6 Tips to Add Years to Your Life and Life to Your Years

Ever wonder what the secret to living longer is? And not just living longer, but living longer and enjoying a positive quality of life?

It’s an important question. Why? Today there’s an estimated 1.5 billion people who are age 60 and older. And the aging population is only going to grow...to an estimated 2.1 billion people over age 60 by 2050, according to the Decade of Healthy Aging plan proposed by the World Health Organization.

You can’t stop Father Time from moving forward. But if you want to add years to your life and life to your years, you can do something about it.

Here are 6 ways to age well:

1. Be active at least 30 minutes a day.

Aim for a minimum of 150 exercise minutes a week. Add strength training or resistance training two days a week. Top it off with light stretching and balance exercises.

2. Train your brain

Keep your mind active by being a lifelong learner. Play games like crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and strategy games. Read more. Learn a new hobby or skill.

3. Maintain healthy relationships.

It’s more important than you might think. Many older people struggle with loneliness and depression. Be social. Stay in touch with family and friends. Volunteer. Make the effort to maintain relationships and develop new ones.

4. Get your Zzzs.

Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Take a nap during the day if you need to. Avoid watching TV in bed or using electronic devices. Create a bedtime routine, and stick to it, even on weekends.

5. Manage stress in healthy ways

Want to prevent age-related memory loss, lower your risk for chronic disease, and strengthen your immune system? Manage stress in healthy ways. Breathe deeply. Try yoga, meditation or relaxation techniques. Laugh more.

6. Eat healthy foods.

It’s not rocket science. Avoid or limit the processed meals, fast foods, sweets, and sugary drinks. Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and legumes. Drink plenty of water. Some lean meats and low-fat dairy products are OK too.

Want to make cooking simple and easy?

Check out the selection of Senior-Friendly meals, all made from fresh ingredients and easy to prepare in the microwave.