ExerciseRx: The Prescription for Healthy Living

If you want to live longer, there’s a new prescription for senior-aged adults. It’s not in the form of a pill, tablet, drink, or supplement. And it’s not available online or in a store. But a daily dose of this may cut your risk for early death by 67 percent.

Want to know what you need to take to get that kind of health benefit?

A walk.

That’s it. Put on your shoes and go for a brisk 30-minute walk every day. New research presented at a recent American Heart Association meeting earlier this year, shows that moderate exercise can help prevent heart disease and early death.

And if you’ve been overwhelmed by the mantra to get 10,000 steps a day, start smaller. One new study found that getting 4,500 steps per day is still enough to cut the risk for heart failure and stroke by 48 percent.

The goal: Be active for at least 30 minutes a day. Take a walk. Work in the garden. Ride a bike. Dance. Watch an exercise video and follow along. Move more. Sit less. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, or 30 minutes five days a week.

You can do this. You’ll feel better. You’ll be healthier. And you’ll live longer.

Want to improve your health even more? Regular exercise will help. But eating a healthy diet along with regular exercise is even better. And it doesn’t have to be hard.

Our Senior-Friendly menu includes 80-plus perfectly portion-sized meals made with fresh ingredients that only take minutes to prepare. Check out the menu and pick your favorites or try these best-selling meals:

• Beef Lasagna with Peas & Carrots
• Salmon Caponata with Orzo & Spinach 
• Spinach Mushroom Lasagna with Garlic Green Beans
• Vegetable Caponata with Orzo & Spinach