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.
