Nine Surprising Ways to Defy Age

Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes can be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. So what can you do to defy age and health conditions? Healthy diet and exercise are well-known places to start. Here are nine other tips for aging well:

1. Protect your skin with clothing and/or sunscreen.	2. Get a yearly skin cancer screening.	3. Include balance training in your exercise routine.
4. Accept your age for positive mental health.	5. Spend time with friends and loved ones.	6. Get enough sleep to reduce stress, lower risks for heart disease, stroke and obesity.
7. Start a new hobby for a sense of purpose.	8. Take care of your teeth.	9. See your doctor regularly.

A few words about diet and exercise to prepare for good health at any age:

Diet

• Foods to emphasize: variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, skinless poultry and fish, nuts and legumes, non-tropical vegetable oils
• Foods to de-emphasize: saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, red meat, sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages

Exercise

• Set a goal of 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity. That’s just 30 minutes a day, five days a week, and you can break that up in the day, too. Or, 75 minutes a week of vigorous activity will also help you stay physically fit.
• Talk with a doctor first if you have been out of an exercise routine.

Sources:
American Heart Association
Healthline

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