Health and longevity hinge on a balanced life -- but not a sedate lifestyle. You must both nurture and challenge your body and mind to attain health at any life stage, and pursuing health over time will preserve it in your later years. Creating a daily routine that satisfies your physical and mental needs will make this pursuit a habit, so you won't have to make great changes as you age. Focus on eating well, moving every day, allowing yourself to rest and relieving stress to increase your chances of a long and healthy life.
Food for Life
Consistent, good nutrition helps to prevent disease and generate energy for your daily activities. Put together a diet that fulfills your body's requirements for protein, fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, while limiting sodium, sugar, cholesterol and trans and saturated fats. The USDA instructs consumers to reach these goals by choosing foods from the different groups: grain; vegetable; fruit; dairy; and nut, seed, bean, meat and seafood. Such a diet will naturally control your weight while promoting a healthy metabolism.
Exercise for Fitness
Expand the capacity of your heart and lungs and the strength of your muscles and bones by staying active. Regular aerobic exercise reduces your risk of heart attacks, while strengthening and weight-bearing exercise helps to prevent muscle trauma and bone fractures, especially later in life. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports health benefits with just 30 minutes of aerobics and twice-weekly sessions of strengthening with weights, pushups or resistance bands. You can incorporate walking, running, cycling, swimming or other sports into your relaxation routine as well.
Mental Balance
Relaxation is crucial to relieving pent-up stress, a cycle that may begin with mental agitation and result in physical tension. According to the National Health Information Center, managing stress can prevent depression, high blood pressure and heart disease. Control the mental aspects that trigger hyperalertness and cause a detrimental buildup of stress hormones by stretching, exercising or pursuing favorite activities for relaxation. Don't just react to stress; make stress relief a daily commitment.
Nightly Repair
Sleep is the ultimate in relaxation, and the period in which your body's cells undergo self-repair and rejuvenation. Healthy sleep habits support memory and immune system function, which can result in a longer, high-quality life. The National Sleep Foundation relates that seven to nine hours of restful sleep per night is necessary for your body to complete its maintenance cycle.
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