Top Tips for Healthy Aging

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Original Content at http://www.opednews.com/articles/life_a_monica_r_061120_top_tips_for_healthy.htm


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November 21, 2006

Top Tips for Healthy Aging

By Monica Reinagel

What would it take to live to 100-in good health? That compelling question was the topic of at a research conference I recently attended at Tufts University in Boston. This meeting brought together heavy-hitters from every corner of medical research-cardiovascular medicine, endocrinology, nutrition, obesity management, experimental genetics, sleep research, and more.

At the close of the conference, after two days of research presentations on every aspect of the aging process, the panelists were asked to consider: What are the top five things we should do if we want to live well to 100?

You might be surprised at the answers. It's not about expensive medical interventions, drugs, or futuristic technology. According to the best available research, it all comes down to a few simple habits-things we all can do. Unfortunately, although they are willing to spend billions of dollars on health products, Americans seem to be unwilling to do the simple things that will keep them healthy.

In the market for a New Year's Health Resolution? Here are the five that will give you the biggest bang for your buck.

1. Maintain a healthy body weight. Here's a shocking fact: Americans now have the lowest life expectancy of all developed countries. The reason? Two out of three Americans are overweight, which leads directly to increases in deaths from heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Maintaining a healthy body weight is not just about looking good. It is literally a matter of life and death. It's also the number one step you can take to ensure a longer, healthier life.

2. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet. Inflammation as a root cause of aging and disease was a constant refrain at the Tuft's Living Well to 100 Conference. Whether or not you need to lose weight, the research overwhelmingly indicates that an anti-inflammatory diet is the healthiest way to eat, leading to lower risk of cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, and complications from obesity and diabetes. To learn more about an anti-inflammatory diet, google 'Mediterranean Diet' or visit Inflammationfactor.com.

3. Exercise most days. Did you know that twelve weeks of exercise can reverse 12 years of aging? That's how critical physical activity is to healthy aging. There are two important components to exercise: cardiovascular and strength training. To get the anti-aging benefits of exercise, you need both. That means getting your heart rate up moderately high for 20-30 minutes almost every day, and doing some sort of weight or resistance exercise once or twice a week. Those who do these two things stay healthier and live longer. It's as simple as that.

More at link:


Authors Website: www.inflammationfactor.com

Authors Bio: Monica Reinagel is a nutrition researcher and author of several books on health and nutrition. Here latest book, The Inflammation Free Diet Plan, explains how anti-inflammatory foods can help you lose weight, prevent disease and slow the aging process.

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