Keep Active for a Longer, Healthier Life
What's the secret to a long and healthy life? While genes play a role, your lifestyle has the biggest effect on how healthy you are and how long you live. That includes what you eat and drink, how active you are, whether you smoke, and how you handle stress.
After smoking, lack of physical activity, along with poor eating habits, is the largest underlying cause of death in the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health.
A little physical activity goes a long way. At least 30 minutes of activity five or more days a week can improve your overall health. Researchers continue to uncover health benefits from being physically active. Some of these include:
- Weight control
- Better sleep
- More energy
- Relief from depression
- Reduced stress
- Better ability to fight off colds and other illness
- Arthritis relief
- Stronger bones and muscles, which can prevent falls and bone loss disease
- Lower risk of diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol and blood pressure, and colon cancer
People who are physically active also tend to have healthier diets, which is also very important for good health.