best for HEALTH
Want to live a long life? Here are just some of the ways to get started…
1 Take breaks in nature
‘Urban forest therapy’ means connecting to nature – even a single tree – wherever you live. A recent review confirmed that even short nature breaks were great for reducing angst, with one study clocking benefits after just 20-30 minutes a few times each week.
2 Call a friend
People who feel lonely have a higher risk of heart disease, stroke and depression. So sign up for that dance class, or start a book club. Chatting with someone on the phone for 10 minutes a few times a week significantly reduces loneliness, researchers found during the pandemic.
3 Work those muscles
Some form of resistance training – whether lifting weights, using resistance bands, or doing body-weight exercises that challenge muscles – is crucial, says biologist Dr Matt Kaeberlein. ‘The loss of muscle mass is one of the biggest predictors of frailty in the elderly,’ he adds.
4 Go green (tea)
Japanese researchers found that drinking green tea lowered blood glucose levels in people without diabetes. One reason, scientists discovered, was that regularly consuming the drink reduces the amounts of unhealthy bacteria that colonise the gut.
5 Guard your nights
Sleep is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health, says Dr Stephen Kopecky, author of Live Younger Longer. This is when crucial tissue is repaired. So improve your sleep hygiene by keeping to the same schedule every day and creating a bedtime routine similar to the kind you had for your kids, perhaps involving a soothing bath or reading.
6 Think Greek
A Mediterranean-style diet, full of vegetables, fruits, and high-quality fat
