Figure skater Peggy Fleming teams With HealthSaver: Healthy Lifestyle = Improved Aging

NORWALK, Conn., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Like a fine wine, a healthy lifestyle can help you improve with age.

And how you live your life has more of an influence on how you age than genetics. Fortunately, it's never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

"You have the most control over how you age," said Peggy Fleming, Olympic figure skating champion and HealthSaver spokesperson. "A commitment to health now means a better quality of life later."

The U.S. Department of Health counts physical activity as the most important thing you can do to ensure healthy aging. Regular checkups and tests can detect diseases early, when they are easier to treat.

"A proper diet is also essential to the prevention of diseases associated with the physical and mental functions affected by age," said Brad Eggleston, vice president of HealthSaver.

 Here are a few steps to help you sustain your youth.

  Be Proactive

  --  Reduce your risk of heart disease with a cholesterol screening every

      five years, starting at age 35 for men and 45 for women.

  --  Starting at age 40, women should have a mammogram every one-to-two

      years to help fight breast cancer, the most common cancer among

      American women.

  --  Diabetic adults are two to four times more likely to suffer a stroke

      than those without this disease, which a doctor can detect before

      symptoms occur.

  Stay Active

  --  Make fitness a priority to lead a more independent lifestyle in your

      later years.  Studies show that loss of function has more to do with

      lack of exercise than with age.

  --  Muscles lose strength when not used, and joints tend to weaken with

      age.  Aim for 30 minutes of daily exercise.  Every little bit counts,

      from playing Hide-and-Go-Seek with your grandchildren to taking a

      stroll around the park.

  --  Plant a garden, play golf or rally on the tennis court.  An active

      lifestyle provides arthritis relief, sleep improvement and prevention

      of heart disease and cancer.

  Eat Well

  --  Studies show that a healthy diet provides up to a 16 percent decrease

      in mortality from any cause.  To ensure long-lasting healthy eating

      habits, start with gradual changes in your diet.

  --  Healthier eating could reduce cancer deaths in the U.S. by as much as

      35 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Health.  To help

      reduce your risk of cancer, eat 2 1/2 cups of vegetables every day.

  --  Eat two cups of fruit a day.  One medium fruit is equal to half a cup.

      Lower blood pressure by eating such potassium-packed food as bananas,

      oranges and cantaloupe.

  --  Studies show that those who eat plenty of grains reduce their risk of

      Type 2 diabetes by 30 percent.  Aim for six ounces of grains per day.

      Try one cup of cereal for breakfast, a sandwich with two pieces of

      bread for lunch, and 1 1/2 cups of pasta for dinner.

  --  Most Americans consume only half of the fiber they need.  To help

      reduce the risk of heart disease, eat such fiber-rich foods as black

      beans, citrus fruits and nuts.

  Take Care

  --  Taking care of yourself emotionally also has its health benefits.

      According to the Harvard School of Public Health, having family and

      friends as a key part of your life can help you maintain cognitive

      function.  Friendships also promote long life.

  --  The American Medical Association says brain health is much like your

      muscles: Use it or lose it.  Exercise your mind by reading a daily

      newspaper or writing a letter.

  --  Try a new hobby or travel to new places.  Researchers include a sense

      of meaning and purpose among the top factors in determining the pace

      of the aging process.

Stay fit with an activity you enjoy. Eat right. Get regular checkups. And surround yourself with people and things that make you happy. Such healthy habits may leave you feeling better than you ever have before.