For all of history human beings have been searching for the secret of a long and healthy life – a fountain of youth, if you will. While nobody has stumbled upon the actual fountain of youth, over time certain health practices have been shown to improve overall quality of life as well as improve longevity. At the end of the day the name of the game for a long and healthy life is Prevention.
There are several preventative health measures we can all take for longevity. When done individually or in combination these small changes can have immeasurable impact on your overall health.
- Healthy diet – The definition of a healthy diet can change from person to person and should be discussed with your doctor or nutritionist before making any major changes. However, by and large, a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins but low in processed foods, saturated fats, and trans fats, is a sure bet for improved health.
- Healthy attitude – In Taoist teachings regarding longevity say that by placing definitions on age and aging we are working at a disadvantage. By placing too many unreasonable expectations on ourselves, we are not listening to our bodies and our true nature and, therefore, are not enjoying the present moment. This can lead to stress or to taking unnatural paths to fight off aging, which can ultimately shorten our lives.
- Healthy relationships – Study upon study has been conducted to find out if there is any correlation between our personal relationships and health. Overall, the conclusions drawn say that by maintaining healthy and loving relationships and ridding ourselves of dysfunctional and damaging relationships, we lead healthier lives. The stress brought on by tumultuous relationships can lead to high blood pressure, depression, overeating, under-eating, loss of sleep, etc.
Taking preventative health measures is the best way to decrease the chances for illness later in life and as a natural consequence to fewer illnesses, we live healthier, fuller, longer lives.