Lifestyle influences health and longevity

How do you define your lifestyle? The way a person looks at everyday life, including eating habits, exercises, moments of leisure, relationships and work, totally influences the quality of life.

According to studies by the World Health Organization (WHO), about 53% of the factors that lead to a longer and healthier life are directly associated with the person’s lifestyle. Therefore, to live more and better, we must follow some care and maintain healthy habits.

How lifestyle influences health

For WHO, health is “the complete well-being and full development of physical, psycho-emotional and social potentialities, not the mere absence of disease or infirmity.” With this, it is understood that the lifestyle that a person takes directly influences their health as a whole.

Eating habits, the practice of physical activities, social and affective relationships, leisure moments and the environment in which the person lives, among other factors, are related to their health. All these aspects define the quality of life, or lack thereof.

In addition, lifestyle contributes more to longevity than genetic factors. Many people think that as parents have lived to an advanced age, they tend to live as much as they do. However, a survey by the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, published in the Journal of International Medicine, points out that this is not the case.

The study released data indicating that the age of the parents is little related to the life expectancy of men. That proves that, in fact, lifestyle is the determining factor when evaluating longevity.

Poor eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and excessive stress trigger disease, impair well-being and even hamper productivity at work.

Tips for getting healthier and living longer

Maintain a healthy and balanced diet

Avoid foods rich in fat, sugars, and sodium, preferring fresh and natural options rather than industrialized products. Drink one-and-a-half to two liters of water a day. Such care helps prevent diseases such as heart attack, strokes, hypertension, obesity, diabetes and even cancer.

Practice regular physical activity

They can be walks, races, bodybuilding or sports, but the important thing is to keep the body active and to spend calories, thus preventing overweight and a number of health problems such as hypertension and heart disease.

Sleep well

The appropriate time varies in each phase of life. In general, for adults, sleep seven hours a night is indicated for a healthier life and is even a secret to longevity.

Set a time aside for leisure

To relieve the stress and anxiety of everyday life, great cause of heart and psychological illnesses, have leisure moments. Relax and have fun combat mental and physical wear and tear, providing a sense of well-being and a healthier lifestyle.

Have good friends

Research by Brigham Young University in the United States has found that lonely people live 50 percent less. Friendships strengthen health by helping to treat and prevent some diseases.

How is your lifestyle? Let us know!