Does a Healthy Lifestyle Really Lead to a Longer Life?

We all want to live longer and in good health. There are a few things that affect your odds of reaching an older age without serious illness or disability including: genetics, your physical surroundings, overall mental health and outlook and your lifestyle. 

While you may have very little control over your genes and maybe not much control over the  place you live, making healthy lifestyle choices is a decision you can make every day. 

What Is a Healthy Lifestyle?

A healthy lifestyle means a lot more than a gym membership and low-fat yogurt! It includes changes to your daily life routine that can enhance the overall quality of your life and even extend your life. Healthy eating, daily physical exercise, and making positive social connections, are healthy lifestyle strategies.

In the short term, healthier lifestyle choices make you fit and make you feel better -- both physically and mentally. The impact of a healthy lifestyle, in the long run, is more powerful and significant. Read on to find out how your lifestyle can change your life for the better.

A Healthy Lifestyle Increases Life Expectancy

In 2018, a study was led by scientists from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study highlighted the importance of five healthy habits. It revealed that adherence to these five habits increased the life expectancy of women by 14 years and men by 12 years.

The five healthy habits are:

• Following a healthy diet that included eating vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and whole grains daily.
• Thirty minutes of physical activity per day.
• Maintaining a healthy weight.
• Saying no to tobacco and use of other inhaled substances.
• Consuming moderate levels of alcohol (no more than two alcoholic drinks per day).

A surprising finding from the study was that the presence of just one of the five healthy habits contributed to an increase of two years in the life expectancy of an individual.

Before this massive study, another research study based on the Health and Retirement study data analyzed the life expectancy of people over the age of 50. Researchers found that people who never smoked, were not obese, and consumed alcohol in moderation have seven more years of life expectancy than the rest of the country's population!

Healthy Lifestyle Habits Reduce the Risk of Disease

Not only does a healthy lifestyle add more years to your life, it can also make the quality of your life a lot better. By following a healthy lifestyle plan, you’re less likely to develop chronic diseases that will require ongoing medical care to manage them. And for some people, that can be years of medical treatments and medications for conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

In 2020, BMJ’s Medical Journal published a study that examined the link between healthy lifestyle habits and life expectancy free from any significant chronic disease. The research studied men and women who never smoked, maintained the ideal BMI (body mass index), ate a healthy diet, stayed physically active, and consumed alcohol in moderation at the age of 50.

The results showed that individuals with this lifestyle remained free of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer more often, extending their average life expectancy by an additional 7 or more years for both men and women! 

Lifestyle Choices and Mental Health

Are you in need of stress relief? A change to your lifestyle may be part of the solution. Long-term stress can cause depression and increase your risk of stroke and heart attack. Switch to healthy lifestyle practices such as:

• A healthy diet with low sugar and caffeine.
• About 7-8 hours of sleep every day. Getting enough sleep makes just about everything seem better!
• Avoiding too much alcohol or recreational drugs.

A healthy lifestyle can make you a more confident person and ease the intensity of your problems.

How to Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle

It is never too late to start living a healthier life. Start slow and work on one change at a time. It’s better to start building on your existing habits. For instance, if you go on walks one or two days a month, make them more frequent. Make time to get another hour of sleep every night. Remember that minor changes can bring significant health benefits. Listed below are some tips that can help improve your overall health: 

• Make a list of the factors that keep you away from a healthy lifestyle (such as lack of motivation, late-night cravings, etc.) Workaround these challenges to make the transition simpler.
• Find professional assistance in staying healthy. Talk to a doctor who is focused on promoting your health and overall well-being. Chiropractors can frequently help with identifying issues that are causing people to avoid exercise because it hurts.
• Prevention really is the best medicine! Consider regular chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy to keep the joints, muscles and ligaments in good working order. This can make you less prone to injuries that can be caused by lack of range of motion and stiffness. Chiropractors can also help identify issues you may be experiencing before they become bigger problems.
• Keep track of your routine. Reward yourself when you make progress with a special treat (food or gift) periodically. Find support from your family or friends.

Helping Residents of The Woodlands Live Healthier Lifestyles

We are here to help you build a healthy and happy life. From finding natural pain relief to leading a wholesome and healthy life, the chiropractors at  Village Chiropractic in The Woodlands will work with you. Make an appointment with us today to learn more.