admin Posted on 8:10 pm

Two dozen tips for living past 80

Whenever I get together with friends, the conversation often turns to the issues of aging. The conversation quickly turns from lighthearted banter to advice on how to get through your next colonoscopy quickly, new injuries to body parts we never knew existed, or a pitch for the newest vitamin regimen. The reality is that we all want to live a long time, as long as we are relatively healthy. While there are no guarantees, there are a few things you can do to stack the deck in your favor. Here is a list, in no particular order, compiled from what I’ve learned from my patients, Chinese medicine, the scientific community, and some simple common sense:

  1. Get enough sleep. Your body rejuvenates, heals and recharges while you sleep. Go to bed early enough to get seven to eight good hours. Slow down before trying to sleep. If you suffer from insomnia, seek help. Ahem… acupuncture is quite effective in treating sleep problems.
  2. Laughter. It feels good, it’s invigorating, and it actually releases chemicals in the brain that are good for you.
  3. To go outside. Get in touch with the nature around you. This is the basis of Chinese medicine, in which the natural world is reflected in your body. Slow down in the winter, eat new green shoots in the spring, be especially active in the summer, and check out your locally grown produce in the fall (well, year-round). Also know that extreme weather conditions have the ability to make you sick, whether it’s a dry sore throat in the fall or heat exhaustion in the summer.
  4. Leave the tuxedo. Okay, duh. This may seem obvious, but if you smoke, quitting now is the most important step you can take to improve your health and extend your life expectancy.
  5. Make sure you get enough vitamin D. Vitamin D may sound like the magic supplement of the day, but vitamin D boosts immunity, helps with depression, and offers a host of other health benefits. And most of us are not getting enough. You can get your share of vitamin D through 15 minutes of direct sunlight or by supplementing with vitamin D3. Those of us who live near the far north of the earth may not be able to get adequate D from the sun year-round. So consider accessorizing if you own and wear long underwear more than a few times a year.
  6. Exercise. I can’t say this enough. It is the fountain of youth if such a thing existed. Physical activity keeps your heart and lungs fit, your muscles toned, your bones strong, and your butt firm, and studies indicate that it may also slow or reduce the progression of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
  7. Exercise your mind too. Play word games, solve puzzles, or learn a new language. The saying “use it or lose it” also applies to your mind.
  8. Change the behaviors that are making you sick. You know that stress, junk food, and toxic relationships are not good for you. If you want to feel good and live long, now is the time to get rid of those negative aspects of your life.
  9. Stand up straight! Poor posture can disrupt digestion and breathing, and can lead to back and neck pain. Stand and sit upright; your body will thank you.
  10. Eat for good digestion. In Chinese medicine, your digestion is just as important as what you’re eating. You can eat the healthiest foods on the planet, but if you don’t digest them well, you better be driving in Burger Doodle. Slow down, chew your food and avoid rich and greasy food. Choose more cooked than raw vegetables, and be careful with frozen foods and drinks.
  11. Get regular health exams. You can laugh all you want at your friends’ colonoscopy stories, but it’s best to keep up with yours. Be sure to get regular mammograms, Pap tests, blood pressure checks, mole screenings, etc. according to guidelines for your age and risk factors.
  12. Take it easy. The Chinese say that emotions are the cause of 100 diseases. That means staying mad at your obnoxious neighbor or stressing over a nosy co-worker will only make you your sick. Do whatever it takes to calm down and de-stress.
  13. Almost anything is fine, in moderation. According to Chinese medicine, a little sweetness can aid digestion, but eating half a cheesecake is a toxic food bomb. Similarly, the right amount of exercise is good for you, but too much can cause your body to deteriorate. Too much of anything over time can be detrimental, so aim for variety.
  14. Yard. Whether it’s a stretch of your backyard or pots on your balcony, growing your own vegetables outdoors is beneficial on many levels. You’re getting the best kind of exercise, you’re connecting with nature, you’re growing your own organic food (if you stop using pesticides), and you have the joy of walking out your door to pick something you’ve grown yourself.
  15. Get in touch. Connect with your sense of purpose through journaling and self-exploration, connect with others in social situations, and connect with the divine through prayer and meditation. In Chinese medicine, connection feeds your heart, which is the home of your soul.
  16. Long term eating. Eat breakfast, don’t skip meals, and get a little protein at each meal. Try to include a variety of colorful foods in your diet every day, especially dark-colored fruits and vegetables. Strive for a diet made up of lots of vegetables, some whole grains, a little protein, a little fruit, and small amounts of everything else (okay, maybe not hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup, but mostly everything everything else).
  17. Just breathe. Breathing deeply opens the lungs, oxygenates the brain for mental focus, and prevents fatigue and anxiety. In Chinese medicine, the lungs are an important component of immunity, so strong, healthy lungs translate into a great ability to fight off colds and flu. Try taking a deep breath for a count of four, holding it for a count of seven, and releasing it for a count of eight.
  18. just say no The ability to prioritize your life and say no to some of those annoying and unimportant things you don’t want to do and don’t do. Really I have to do is incredibly liberating. Helps lessen that stressful feeling of being overwhelmed, which can be tiring and exhausting.
  19. Cultivate compassion. By being kind to others, you are being kind to yourself. Kindness is embodied in generosity and service to others. Compassion and kindness dissolve anger, annoyance, and competition, all feelings that diminish both the quality and length of your life.
  20. Cook and eat happily. It has been said that the way you approach food reflects how you approach life. Do you approach food and life with joy or do you worry about every little thing you do and eat? Prepare your meals with love, sit down and share them with the people you love, as often as possible.
  21. Listen to your body. Your body is infinitely wise. He knows what he needs, how to heal and how to let you know when he is in trouble. He listens to those little signs; headaches at work, upset stomach when he has eaten poorly, lower back pain, or fatigue.
  22. Let yourself be carried away by your passion. This is simple. Find out what you like to do and find out how to do it more often.
  23. go green. The cosmetics you put on your body and the products you use to clean your house have the ability to make or break your health. Find out what’s in your shampoos, lotions, bathroom cleaners, etc., and if the ingredients are sketchy, look for cleaner, greener alternatives.
  24. Live the moment. We spend most of our time reviewing the past or fixated on some future event. The reality is that the only time that is real is right now. Impatience means that we are eager to move on to the next thing, the next moment; however, the following is a moment like this. Slow down and enjoy right now.

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