Your Health: It’s Not About Luck!
It’s St. Patrick’s Day and a perfect time to consider how you feel about luck. Do you ever find yourself blaming your poor health or extra weight on bad luck or maybe unlucky genes? Drs. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Michael Roizen, authors of the best-selling YOU series of books, say blaming genes is the biggest health excuse in the United States.
While your genes might predispose you to a certain disease, Drs. Oz and Roizen say scientific studies of identical twins show that your longevity is based one-quarter on your genetics and three-quarters on your behaviors and lifestyle choices. So leave luck to the leprechauns, and follow Dr. Roizen’s prescription for a long life:
- Take your vitamins. You can be six years younger than your calendar age.
- Quit smoking and avoid passive smoke. Have you read the warnings?
- Know your blood pressure. Low blood pressure about 115/75 can make you 25 years younger than someone with high blood pressure (greater than 160/90).
- Reduce stress. Strong social networks and stress-reduction strategies can erase years of aging.
- Floss your teeth. And brush!
- Be active. Just two 20-minute walks a day can make a difference.
- Wear your seatbelt. Enough said.
- Fill up on fiber. Get 25 grams per day.
- Monitor your health. Be proactive about seeking high-quality medical care and managing chronic conditions.
- Become a lifelong learner. Remaining intellectually involved keeps you mentally young.
- Laugh a lot. It reduces stress and strengthens the immune system.
Read Dr. Roizen’s article in the current issue of SUCCESS magazine.
Wed, Mar 18, 2009
Physical Wellness