Dr. G is committed to helping you live the healthy and happy life you deserve, and that includes making sure you can live longer! This is why he would like to share with you a new study published in the journal Circulation with suggestions on how you can live more than a decade longer simply by following 5 healthy habits. These habits are associated with a decreased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
While Dr. G encourages you to incorporate these healthy behaviors as soon as possible and the study says childhood is the preferred time to begin, starting these healthy behaviors even later in life can make an impact on your longevity and overall health. In fact, the study revealed that people exhibiting all 5 of these healthy habits when they were 50 years old were expected to live 14 years longer if they were women and 12.2 years longer if they were men!
Take a look at Dr. G’s 5 healthy habits and see how they can help you live longer and be healthier.
Healthy Habit 1: Don’t Smoke
We are taught from an early age that smoking cigarettes is bad for us as it can lead to a wide range of health issues, the most serious being cancer and heart disease. Out of all the healthy habits, this one is the most important factor in determining your ability to live a long and healthy life. Even minimal smoking can cause lasting damage to your lungs and organs because the chemicals in tobacco smoke can cause permanent mutations in your lung cells.
Dr. G encourages anyone who is not a smoker to continue to stay away from this unhealthy practice. If you are a smoker and looking to quit, Dr. G is here to help. Give us a call to see how we can support you in making healthy choices and help you get on the right path.
Healthy Habit 2: Maintain A Healthy Body-Mass Index (BMI)
Your body-mass index uses your weight-to-height ratio to measure your body fat. A healthy range is usually between 18.5 and 24.9, though the exact numbers will differ for men and women. Maintaining a healthy BMI is key to protecting yourself against conditions like diabetes and also has an impact on your cardiovascular risk and metabolic risk. It can help you extend your life span by keeping your body healthy and less vulnerable to diseases.
Dr. G is happy to help you plan a well-rounded diet with his tips on delicious and nutritious recipes. If you are looking to lose weight, ask about his effective HCG Weight Loss Program that includes food lists and meal preparation guides to help you stay healthy.
Healthy Habit 3: Engage in Moderate to Vigorous Exercise
Exercising has numerous benefits for your overall health and wellness. It helps maintain a healthy BMI to lower the risk of diabetes, cancer, and other obesity-related diseases. Regular exercise can also help with weight loss, strengthen your muscles and bones, increase your energy levels, decrease blood pressure, improve insulin sensitivity, and can even help with brain function and memory. For consistent results, Dr. G suggests at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a day
Healthy Habit 4: Don’t Drink Too Much Alcohol
As with most foods and drinks, alcohol can be safe in moderation. However, excessive alcohol consumption and binge drinking can lead to serious diseases and health issues that can impact how long you live. Some of these health complications are:
- Shrinking brain
- Behavior changes
- Cancer (especially throat, mouth, or esophagus)
- Heart damage and Cardiovascular diseases
- Liver damage
- Lung infections
- Pancreatitis
- Diabetes complications
Healthy Habit 5: Eat a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet combined with regular exercise is a great way to maintain your ideal BMI and decrease your risk of obesity-related diseases. Keep in mind these helpful tips from Dr. G when trying a new diet:
- Keep everything in moderation.
- Don’t replace all proteins with soy-based foods.
- Stay hydrated!
- Don’t expect to completely change overnight – it might take a little time to adjust to new, healthier foods.
- It’s ok to have a small bite of your favorite not-so-good-for-you foods.
A healthy diet combined with regular exercise is a great way to maintain your ideal BMI and decrease your risk of obesity-related diseases. Keep in mind these helpful tips from Dr. G when trying a new diet:
- Keep everything in moderation.
- Don’t replace all proteins with soy-based foods.
- Stay hydrated!
- Don’t expect to completely change overnight – it might take a little time to adjust to new, healthier foods.
- It’s ok to have a small bite of your favorite not-so-good-for-you foods.
- Don’t feel guilty about eating unhealthy food—It’s going to happen.
- Expect to have a few bumps and move on.
- Tell a friend or family member to help you stay motivated.
- Don’t feel guilty about eating unhealthy food—It’s going to happen.
- Expect to have a few bumps and move on.
- Tell a friend or family member to help you stay motivated.