5 Habits for a Long and Healthy Life

By Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD 

The quest for longevity is one of the most universal human goals. After all, who doesn’t want to live longer? 

But how exactly to live a long, healthy life often seems like a mystery that’s largely decided by genetics. Fortunately, researchers have discovered several ways in which diet and lifestyle, and not just genetics, affect life expectancy and quality of life. 

There’s a lot we can do to boost our chances of living longer, even if we still don’t know how to live forever. The following habits are some of the best ways to improve quality of life and maybe tack on a few extra years in the process. 

1 - Eat a healthy diet. 

This one almost goes without saying, but eating a healthy, balanced diet can help you live longer. Specifically, studies suggest that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is linked to a lower risk of death from all causes (1).  

Plant foods provide beneficial plant compounds and antioxidants that protect against diseases and may have anti-aging effects. Plus, centering meals around plants can lead to a lower consumption of foods that have negative impacts on health when consumed in excess, like sugar, sodium, and trans-fat. 

2 - Get moving. 

Regular exercise is one of the keys to a long life. It can boost heart health and prevent muscle loss associated with aging. But you don’t need to run marathons or exercise for hours on end to reap the benefits! 

Research shows that people who engaged in moderate intensity exercise for as few as 15 minutes per day had a 3 year longer life expectancy than those who were less active. Examples of moderate intensity exercise include brisk walking, gardening, and dancing (2). 

3 – Enjoy a fulfilling challenge in work and beyond. 

Having a strong sense of purpose, in work and other aspects of life, may add years onto your life. This can be achieved by pursuing a line of work that excites and challenges you or taking part in projects and other fulfilling activities outside of your day job. You could volunteer to coach your child’s sports team, organize a program at church, or work on improving your home (3). 

4 – Put your brain to work. 

Like crossword puzzles? Turns out an affinity for activities that keep your mind busy may help you live longer. Other ways to put your brain to work include reading, learning how to play an instrument, taking classes to speak a new language, or picking up a new skill, like cooking. 

5 - Stay connected with family, friends, and community 

Loneliness can have lasting impacts on your health and has even been identified as a risk factor for death from all causes. That’s why staying connected with your loved ones and being active in your community is so important for a long life! Doing so will not only improve your quality of life, but may increase your life expectancy, too (4). 

What’s more, surrounding yourself with healthy people can help you boost your own health and make it easier to stay on track with goals to eat well and exercise.   

Note from Healthy For Life Meals: Eating a healthy diet is one of the pillars of living a long, healthy life! Let us take care of this for you, with our freshly prepared, nutritionally balanced meal plans delivered to your door. Check out our menus and order today.