5 Healthy Habits That Keep the Body Young

Everyone wants to feel young, healthy and energetic for as long as possible. The older we get, the more we find ourselves missing how things used to be — smooth skin, good eyes, creak-free joints. Luckily, there are many habits we can initiate to prevent illness and stress from taking its tole on our bodies. Small changes can make a powerful difference! 

HERE’S WHAT THE EXPERTS RECOMMEND MOST FREQUENTLY.

1. Drink more water. Really.

Chronic dehydration (an issue that affects 75% Americans) is absolutely terrible for your body. It affects physical performance, causes gastrointestinal problems, forces your heart into overdrive and can even impact your mood and cognition — not to mention what it does to your skin!

2. Make getting good sleep a priority.

Sleep is absolutely critical for giving our brains and bodies time to heal and repair. As such, day-to-day sleep deprivation can be a nightmare when it comes to aging. Without enough sleep, our immune systems are weakened, we are less able to deal with stress and we end up crashing and burning instead of savoring life.

3. Get out of the house.

This has less to do with your social life and much more to do with breathing air. I’m serious! It is so easy to get caught in a cycle where we go from building to building, car to house, gym to dinner without ever breathing proper air. Fresh air and sunshine work wonders in the body (and the reverse accelerates aging), so get outside and roam in tree-filled parks! They’ve got lower levels of air pollutants.

4. Move your body.

Getting enough physical exercise is one of the best things you can do to prevent aging. Look for opportunities to enjoy lots of low to moderate-intensity exercise (like going for long walks or a bike ride), as this is easier on your body in the long run. And make sure you’re getting the nutrients you need to workout efficiently!

5. Eat more antioxidants.

Aging is contributed to by circulating free radicals in the body. Eating antioxidant-rich foods helps counteract these free radicals. So, make sure you’re eating lots of leafy greens, fruits and vegetables, berries, nuts and spices like turmeric and oregano. That’s the good stuff.