Most people know that eating healthy foods, exercising appropriately and getting enough sleep contribute to good health. Another factor, spirituality, has also been shown to positively impact health and overall quality of life.

As we head into the holiday season, theres much talk about spirituality. But what does it mean to be spiritual and how can it impact our overall health and wellness?

Spirituality resides within an individual and what they personally believe. Some of these beliefs are shared with others and expressed through religious traditions. Spirituality can also be expressed in ways not considered religious.

Wherever our beliefs originate, they become our guides to making daily decisions that shape our lives. Our priorities, and therefore our choices, are based on what we see as our highest good. Having meaning and purpose in life can promote self-care and loving relationships with ourselves, others, and with the world at large.

While hostile relationships cause stress and fear, healthy relationships provide peace and security. Forgiveness, developing a strong sense of personal worth, and affirmation allow us to live life more fully.

There is a connection between our mind, body and spirit. Research shows that our beliefs and spiritual practices change our biology. Just as brushing our teeth helps prevent cavities, there is evidence that having purpose and engaging in spiritual practices such as meditation and gratitude, directly impact our bodys healing properties.

Most forms of meditation, religiously based or not, involve techniques such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state. This training of our attention has been shown to have many benefits including lower blood pressure, improved immune system and decreased stress.

The practice of gratitude the appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself can also lead to an overall increase in well-being. We can train ourselves to be constantly grateful for the little things in life. Some individuals find that they have a better nights sleep when they name three things they are grateful for before bed. The more we practice gratitude, the more we default to positivity instead of negativity.

Spirituality can prevent some health problems and help us cope and recover better from illnesses. Caring for ourselves, our neighbors, and the world with gratitude and compassion not only brings us greater peace, but healthier bodies.

The Rev. Jonathan Scott serves as chaplain at Day Kimball Hospital and leads the hospitals pastoral care department.

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Healthy Living: Spirituality affects our health and wellness - Norwich Bulletin

UPPER NYACK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Global Healthy Living Foundation today announced that Louis Tharp, executive director and co-founder, joined the board of trustees of AIDS United, a national organization devoted to ending the HIV epidemic in the U.S. through strategic grant-making, policy and advocacy, and capacity building.

For twenty years, Ive dedicated my professional and personal life to raising awareness and improving support for people living with serious and lifelong chronic diseases, said Mr. Tharp. Its an honor and privilege to join the board of AIDS United, whose work has meaningfully advanced and improved the availability of community-driven responses to the HIV epidemic.

AIDS United has granted over $120 million to organizations addressing HIV across the U.S. during its history including $8 million currently to over 250 grantees in 40 states and territories. AIDS Uniteds Public Policy Council made up of 55 of the nations leading HIV service and advocacy organizations just celebrated its 35th anniversary advocating for policies, programs and appropriations with Congress and the federal government.

After a career in business, Mr. Tharp became a social entrepreneur in 1999 when he co-founded CreakyJoints, the digital community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers worldwide who seek education, support, activism, and patient-centered research. In 2007, CreakyJoints became part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), which he also co-founded and now serves as Executive Director. GHLF focuses on health policy, advocacy, research, education and patient support issues impacting people with all types of chronic disease.

We could not be prouder to welcome Lou Tharp to AIDS United, said Jesse Milan, Jr., President & CEO at AIDS United, He combines outstanding not-for-profit business acumen and exceptional public health expertise with his personal passion for addressing health equity for underserved and stigmatized communities. As we confront issues of HIV and aging and HIV as a chronic disease, his experience building CreakyJoints and the Global Healthy Living Foundation will be immensely helpful.

Lous relentless passion to improve the quality of life for people living with chronic disease, including HIV, will directly translate into actionable ideas. AIDS United and the Global Healthy Living Foundation are better because of Lous dedication, strategic thinking, and compassion, added Seth Ginsberg, president and co-founder of CreakyJoints and Global Healthy Living Foundation.

Mr. Tharp was the first out gay coach at the U.S. Military Academy, where he was the swim coach of the West Point Triathlon team. He published his second book, Overachievers Diary in 2007, recounting the West Point tri teams rise to national prominence. Proceeds from book sales went to the West Point triathlon team. He is also a competitive open water and pool swimmer with 13 World Masters, Gay Games and OutGames gold, silver and bronze medals.

From 2003 to 2008, he served on the board of visitors for the College of Business at Butler University, Indianapolis, where he graduated with a B.S. and a B.A. in Journalism in 1972. He was Chairman of the Anti-Bias Commission, Rockland County, New York, from 1994-1996; Chairman of the Board of CANDLE, a Rockland County, New York, non-profit from 1994-1997; is a former member of the board of the Victory Fund, Washington, DC, the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation, and a current member of Knights Out, U.S. Military Academy. From 2012-2018 he accepted a position in the Obama administration serving on the Army Education Advisory Committee and was recognized for his service in the Congressional Record.

Louis and his husband, Jim Bumgardner, live in Upper Nyack, NY.

About AIDS UnitedAIDS Uniteds mission is to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. through strategic grant-making, capacity building, and policy. AIDS United works to ensure access to life-saving HIV care and prevention services and to advance sound HIV-related policy for U.S. populations and communities most impacted by the epidemic. To date, our strategic grant-making initiatives have directly funded more than $104 million to local communities and have leveraged more than $117 million in additional investments for programs that include, but are not limited to HIV prevention, access to care, capacity building, harm reduction and advocacy. http://www.aidsunited.org

About Global Healthy Living FoundationThe Global Healthy Living Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people living with chronic illnesses (such as arthritis, osteoporosis, migraine, psoriasis, and cardiovascular disease) by advocating for improved access to health care at the community, state, and federal levels, and amplifying education and awareness efforts within its social media framework. GHLF is also a staunch advocate for vaccines. The Global Healthy Living Foundation is the parent organization of CreakyJoints, the digital arthritis community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers worldwide who seek education, support, activism, and patient-centered research through ArthritisPower, the first-ever patient-centered research registry for joint, bone, and inflammatory skin conditions. Global Healthy Living Foundation recently launched PainSpot.org, a digital risk assessment tool for musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. Visit http://www.GHLF.org for more information.

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Global Healthy Living Foundation Executive Director Named to AIDS United Board of Trustees - Business Wire

As part of the public campaign initiated under the Aardram Mission project, the Department of Health Services, in association with the National Health Mission (NHM), will organise a State-level football tournament for health department staff at Moozhikkal on Saturday. Health Minister K.K. Shylaja will open the tournament at 6 p.m.

District Medical Officer V. Jayasree told reporters here on Friday that the tournament would highlight the need for a healthy lifestyle, diet and regular exercise for a healthy living. The tournament would draw the participation of officials from all the 14 districts, she said.

A friendly match between teams representing the media, health and revenue departments would be part of the campaign event. Videos explaining the message of the sporty campaign would be screened for the public at the venue.

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With the YMCA fundraising underway, Tompkins Bank of Castile and Tompkins Insurance generously donated $150,000 to the Healthy Living Campus Capital Campaign in a check ceremony Thursday (Dec. 12).

Their gift is in celebration of their 150th Anniversary serving the community. The YMCA wishes continued success for Tompkins Bank of Castile and Tompkins Insurance as both of our organizations work together to provide opportunities for the Genesee County area.

The Healthy Living Campus will be transformational for Downtown Batavia and benefit community residents as the new facility will have:

Accessibility for the handicap;

State of the art indoor playground;

Splash pad;

Teaching kitchen;

Indoor track;

Preschool wing;

Pickup and drop-off for kids;

Larger gym;

New programs with the United Memorial Medical Hospital including working with physicians, dietitians, nutritionists, survivor programing to name a few.

Tompkins, one of the largest employers in the City of Batavia, pledged the money this spring.

This project will be transformational for downtown Batavia and benefit thousands of community residents for many years to come, said John McKenna,president and CEO of Tompkins Bank of Castile, in March.

Were excited to play a pivotal role in a project that is going to bring such positive change to the community, David Boyce, president and CEO of Tompkins Insurance, added at that time.

The donation will support a $22.5 million land redevelopment project that includes the current YMCA and United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) Cary Hall on Main Street in Batavia. The initiative will have a substantial impact on Main Street, which is home to the headquarters of Tompkins Bank of Castile and Tompkins Insurance Agencies.

This community initiative is expected to boost the regional economy by about $60 million over the course of its first decade, including jobs at the new campus and during construction, according tothe Genesee County Economic Development Center.

Top photo, from left: John McKenna, president and CEO of Tompkins Bank of Castile; Rob Walker, GLOW YMCA chief executive officer; and David Boyce, president and CEO of Tompkins Insurance.

Read more:

Tompkins Bank of Castile and Tompkins Insurance donates $150K toward Healthy Living Campus - The Batavian

We created aHealthy Holiday Gift Guidewith all of our favorite things raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens kidding! We compiledour favorite wellness gifts, fitness & recovery tools, DIY salt soak, tech items, healthy food and drinks, DIY sugar scrub, and more into this guide, and we hope it inspires you to put a little wellness into your gift-giving this year.

We created this guide because nothing shows you care about someone like giving them the gift of improved health!

Youll find something for almost everyone on your holiday list, and at just about every price point.

Youll find great ideas for:

You might even find a few new must-haves for yourself!

Check it out for yourself right now!

ENJOY!

Wilcox Wellness & Fitness

WANT MORE OF THIS?Be sure to connect with us on Social Media. We post daily on bothFacebookandInstagramfor motivation, inspiration, and helpful tips, tricks, and strategies for healthy living. You can join ourprivate Facebook groupto go even deeper with us orbook a callto see how you can get started training with us in person. We cant wait to connect with you and support you along your journey with healthy living!

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Give the Gift of Health - Bangor Daily News

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 54 million Americans nearly a quarter of the US population suffer from some form of arthritis, a painful inflammation of the joints which can impair quality of life. Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are among the two most common types, and when it comes to treating them, identification of symptoms and accuracy of diagnosis are key, said Michael Lewko, MD, medical director of St. Josephs New Jersey Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center in Clifton.

By contrast, Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which affects 1.3 million Americans, most of whom (75%) are women, typically between the ages of 30 and 50 or over 60, Dr. Lewko said. RA is often associated with the presence of swelling in the hands and/or feet, making patients feel like theyre bound up or frozen, especially in the morning, said Dr. Lewko, who noted that RA symptoms also can include fatigue/low energy, fever, loss of appetite and depression as well as inflammation of the eyes, nerves/blood vessels, skin and other organs.

Top Tips for Treatment and Prevention

Treatment begins by understanding the conditions and complexities of each patient, such as their stage of life, work conditions and lifestyle, and bringing the best of ancient wisdom to modern medicine, said Dr. Lewko, a longtime practitioner of integrative rheumatology.

Following, Dr. Lewko shares top tips for preventing osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis or slowing their progression:

Stay Active. While patients with arthritis may complain that exercise hurts, its important to stay active and find exercises that will stimulate your bones, strengthen your muscles, tone your tendons and ligaments, and promote cardiovascular health, Dr. Lewko said. For those with osteoarthritis, Swimming is great for load-bearing joints and tai chi enhances balance and mind-body spirit. For those with RA, Inflammation is the major factor and we need to bring down the fire causing all the havoc; walking, yoga and aerobic exercises will help get blood flowing and boost circulation. For both OA and RA, stretching and physical therapy can bring relief from pain while enhancing strength.

Overall, there have been many technological advances in the field of arthritis that the medical community can use to treat patients, but there isnt really a magic bullet, Dr. Lewko said. We want patients to be empowered to help their own body heal itself and to be an active part of the treatment and prevention. As a team, we can achieve it together.

St. Josephs Health World-Class Care

St. Josephs Health is a world-class hospital and health care network supported by leading and renowned physicians, nurses and care teams and operates a full continuum of care, including a regional tertiary care medical center, a state-designated childrens hospital, an acute care hospital, rehabilitation and long-term facilities, and comprehensive home care.

St. Josephs Health has locations at 703 Main St. in Paterson, (973) 754-2000, and 224 Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne, (973) 942-6900, and can be visited at http://www.stjosephshealth.org. The New Jersey Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center is located at 871 Allwood Road in Clifton and can be reached by calling (973) 405-5163.

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Living a healthy and active life with arthritis: Signs, symptoms and treatment options - Jersey's Best

A week-long event focusing on selfcare and community is coming to Michigan State March 16-20.

College of Arts and Letters Care Week features new adventures every day, with each one highlighting positive thinking and caring for others.

The event was created by two fellows in the Graduate School Leadership Development Fellowship, Cameron Chase and Rachel Robinson. Chase and Robinson are both students and instructors in the College of Arts and Letters, and the two joined forces to complete a project to create a positive change within their college.

Our aim is to help educate or remind students on how they can take good care of themselves as well as how they can be positive contributors to their fellow Spartans, Chase said.

With Chases interests in mental health and Robinsons in wellness, CAL Care Week is a joint effort to support a stronger and healthier campus.

MSU has been through a good deal of emotional challenges in the last few years, Chase said. Its so important that there is someone expressing how much everyone in the MSU community matters. Now seems like the right moment to propel a message of care around the entire campus, reminding everyone they are appropriate, they are valued, they matter.

Big dreams drove the vision of the event. Chase and Robinson were inspired by a similar initiative held at University of California Santa Cruz.

It was massive, Chase said. There were probably 10-15 events happening each day. And so, we got really excited, saying we want that.

From there, they adjusted their vision to fit their budget.

Once we knew what we wanted to do, the most difficult thing was How do we pare this down to something that theoretically, if needed, two people could do themselves, Chase said.

Despite the smaller budget, the two fit an array of low-cost, high-impact activities in Care Week allwith the goal of dispelling stigmas against mental health and making attendees feel good about themselves and inspired to care for others.

These activities promote positivity, self-awareness and connectivity. They include self-help lectures, hanging the CAL Care Week banner, a banner sporting a positive self-affirmation statement, on the bridge near the auditorium, painting The Rock, writing workshops and a yoga session.

Chase hopes Care Week will grow to encompass all colleges and become an annual, university-wide event.

My hope is that its something where the torch will be passed on, he said. We would love for it to grow into an initiative, where its not just two people doing it.

See the article here:
CAL Care Week promotes healthy living - MSUToday

From a media release:

This new year, TV personality, fitness guru, and nature lover Chloe Wilde (ETALK) takes viewers on a life-changing journey for the mind, body, and soul in the brand-new Crave Original Series HEALTHY IS HOT. From Bell Media Studios, all six episodes are available Friday, Jan. 10, only on Crave.

Developed from Wildes highly successful blog, podcast, and Instagram of the same name, HEALTHY IS HOT is set to inspire new resolutions, endless possibilities, and exciting opportunities for healthier and happier living as viewers settle into 2020.

The series showcases Wildes journey from Vancouver Island, B.C. to Ottawa and Toronto as she tackles fears, indulges in new foods, gives back to charity, and more. Each episode is dedicated to learning and practicing different elements that promote personal growth and make up a healthy lifestyle, while providing an open and supportive discussion about difficult subjects like the importance of mental health and the real effects of climate change. HEALTHY IS HOT is produced by Bell Media Studios. Michelle Crespi is Executive Producer, Bell Media Studios.

Related

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Chloe Wilde takes viewers on a life-changing journey in Crave's Healthy is Hot - TV, eh?

Thank you to the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon for presenting Healthy Living in the New Year. Dont miss the 2020 Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon Race Weekend April 24-25. With six events to choose from including the 5K on Friday night at 7:30 and the youth run at 3 p.m. on Saturday your best race is in sight. Memorable race shirts, drawstring bags, finisher medals, and a spectacular finish in Memorial Stadium await you. Register today at http://www.illinoismarathon.com and use promo code chambanamoms2020to receive $5 off any event.

Its hard to escape the talk of New Years resolutions related to health, fitness, and weight loss. The truth is any time is a great time to commit to health and wellness goals. We have compiled a list of resources to get you started on your journey to wellness and your best you.

Free Fitness Opportunities in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond

Where: Champaign location

Pursuit Fitness and Performance InstituteWhere: Champaign (insideLodgic Everyday Community)What:Set up a tour and consultation and get a free fitness assessment and personal training session.

Raw FitnessWhere: ChampaignWhat: Click for a FREE health assessment, consult and 30-minute trial training session.

Orange Theory FitnessWhere: South Neil Street in ChampaignWhat: Try your first class for free.

Profile by SanfordWhere: Champaign location (near Meijer)What: Meet with a certified Profile coach for free to discuss programming.

KMC ActiveWhere: Kirby Medical Center, MonticelloWhat: Kirby Medical Center is adding new group fitness classes to its programming. If you are interested in trying one of these classes before joining or would like to put your name on the pre-registration list, please call 217-762-1520 or email.

CurvesWhere: Champaign and Monticello locationsWhat: Click for a free seven-day pass for use in seven consecutive days at the same location.

Planet FitnessWhere: Champaign locationWhat: Click for a free day pass for use anytime.

Crunch FitnessWhere: Champaign location (former Toys R Us location)What: Click for a free day pass for use anytime.

Anytime FitnessWhere:Champaign, Danville locationsWhat: Click for a7-day trial passfor use anytime.

Mahomet-Seymour FieldhouseWhere: MahometWhat: The Fieldhouse, which includes an indoor track, is currently open for walkers and joggers on various days each month. The Fieldhouse isopen only to residents of the Mahomet-Seymour school district. Adult Mahomet-Seymour residents are allowed one guest who may reside outside of the district. Students in junior high and younger must be accompanied and supervised by their parent or by another adult. Click here to check updated schedules.

Douglass Park Fitness Trail (OUTDOORS)Where: Douglass Park, ChampaignWhat: Champaign Park Districts Douglass Park boasts a .6 mile fitness trail with several pieces of outdoor exercise equipment. Try out the ab crunch/leg lift, assisted row/push-up, balance steps, cardio stepper, chest/back press, mobility station, plyometrics, pull-up/dip, squat press, stretching station and Tai Chi wheels all for free! More info in our Chambana Parks to Know profile.

NOT FREE, BUT CHEAP:

U of I Armory and TrackWhere: Champaign, University of Illinois campusWhat: You dont have to be a University of Illinois student to enjoy this amazing facility. The Armory and Track floor is 62,000 square feet of space. The center of the arch is approximately 95 feet high. The running track is 200 meters long in Lane 1. Pay a daily fee of $3/individual or $5/family or buy a years membership for $95/individual (about $8 a month) or $135/family and have access to it every day its open. Three-month and six-month memberships are also available for purchase if you are looking for a shorter duration. More info HERE.

Hatha Yoga and Fitness Free Community ClassesWhere: 2109 S. Neil St., ChampaignWhat: Intro Special two weeks for $28

Of course there are other local gyms and studios that offer fee-based fitness punch cards or temporary guest passes for various lengths of time, such as theLeonhard Recreation Center,Mettler Center in ChampaignorStephens Family YMCA.

Know of other gyms or wellness facilities offering promotions for the upcoming year? Email us and we will verify the information and add it for our readers. Best wishes in your pursuit of health and wellness in the New Year!

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Healthy Living in the New Year in Champaign-Urbana - chambanamoms.com

Even at the age of 59 where many retirees choose to relax, she instead works in her cassava plantation, backyard gardening, cattle farm and piggery farm.

Retired Nurse Merenaisi Maopa Nainima. Photo: Shratika Naidu.

Once a nurse, you are forever a nurse, says Merenaisi Maopa Nainima.

Ms Nainima, a retired nurse spends her time advocating a healthy living and eating lifestyle to the people at Naseakula Village in Labasa.

Even at the age of 59 where many retirees choose to relax, she instead works in her cassava plantation, backyard gardening, cattle farm and piggery farm.

The mother-of-four with one grandson said people easily learnt from observing each others lifestyle than listening to long lectures and speeches.

When I was working for 33 years I worked as a midwife, operating theatre nurse, public health, general nurse and psychiatric nurse, Ms Nainima said.

I retired in 2015. Then in 2017 I went to Tuvalu Island to work as a midwife for two years at Princess Margaret Hospital.

After my working experience at Tuvalu I have learnt that Fiji is very much advanced in terms of nursing education, experience, theory and clinical services.

Ms Nainima is the fourth eldest of eight siblings originally from Naqumu Village in the Macuata Province.

My advice to the retired nurses is to continue with the life of a nurse because we have nursing at heart.

They can look after the community where they are in and continue with the awareness.

I am a born again Christian and my lifestyle is different, the granddaughter of the late Tui Labasa Ratu Kinijoji Drauna said.

I look after myself well.

I pray more, do fasting and implement things around the house like I make sure we eat healthy food and keep the house clean.

I have cared for my family members who suffered from non-communicable diseases and I know how hard it can be.

Many died early and I dont want my present family members to suffer.

So while my actions are credible, I believe it will speak louder.

She accredits all her success to God who has never failed her.

Edited by Selita Bolanavanua

Feedback: shratikan@fijisun.com.fj

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Retired Nurse Advocates On Healthy Living Lifestyle - Fiji Sun Online

Sinking under the weight of your new year resolutions? You dont need to have a perfect lifestyle to be healthy, says Marjorie Brennan.

We live in an era of information overload, where there is no shortage of advice on how to be a better human being everywhere you look there are influencers telling you what to eat, what to wear, what exercise to do, even the best way to breathe.

Graham Lawton may have written a book with the bold title of This Book Could Save Your Life: The Science of Living Longer Better but he definitely would not count himself in the ranks of such lifestyle gurus, instead of confessing to being an overweight, lazy slob.

However, with a background in biochemistry and as an award-winning writer of 20 years standing with the highly respected New Scientist magazine, he is well-placed to evaluate the scientific basis of the constant claims about nutrition, exercise, dietary supplements and more. Or as he succinctly puts it in the book:

I can spot a sensational headline a mile off, sniff out a fad, and separate fact from fiction.

According to Lawton, his is not just another book about personal health. It is about the very latest science on this stuff of which there is a lot and presenting it to people in a way that they can actually use it in their daily lives. I guess it is quite a bold claim, to say this book could save your life. Ultimately, it is all about how to slow down the ageing process that inevitable decline that happens as you get older.

London-based Lawton says he loves beer, fast food, and the odd crafty fag outside the pub. But he also cycles and runs regularly, eats his five portions of fruit and veg daily, stays hydrated, watches his salt intake, and doesnt eat meat. His approach would appear to be paying off, as he tells me that although he is aged 50, he has recently had his biological age measured at 37. As such, he says he is living proof that you dont have to be fanatical about diet and exercise to be reasonably healthy and fit.

I think of [staying healthy] as like a balance sheet. Im not ultra-disciplined about diet and exercise and I also really want to enjoy my life. What Im interested in is sustainable, healthful behaviour. So things that you can do over decades rather than over a few months. And I think the only way to do that is to allow people to have some sins. So, like a balance sheet, the bad stuff is on one side and the good stuff on the other side. My goal has always been to make sure the good stuff is outweighing the bad stuff.

The appeal behind Lawtons approach is the suggestion that you dont need to transform your life to live longer a modicum of effort can pay big dividends. From his research for the book, Lawton concludes that if there is one thing people can do to enjoy a longer, healthier life, it is to exercise.

You can diet all you like, sleep well, go to the gym, do yoga, whatever, but if youre not doing aerobic exercise, youre wasting your time. The science keeps on getting better and better on this but what people who work in this space will tell you is that if the benefits of exercise were available as a pill, every doctor would prescribe it to every single patient. And its not that hard to get the benefits. One of the recent discoveries in exercise physiology is that literally every step you take counts, and every tiny bit that you raise your metabolic rate above its baseline counts.

Graham Lawton

When it comes to diet, Lawton says the constantly shifting advice regarding what we should and shouldnt be eating can be confusing and counter-productive. And, with a recent Department of Health survey showing that in Ireland, only 37% of adults are at a normal weight, with 60% classed as overweight or obese, its clear that knowledge isnt always power.

A lot of people despair because the advice, particularly regarding nutrition, seems to just flip-flop all the time. The classic one is red wine is it good or bad for you this week? Nutrition science is one of the hardest sciences to do properly. Its incredibly difficult to do meaningful science on human beings living their lives in the real world.

"So the results are always marginal and provisional, and theyre always going to find conflicting things. Nutritionists will talk about the totality of the evidence and, unfortunately for people who want quick fixes, the totality of the evidence is the stuff our mothers taught us 50 years ago vegetables are good for you, fat isnt, sugar, you dont need it.

"All the sort of common sense straightforward, nutritional things that have broadly stood up over the years.

However, there is one dietary intervention that Lawton has found beneficial and he says the science backs it up.

I was at a conference on intervention in ageing last year, and when I wanted to talk to the scientists about their work, I would suggest we meet at breakfast. But the majority of them said, I cant, Im fasting, so I thought what is this all about? I discovered that a lot of people who work in the ageing field do intermittent fasting. And the reason is because its a proven anti-ageing strategy.

"You would be amazed how many top scientists do it. So I do the 16:8 quite frequently, which is just 16 hours of no nutrients at all, followed by a glorious eight-hour period of eating whatever you like, and then do it again the next day. And there is lots of research to back it up.

Preventative medicine has also become a buzz term regarding healthy ageing. However, Lawton says there are limits to its benefits, and sometimes it can actually result in worse health outcomes.

You would imagine that preventative medicine could only be good but it can be a double-edged sword. For example, screening can be counter-productive because it discovers things that are benign and would never have caused you any trouble. Then you end up going for treatment and all the worry that entails.

With CSO figures showing diseases of the heart and arteries as the leading cause of death for those aged 75 and older in Ireland, preventing cardiovascular disease through medication is also an issue which Lawton has concerns about.

There has been a huge debate in Britain about statins. The idea is you discover people have got high cholesterol, and you give them pills to lower the cholesterol. And again, it seems like a great idea, till you consider the fact that these are being given to people in their 50s and you are expected to take them for 20 years we have no idea what the long-term effects are and for some people, the cholesterol-lowering effect is not at all clear. Its not even clear that cholesterol is that bad anyway.

Dont get me wrong, these are really well-meaning interventions designed by clever people who have the best intentions. But they can have unexpected side effects and unseen consequences.

Lawton knows we will inevitably fall at the first hurdle when it comes to making improvements the key to sustaining a healthy lifestyle, thus living longer and better, is to accept this and move on.

Weve all tried to better ourselves and discovered that doing so is inconvenient or too difficult. I would say dont give up, there are ways of inculcating good habits. For example, if you make it a habit that you go out for a quick run on a Sunday morning, leave your trainers by the front door, so they act as a visual cue. And it just becomes part of your lifestyle.

People talk about willpower as being a depletable resource you use it up during the day, and then you get to the evening and your willpower is gone. I think if you understand that, then there are ways you can manage your own willpower. It comes down to the question of maintaining your motivation if you make it work around the things that you do anyway, you will be much more likely to keep it up.

This Book Could Save Your Life: The Science of Living Longer Better (New Scientist), by Graham Lawton, published by John Murray, is out now

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Balancing act: You don't need a perfect lifestyle to be healthy - Irish Examiner

A morning trip to the Waynesville Recreation Center shows the place is teeming with people.

The classrooms are filled. The treadmills are humming, the ellipticals are whirring and there is sometimes a waiting line for the upper and lower body workout machines.

Those not using the machines are walking or swimming laps or enjoying a cup of coffee to top off their workout.

This crowd most certainly isnt the early January crowd that floods the gym as part of a New Years Resolution. They are year-around regulars who appreciate the center for all it offers.

This is a great facility, said Mike Krezek, 81, of Maggie Valley. Its just wonderful that a town the size of Waynesville has a place like this.

Krezek works out at least twice a week, mostly to strengthen his upper and lower body. Its a regimen he started two years ago after he fell when moving a ladder in a stairwell.

After his release from therapy, his therapist at Pivot in Canton suggested he start working out, and even came over to the rec center to demonstrate which machines would help the most and how to properly use them.

Krezek eventually got back to playing his favorite game, golf, but still kept coming to the center, thanks to the friendly people he met.

MAINTAINING HEALTH Mike Krezek uses machines at the Waynesville Recreaation Center to improve lower body strength.

Theres an awful lot of regulars here, he said. Well meet up and go get something to eat.

Tommy Bright wholeheartedly agreed with Krezeks assessment. Bright, 74, is a five-day-a-week attendee where he continues a regular fitness routine he started more than a decade ago. Bright moved to Waynesville from Burlington in 2014 to be near his son and grandchildren, now 6 and 9.

I started getting fat, he said, noting he went from 180 to 227, so I started working out again. When you move, its hard to make new friends, but this is such a friendly group of people. Its nice to have a place like this to go.

STAYING STRONG Chris Martin works out in the free weight exercise room at Waynesville Recreation Center.

Chris Martin, now 76, started working out after he quit smoking. Once damaged lungs begin to repair, there is a burst of energy that needs to be channeled constructively, he explained.

He continues the workout routine not only to combat his vertigo, but to make sure he retains mobility. In the weight room he has one machine he calls his get out of the bathtub machine. Another is a keep me standing up machine.

If you lose your knees, you are screwed, he said.

Martin said hes met some amazing people at the recreation center. One man in his 80s runs laps every day.

Another 80-plus year old woman is in the top 1 percent of the population her age in that she can be seated and stand straight up and lift weights above her head all in one swoop.

Others walk around the track pushing oxygen machines, showing an amazing resiliency, he said.

As for Martin, he assesses his fundamental strength using the perfect Turkish get up, a method for standing up from a flat-on-the floor starting position. To make the move trickier, it is performed with a weight in one hand raised about the head.

EXERCISE BUDDIES Shirley Harvey and Carolyn Waller chat after a quick walk around the track at Waynesville Recreation Center. The busy pool area can be seen through the window.

Tim Plowman is amazing on how to self-assess yourself, he said, referencing the fitness supervisor at the recreation center.

Shirley Harvey, 70, and Carolyn Waller, 80, enjoy spending time at the recreation center where they take a stretch and low-impact weight class together and walk. When the weather is nice, they use the outdoor track, or even meet up at Lake Junaluska.

They met 20 years ago when Harvey was giving piano lessons, and now have similar fitness goals.

I need the exercise, but I enjoy meeting people, as well, Harvey said.

I come here to exercise, Waller said. We all know we need exercise, at least were supposed to know that. I love to walk.

The Waynesville Recreation Center is a certified senior friendly business and is located at 550 Vance St. in Waynesville.

Excerpt from:

Seniors find friendship, path to healthy living at Waynesville Recreation Center - The Mountaineer

MERIDEN Recently I attended a heels and coquito class at United Rhythms Dance Studio taught by instructor Lyzbeth Ramos.

United Rhythms has been at its current location on Powers Drive for 17 years and is known for high-energy bi-annual dance showcases. United Rhythms offers a variety of classes for beginners and advanced dancers of all ages.

1. What to wear

The heels and coquito class was spurred by Ramoss desire to share her passion for Latin style dance and empowering women to feel confident.

Dancers wore a variety of shoes from heeled boots, peep toe wedges, to stilettos. Ramos welcome participants who did not feel comfortable in heels to dance in sneakers.

Participants dressed in yoga pants, jeans, and loose-fitting shirts.

Whether you decide to wear athletic clothing or dress up for a heels class, make sure that you feel comfortable enough to dance at a fast pace in the attire you select.

2. Choreography

Ramos, a city resident, choreographed the dance we memorized throughout the hour and a half long class in real-time so that she could authentically learn it along with us.

I wanted to create a class that would be good for all experience levels she said.

She went through movements step-by-step, with and without music, to ensure that every participant understood the sequence.

Ramos kept the dance moves simple.

For anybody that is just starting out I always say, just open yourself up to try something new said Ramos.

3. Culture

Ramos said she was looking for an excuse to make and share coquito, which is a traditional Puerto Rican holiday alcoholic beverage. Coquito contains coconut, cinnamon, and rum.

The taste and texture of coquito is similar to eggnog and it is also known as Puerto Rican Eggnog.

Ramos gave the class frequent coquito breaks while we learned a dance to a song by Daddy Yankee, a Puerto Rican singer.

Ramos shared with us that reggaeton music, which originated in Puerto Rico, is a favorite of hers because it inspires her dance sequences.

4. Health benefits

Throughout the heels class my heart rate stayed elevated as I was constantly moving.

I find the gym boring Ramos said.

Ramos said she needs to get her cardio through dance because that is the type of exercise she finds most interesting.

There is a lot of health benefits of dance. For me, one of the most important benefits of dance is mental health said Ramos.

She added that having a hobby, such as dance, helps with stress relief.

I see a lot of people come in and their eyes just brighten up when theyre dancing said Ramos.

5. Future events

United Rhythms frequently hosts workshops in addition to their regularly scheduled classes.

Its a family environment, we all have so much fun together here said Ramos.

Ramos said for additional updates on future heels classes and events check out the studios Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/unitetherhythm/.

For more information about other class offerings at United Rhythms, visit: https://unitedrhythms.com/.

Continued here:

HEALTHY LIVING: 5 things to know about heels and coquito class - Meriden Record-Journal

Lets talk about rewiring your thought patterns. Did you know that your thoughts can change your biology? I believe our brain (how we think) impacts our biology and our biology impacts our biography. Want to put this theory to the test?

Think of a lemon. Close your eyes and envision yourself cutting a lemon wedge and then bringing it up to your mouth. Now smell it. Put the lemon between your teeth and hold it there. Imagine biting down on that lemon. What did you experience? Did your salivary glands start salivating? Mine did just writing this. You just changed what was going on in your biology by thinking of this lemon in your mouth.

Now think of the most joyous time in your life. What emotions come up? The emotions that came up with that thought also impact your biology. What about a sad or hard time? The emotions that come up all change the direction and information of your biology.

Its been proven time and again. Simply thinking about something causes your brain to release chemicals that affect how you act and how you feel.

Now that we know this, its easy to see how important positive thinking is to our health and well-being.

So, lets rewire your thoughts to improve your biology and excite your biography! Here are some simple affirmations to help reset your thought patterns. Feel free to make up your own, but if one of these speaks to you, grab it, repeat it, feel it and love it.

I am important, loved, wanted and welcomed.

I willingly let go of all that does not serve me, and I choose to step into my greatness with an open heart.

I claim my own power and lovingly create my own reality. I am strong and loved.

I am safe, calm, and the universe loves and approves and supports me.

I release the past. I cherish myself and my beautiful sexuality. I am safe. I am loved.

I love who I am. I am grounded in my own power. I am secure on all levels.

I am the power and authority in my life. I release the past and claim my good now.

These affirmations come from the groundbreaking work of motivational author Louise Hay. Ms. Hay is a perfect example of the mind-body connection, having overcome a violently traumatic childhood to become a New York Times bestselling author.

Would one of these affirmations work for you? Take some time to really listen to your language. Listen to the words you say over and over, the ones you say aloud and the ones you repeat in your head. Write down any words or beliefs you keep repeating. Then take some time to dissect them and rewrite them. Changing your language and your thinking will change your physical being, daily activities and life experiences.

Give it a try. What do you have to lose?

Anna Marie Frank is a brain health and wellness expert, author, lecturer and human-potential coach. The views expressed are her own.

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HEALTHY LIVING: Rewire your thoughts to improve your biology, excite your biography - The Bakersfield Californian

One of the main problems that travelers face is staying to some sort of healthy lifestyle while on the road for your business road warriors and travelers out there, it's non-negotiable. Your livelihood depends on being able to be on the road, be placed in front of customers, and do business deals.

Business traveling can be a slippery slope for your health if left unattended. Habits that you instill at home, such as exercising, eating a healthy diet, get tossed out the window when you travel.

Investing in your health is basically an investing for dummies, a no-brainer asset that you should prioritize. So in this article, we'll share with you tips that you can apply so that you can implement a system that will help you travel efficiently while living a healthy lifestyle on the road.

Tip #1: Plan your commuteFirst off, you want to put yourself in a position to commute healthily. If you're going to rely on train stations, bus stations, airports to provide you food, you're going to end up losing the battle.

We only have so much daily willpower to fight those processed junk foods. So if you prepare for success, you will be in a good position. What we mean is pack healthy snacks to take on the road to get you through your commute.

Tip #2: Scout your optionsDo some pre-work before your flight day. What this means is that, wherever you're going in a particular week, a day or two days before your flight, look up online and do a little search for healthy food options in that city.

Look for grocery stores, organic shops, restaurants that serve healthy foods, all those kinds of places. So that when you arrive in that city, you already know where to eat. You can then plan your meals throughout your stay.

Tip #3: Routine. Routine. Routine.As a business traveler, you have to establish a morning, afternoon, and evening routine to help keep your health on track. Like you may have heard, we only have the mental capacity to make so many decisions in a day.

Routines that turn into habits that turn into a lifestyle are key to get into a healthy autopilot mode. Notice what's most likely to be consistent moments during your travels and create healthy habits around them, like staying hydrated, or exercising before or after flights.

Tip #4: Planning for client dinnersWhile you're traveling or on the road, typically, you'll be going to dinner with colleagues or clients. You hit this restaurant, and the floodgates open. Wine, multiple courses, and then you have to wash them all down with desserts. This is setting you up to hit the cycle or sugar rush and crash the next morning.

What you can do is you can eat a little healthy snack before going out to eat with them. By snacking on some fruits, vegetables, or some nuts, maybe, it prevents you from wanting to indulge in those mouth-watering, unhealthy appetizers.

If you must eat, though, get a salad as an appetizer. Then, order a light main course. You have to develop a philosophy to let the digestive system rest while you're resting or while you're sleeping. It shouldn't be digesting, generating heat, making your uncomfortable, while you sleep.

So go out and be social. Don't turn down dinner invitations, especially from clients. But always remember to plan out ahead before eating out in order to maintain your healthy efforts.

Tip# 5: Water is your best friendWe can't stress the importance of hydrating while traveling. Most of us tend to forget drinking water while on the road due to hectic schedules. However, this is not an excuse. Maintaining a habit of drinking water when traveling can prove to be beneficial in the long run.

To help you with your hydration, always bring a water bottle with you on your trips. It may sound simple, but it's an effective way to remind yourself to always drink water and replenish.

Drinking lots of water will also help you feel full and won't feel the temptation of eating junk at airports or train stations. Not only that, we all know that drinking adequate water helps in keeping your mind sharp and your body energized throughout the day.

TakeawayThose are our five tips for traveling business people. Although hustling, working hard for our families is indeed important, your health is just as important as your livelihood. Never trade your health and sacrifice it just so that you can get work done. With these tips to keep in mind, you'll always stay healthy and fit on the road.

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Five tips for businessmen to help maintain a healthy lifestyle while traveling - Travel Daily News International

BROOKVILLE Individuals who are interested in learning more about how healthy living habits can benefit your brain and body are encouraged to participate in a workshop offered by Penn State Extension on February 26 from 1 p.m. 2 p.m. at the Heritage House, 4 Sylvania St.

The Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: Tips from the Latest Research program is designed for individuals of any age who are interested in healthy living and aging well.

Participants will learn about the four areas of lifestyle habits that are associated with healthy aging, and the steps to take to improve or maintain overall health in each area. These four areas include cognitive activity, physical health and exercise, diet and nutrition, and social engagement.

About Penn State

ExtensionPenn State Extension is a modern educational organization, dedicated to translating scientific research into real-world applications to drive progress. In support of Penn States land-grant mission, extension programs promote a vibrant food and fiber system, a clean environment and a healthier population for Pennsylvania and beyond.

Penn State Extension serves individuals, businesses and communities, helping them address problems and realize opportunities through a robust portfolio of educational programs, products and services. With support from federal, state and county governments, the organization has a tradition of bringing unbiased information and support to the citizens of Pennsylvania for more than 100 years.

Continued here:
Penn State Extension offers 'Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body' program - The Courier-Express

Every minute in the United States, 20 people suffer physical violence at the hands of a loved one and over ten million Americans are physically and emotionally abused by the people they love and trust.

How do you get yourself or someone you love out of a toxic relationship? And how do you stay out?

Whitney Amann explained in this Healthy Living.

From the outside, Mary Mitchell seemed to have it all. Beautiful home, great job, loving relationship. But Mary felt like she was hiding behind a mask. Her seven-year marriage ended and when she started a new relationship, she found herself with a violent and abusive partner.

Mary said, Its easier to have a bruised heel or a broken bone heal than it is to un-hear things.

Many women who have been impacted by domestic violence now work as advocates and one of those women is Janie Lacy.

She said, My sister, Carmen, she was murdered at the age of 19 by the father of her two children.

Janie turned her grief into action. She earned her masters degree in counseling psychology and became a licensed therapist. Five years ago, she started the group woman redeemed for women with a history of toxic relationships.

Lacy counsels her clients with a 90-day detox from their troubled relationship. She says days 14 through 21 are when clients are most vulnerable and most likely to reach out to their former significant other.

She said, If we could get them through those 90 days and subside those efforts then we can start reprogramming their brain.

If a friend or loved one is in a toxic relationship, Lacy advises people to not back away, but be quietly present. Send a text saying thinking of you to let that person know that you are there and they can open up to you.

If you need help or want information for a friend, call the national domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

To learn more about services, click here.

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Healthy Living: Toxic Relationships - 9&10 News

BROOKVILLE Individuals who are interested in learning more about how healthy living habits can benefit your brain and body are encouraged to participate in a workshop offered by Penn State Extension on Feb. 26, from 1 p.m. 2 p.m., at the Heritage House, 4 Sylvania St., Brookville.

The Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: Tips from the Latest Research program is designed for individuals of any age who are interested in healthy living and aging well.

Participants will learn about the four areas of lifestyle habits that are associated with healthy aging, and the steps to take to improve or maintain overall health in each area. These four areas include cognitive activity, physical health and exercise, diet and nutrition and social engagement.

There is no cost to attend the course.For more information or to register, visit the Penn State Extension Web site atextension.psu.edu/alzheimers-disease-healthy-living-for-your-brain-and-bodyor call 877-345-0691.

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Penn State Extension Offers 'Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body' Program | GantNews.com - GANT News

Wow, can you believe it is 2020? I am still getting used to writing it on my correspondence. With a new decade ahead of us it seems like the perfect time to remind you about an Action Plan. Hopefully you have some goals or expectations written down so that the year ahead can be fulfilling and satisfying. Still, there may be times that challenges get in the way of meeting these goals.

An Action Plan can help get the New Year off to a great start. A few years ago I wrote a fact sheet titled, Action Plan for Healthy Living. The fact sheet focuses on 15 lifestyle choices that can bring about a healthier life. Several of the lifestyle choices revolve around a healthier plate while others target the importance of physical activity. And finally, I added some other considerations like stress management, simplifying your life, sleeping well, and surrounding yourself with positive people. Helping individuals create an action plan that they can become engaged in was my goal in sharing this information.

So what exactly is an Action Plan? The first step in developing an action plan is to find something you want to do. Think about lifestyle changes that could impact your health in a positive way. Choose something that is reasonable; something you could expect to accomplish in a week or two. A true action plan is behavior specific. Losing weight is not a behavior, but drinking three sugary drinks every day is. So your action plan might read like this. I will drink a glass of water instead of a sugary drink twice each day in the week ahead. As you can see the action plan answered these questions: What? How much? When? How often?

The final piece of a successful action plan is to assess the confidence level that you will fulfill the contract. On a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 represents little confidence and 10 represents total confidence, your plan should rank at least a 7.

Many serious health problems are directly related to personal habits or behavior. The risk factors that can lead to these problems are of little concern to many people. They may have the attitude, I feel fine why worry about a healthier lifestyle? The medical system was built around caring for the sick instead of keeping people well. Achieving a healthy lifestyle takes knowledge, effort, and determination. No one can do it for you. Now is the time to build healthy habits into your daily life. Soon they will come naturally.

Feel free to join me for the educational program, Action Plan for Healthy Living, at 1 p.m. on Friday, January 24th, at the Great Bend Senior Center. If you are unable to participate you can find my fact sheet on the KSRE web site. The publication number is: MF 3053. Have a happy and healthy New Year!

Donna Krug is the Family & Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District. Contact her at 620-793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu.

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Start new decade off right with an Action Plan - Great Bend Tribune

Hope to blow out 100 birthday candles? I would argue that the biggest impact on how long you live is where you live, says National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner, who has studied the worlds longest-living people in longevity hotspots he calls Blue Zones. Among them: Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; and Nicoya, Costa Rica.

So where in the U.S. can you live to a really ripe old age? You might be surprised.

People in the Blue Zones dont have better discipline or a greater sense of responsibility, says Buettner. They simply live in environments that make healthy lifestyle choices easier, or unavoidable.

Enter your ZIP code into the free Robert Wood Johnson Foundation lifespan calculatorand see.

Some places are better than others at supporting the habits that stretch lifespans. When you can walk to do your errands, youre more likely to be active than if you have to drive to the gym. Living in a community with plenty of neighborhood groups provides a buffer against loneliness, which can shave years off your life. Youre more apt to eat clean and green when farmers markets are nearer than junk-food joints.

What else helps: smart city design (think safe bike lanes, affordable housing), good health care, social opportunities and an economy that sees older workers, entrepreneurs and retirees as an asset, not a drain, says Caroline Servat, co-author of a new Milken Institute report on age-forward communities.

Weve identified eight spots that will help you live long and prosper.

Sure, Cali-beach life is a wellness clich. But theyre not resting on their bikini bottoms here: Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach saw a 17 percent drop in smoking after smoke-free policies began shortly after 2010. Thats the year they joined the Blue Zones Project, which helps cities in California make healthy choices easier for residents. Walking is a big thing: One in four kids walks to school, double the national average, thanks to a new walking school bus program (groups footing it together on safe routes), and older citizens take regular group walks as part of the Blue Zones program.

Check Out:5 Ways to Add Health Wherever You Liveto meet some walkers!

Health props

Its the largest area (population approximately 124,000) to earn Blue Zones Community certification, a mark of healthy-living progress. (Visit the Blue Zones Project to find out how to become a Blue Zones Community.)

Longevity boost

A few years after 100-plus local restaurants and five groceries in the area pledged healthier offerings, the number of overweight residents dropped 15 percent. Thats 1,900 fewer obese people, Buettner says.

Like fellow Colorado mountain townsAspen, Crested Butte and Vailand Jackson Hole, Wyoming, longevity is sky-high in this historic haven near the Copper Mountain and Keystone resort areas. Ski towns draw people who can afford the best health care and prize mental and physical fitness, experts say. But whatever your income, mountain living is code for outdoor motion, whether youre involved in snow sports, fishing, climbing, hiking or shoveling snow.

Health props

Breckenridge (population approximately 5,000) is the seat of Summit County, which has the U.S.s longest life expectancy (86.8 years, compared to the national median of 79). And Colorado is the state with the fewest obese people.

Longevity boost

The 10 million Americans who make their homes above 4,900 feet live one to three years longer than those near sea level. Some experts think lower oxygen levels help heart function. In Breckenridge, at 9,600 feet elevation, youre nearly two miles up.

Big-city benefits (like great health care) without big-city hassles (like bad traffic or bad air) contribute to one of the countrys fittest urban lifestyles. Almost one-fifth of Minneapolis is park land, so theres always a nearby spot for biking, running, walking and mental R&Ror ice skating, fishing and festivals during the cold season. Plant-based eating is made easier with nearly 30 farmers marketsthe most per person in the U.S. outside of Washington, D.C.

Related:Experts Say These Are the 60 Healthiest Cities in America

Health props

Last year alone, Minneapolis (population approximately 432,000) made short lists for healthiest, fittest, bike-friendliest, least-stressed and best access to mental health. Only Hawaii and California have longer life expectancies than the state of Minnesota.

Longevity boost

Local Finnish roots mean lots of saunas, which are linked to better heart health and longevity.

Whats not to love about Naples? The small town (population approximately 22,000) features high-quality health care and loads of leisure pursuits and good-for-you foodall set in a chill backdrop of Gulf of Mexico watersports, golf and sun.

Health props

The Naples-ImmokaleeMarco Island area hit No. 1 in Gallups National Health and Well-Being Index for the past four years. Naples also often tops healthiest eaters lists; who needs sugar when you have white sugar sand beaches to stroll on?

Longevity boost

An unusually high number of Paradise Coast residents say in surveys that theyre low in stress and rich in supportive, loving relationships. Having strong social tiesthere are multiple retirement communities and recreation centers herecan extend lifespan as much as quitting smoking, one research review found.

Maines largest city has just 67,000 people centered on a compact peninsula. Yet its packed with top-notch health care, farm-to-table restaurants and an amenity-rich waterfront downtown made for walking.

Health props

Life expectancy for city dwellers is an impressive 88.7 for women and 86.8 for men.

Longevity boost

Continuing to learn throughout your life seems to build brain reserve, which helps keep old minds younger. In 2001, the University of Southern Maines Osher Lifelong Learning Institute became the first of 124 such programs across the country offering low-cost, non-credit classes of all kinds to 50-plussers.

All the ingredients of a healthy life are here year-round, on land and water, from an above-average number of teams, sports clubs and gyms to fresh, healthy food galore. (Just go easy on the barbecue and grits.)

Related: The Cheaters Guide to Living to 100

Health props

Called one of Americas most walkable cities (population approximately 130,000)especially the scenic downtownits also No. 1 for plant-based eating, with one vegetarian business for every 2,100 people.

Longevity boost

Almost seven in 10 households here have a dog (or many dogs!)which boosts heart health because they lower stress, decrease sitting time and give residents a reason to get up in the morning. Charlestonians walk em in parks, trails and on seven dog-friendly beaches.

Health care is Steel Citys new economic driver, says Nora Super of the Milken Institutes Center for the Future of Aging. Add culture and top-notch education at all ages, downtown parks and trailsand an Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh Action Plan focusing on tech, transportation and creative ideas for volunteering.

Health props

Urban areas support longevity because you can access so much, so easilyand Pittsburgh (population approximately 302,000) is the third most livable city in the U.S. (after Honolulu and Atlanta) and 34th worldwide, according to a global research group.

Longevity boost

When the University of California, Irvine studied habits of those over age 90, talking to neighbors ranked high. Community engagement is rich in this citys distinct and tight-knit neighborhoods, more than 90 of them. In the Squirrel Hill area, average life expectancy is a long 86.

College towns tend to be age-friendly magnets, Super saysand this ones a classic. Extra credit for its walkability, first-rate health care (through the University of Iowa Hospitals system), cultural and sports outings, inter-generational activities and a low cost of living.

Health props

Iowa City (population approximately 76,000) has been called Americas least-stressed city, thanks in part to brief commutes (averaging 16 minutes) and shorter-than-average workweeks.

Longevity boost

A low-stress lifestyle means more time for sleep. The sweet spot: seven to eight hours per night; less, or more, is linked to shorter lifespan.

Want to live longer? Try these recipes from Buettners The Blue Zones Kitchen.

Asian-Influenced Heavenly Grain Bowls

Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

Longevity-Boosting One-Pot Lasagna Soup

Celebrity interviews, recipes and health tips delivered to yourinbox.

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Want to Live to 100? Living in One of These 8 U.S. Cities Will Help Healthy Cities - Parade