People who are aging in a positive way (positive agers) engage in the following lifestyle habits:
- Eat breakfast. Positive agers eat breakfast every single day. No, a calorie and sugar loaded donut and a cup of coffee do not count as breakfast. A nutritional breakfast is one that is high in fiber and other nutrients such as protein. Breakfast gets your metabolism revved-up resulting in more energy and fat-burning benefits throughout the day.
- Eat healthy. Positive agers understand the importance eating healthy. My octogenarian friend told me that she attributes her longevity to her decision to take charge of her health, specifically concentrating on the foods she ate. She avoids high caloric carbohydrates, high sodium, and sugar. She eats plenty of fruits and vegetables; and NEVER adds sugar or salt to anything.
- Exercise. Positive agers engage in some kind of exercise every single day or at a minimum five days a week. Studies show that exercise, at any age, is beneficial. For example, there are health, longevity, and psychological benefits to exercise. And, the more you do, the more benefits you experience.
- Pay attention to their dental health. Positive agers understand the benefits of good dental hygiene – a sparkling smile, healthy gums, fewer cavities. They also know the impact that poor dental hygiene can have on overall heath. Therefore, PAs are committed to flossing and brushing at least twice a day. And, they see their dentist at least once a year.
- Use sun screen and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. Positive agers know that one should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and wear sun screen. While the risk for skin cancer is lower the darker your skin, lower doesn’t mean zero. People of color may not wrinkle as fast as their blond, blue-eyed, freckled or lighter-skinned sisters, but their skin can also suffer the same kind of damage which includes skin cancer.
Think on this: Which of the above lifestyle habits do you practice on a daily basis?
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