There are several benefits to having a well-balanced, healthy diet and being active. It can help people develop more energy and a healthier weight.
But being active and eating healthily can significantly benefit our immune systems to reduce the risk of catching illnesses and subsequently, live a longer life.
Chief Medical Officer of The Slimming Clinic, Dr Charlotte Norton is an expert in helping people lose weight and live healthier lives.
The doctor laid out her four top tips for people to live longer.
Cutting back on ultra-processed foods is one way of improving your longevity
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Reduce your cholesterol
Having high cholesterol imposes an abundance of risks on your health. The doctor said: “High cholesterol can lead to a whole host of health problems which can shorten your life expectancy, including blocked arteries, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, coronary heart disease, and damage to the artery walls.”
To combat this, the Doctor said: “Take steps to reduce your cholesterol such as cutting down on fatty food, in particular food that contains saturated fats. Saturated fat is typically found in foods such as butter, palm and coconut oils, cheese, and red meats.”
Cut back on ultra-processed foods
Dr Norton advised: “Research suggests that people who eat high amounts of ultra-processed foods are more likely to die from heart disease and diabetes. In order to reduce the likelihood of this, take steps to cut back on ultra-processed foods.
“These are foods which are industrially made and contain lots of ingredients and additives, for example, sweets, fried snacks, processed meat, cakes and biscuits. All of which are energy dense but nutrient low.”
Change your mindset
The doctor explained that people need to change the way they view food. Dr Norton said: “Many people use food as a treat or a comfort, but by taking steps to change your mindset you can start to think of it as fuel and nutrition for your body.
“This will help you to make positive changes about what you put into your body, in order to support a healthy body and prevent weight gain.”
Move more
Dr Norton advised: “Incorporating regular cardiovascular exercise into your daily lifestyle will cause the heart to pump faster and stronger and as a result the blood which is rich in oxygen moves more effectively around the body, reaching organs and tissues.
“Exercising regularly will not only help you to live longer but also help to improve your mental health because it releases feel-good hormones, or endorphins, and also helps to improve sleep.”
A simple walk can help you live longer
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The doctor said that consistency when trying these lifestyle changes for the first time is key. She said people should be looking at their Body Mass Index (BMI) online.
Dr Norton said: “A BMI in the healthy range of 18.5–25 is associated with the lowest risk of dying from disease.”
Another doctor recently talked about the best exercises people can do to help them live longer.
Dr Alan Mandell instructed people to “start walking” and listed the myriad of benefits this activity can provide.
