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Experts recommend nine habits for a longer life in middle age
🇦🇹 Austria /Health & Science

Experts recommend nine habits for a longer life in middle age

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Experts recommend adopting healthy habits in middle age to influence longevity and well-being.
  • Key recommendations include incorporating interval training for cardiovascular fitness and prioritizing social connections.
  • Experts also suggest eating fermented foods to support the gut microbiome.

Middle age is the ideal time to make changes that benefit both present and future health, according to experts. The foundations for many age-related diseases, including cardiovascular issues, diabetes, cancer, and dementia, are often laid during these years, making early prevention crucial.

The middle age is the ideal time to make changes that benefit you not only in the present but also in the future.

— Margie LachmanPsychology professor at Brandeis University, on the importance of midlife health choices.

Experts emphasize that a lifetime of healthy habits, not just a few weeks, is necessary to significantly impact life expectancy. Margie Lachman, a psychology professor at Brandeis University, notes that "What happens in midlife doesn't stay in midlife." She advises integrating interval training into exercise routines multiple times a week to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, a key indicator for a long life and sustained mobility.

What happens in midlife doesn't stay in midlife.

— Margie LachmanPsychology professor at Brandeis University, emphasizing the long-term impact of midlife habits.

Dr. Guillem Gonzalez-Lomas, an associate professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, suggests that instead of steady-paced exercise, individuals should alternate between 30-second sprints and 30-second rests. He stresses the importance of pushing oneself during these workouts for maximum benefit. Social connections are also highlighted as vital for long-term health and well-being. Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, calls social contact perhaps the most important measure for well-being, despite often being overlooked.

Cardiorespiratory fitness is one of the best indicators for a long life and for being able to remain active and mobile in later years.

— Dr. Guillem Gonzalez-LomasAssociate professor of orthopedic surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, on the benefits of cardiovascular health.

To balance busy schedules, Lachman proposes combining errands with friends, such as walking, exercising, or grocery shopping together. The article also touches on the importance of the gut microbiome, reminding readers not to forget the trillions of organisms living within them and suggesting the consumption of fermented foods.

You have to really push yourself hard.

— Dr. Guillem Gonzalez-LomasAssociate professor of orthopedic surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, on the intensity needed for interval training.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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