Even though the United States has one of the highest healthcare expenditures in the world, life expectancy in the country is continuously falling. In 2017, the life expectancy at birth in the US dropped for the tenth year to 78.6 years.

This shows that spending more on healthcare doesn’t mean we have the healthiest population. The truth is that the best way to treat diseases is to prevent them in the first place. The key to living a long life is to adopt healthy life habits early on. They can significantly reduce your chances of developing medical conditions later.

Healthy Life Habits to Extend Life

Here are a few habits you must incorporate in your daily lives.

1. Be Physically Active

You should take out at least 20-30 minutes every day to exercise. People who work out for just 150 minutes a week have a 28% lower risk of early death. Therefore, regular physical activity can increase your lifespan— even if it’s just walking.

2. Quit Smoking

Smoking is perhaps one of the worst things you can do to your body. There’s nothing better than being a non smoker for your whole life but if you are currently a smoker, it’s never too late to quit!

Get in touch with your doctor to help you break the nicotine habit if you wish to live a healthy and long life.

3. Limit Your Alcohol Intake

Having too much alcohol is linked to liver, heart, and pancreatic disease. Researchers have defined moderate consumption as anywhere between 5 and 14.9 grams per day which means not more than a single alcoholic beverage per day.

4. Eat More Nuts

Nuts are nutritional powerhouses. They’re an excellent source of essential vitamins, minerals, protein and antioxidants. Including nuts in your daily diet can help you stay protected from heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even cancer.

5. Prioritize Your Sleep

Sleep is essential for natural healing processes and overall regulation of cell function. Therefore, living a long and healthy life is directly linked to developing a good sleep pattern. Too little sleep promotes inflammation leading to heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

You should sleep for 8-9 hours every day. Along with that, it’s also advised to maintain a good sleeping pattern which means going to bed and waking up around the same time each day.

6. Avoid Chronic Stress

Men and women suffering from anxiety or stress are much more likely to suffer from early death. They do not only experience a poor quality of life but also develop serious ailments.

Maintain a balanced life and discard all those elements that bring unnecessary stress. You could also introduce stress-releasing activities like yoga into your daily routines.

7. Maintain a Healthy Weight

Obesity can result in multiple health issues including cardiometabolic disease. As we grow older, our body’s metabolism slows down. This is why we need to keep a balance between our daily intake and physical activity if we don’t want to put on extra weight.

Manage your daily calorie intake and limit your portion size. It’s also very important to avoid processed food and turn to healthier food options.

Final Words

With these simple healthy life habits, you can make a huge impact on your health and increase your chances of living a longer life.