-and-binge pattern that can lead to extra weight. And you'll have more chances to eat with friends and family - as nutritious for the mind and spirit as food is for the body. Let moderation replace deprivation, and you'll be happier and healthier.
Keep junk out of your body It's great to eat organic food when you can. But it's even more important to avoid the common food additives and ingredients that are potent health wreckers: excess sodium, trans fats, saturated fat, sugar and refined carbs. These have little nutritional value, and a diet high in such 'junk' food ingredients can increase your risk of obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease, put your blood sugar on a roller coaster and even fire up body-wide chronic inflammation - a powerful risk factor in everything from heart disease and stroke to cancer and more.
Get the rest you truly need Insomnia - exhausting and mysterious - becomes common as we age. Sleep patterns change radically after 55, when your body clock resets itself and levels of melatonin and growth hormone drop. Medical conditions, prescription or over-the-counter drugs, eating patterns, exercise habits, time outdoors and bedtime routine all play important roles in your sleep as well. And because we often don't know how to adjust an estimated 41 percent of women aged 80+ experience insomnia, as do 23 percent men aged 70+. Feeling sleepy all the time can be annoying and dangerous. But it doesn't have to happen: experts say it's possible to be well rested if you work with, not against, changing sleep cycles.
Learn to relax In a study that followed 202 women and men for more than 18 years, researchers found that those who practised meditation had a 23 percent lower risk of dying from any cause during the study and a 30 percent lower risk of death from heart disease. Cutting stress can help your body to heal faster, your mind function better and your digestion work better. You'll sleep better, too. The best
news: you don't have to sit alone in a room saying 'Om ...'. Spending time with friends, enjoying nature and listening to music promote the deep relaxation we all need.
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