Ten Steps to Age Well

1. Give up smoking and drink alcohol with moderation Smoking is one of the worst things you can do to your health as it increases your chances of having a heart attack, stroke and developing lung disease. Quitting will make you feel fitter and improve your appearance. Cutting down on your alcohol intake if you are drinking too much can equally improve your life and help you to live longer and healthier.
   
2. Eat well – eat plenty of vegetables and fruit, change to whole grain bread, pasta and rice, substitute monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats for unhealthy transfats and saturated fats. Following the DASH or Mediterranean diet can lower your risk of high blood pressure and other health problems.
   
3. Make sure you get enough vitamins and minerals primarily through your diet or by taking a multivitamin capsule daily.
4. Make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D. Getting out in the sunshine and natural light is necessary. Going for a daily walk can give you the necessary exercise while topping up on vitamin D and fresh air.
5. Watch your weight and body shape – guard against fat around the middle.
6. Make sure that you include both physical and mental activities in each and every day. A gentle exercise routine for 30 minutes every day will possibly be the best thing you do for your health. Besides gentle physical exercise, add a few sessions of muscle building exercise each week and challenge your mind every day.
7. Build a strong social network and see your friends and family if possible regularly.
8. Take care of your teeth by brushing and flossing regularly after meals and before bed and visit your doctor regularly. Good oral health is necessary for your overall health. Bad oral hygiene can lead to tooth decay, receding gums and can even lead to stroke or heart disease.
9. Look after your sight and hearing and get regular check-ups.
10. Visit the doctor at least once a year for an overall check-up and if you have any health concerns.

Hope that you enjoyed our ten steps to age well. Please follow the advice in the different sections of this site to learn how to prevent age-related diseases and live to a long and healthy old age. You might also enjoy our self improvement articles for daily motivation.