5 HEALTHY HABITS TO START TODAY

Self-care musts for your 20s and 30s, midlife, and beyond.

- ABIGAIL WISE

LIFESTYLE FACTORS like exercise, diet, and even attitude can be as important as genetics when it comes to feeling great, living long, and growing old gracefully. It's no secret that growing older affects nearly every part of your body, including your hair, skin, heart, muscles, brain, and more. But giving yourself a strong chance at aging well may be as simple as adopting a few healthy everyday habits. Here are some proven ways to give your body an edge.

#1: Remember That Age Equals Wisdom

You are what you think you are when it comes to aging. In fact, a positive mindset may actually keep you resilient in the face of age-related challenges. Seniors who think of age as a means to wisdom and overall satisfaction are more than 40 percent more likely to recover from a disability than those who see aging as synonymous with helplessness or uselessness, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. No matter what age you are now, cultivating a positive perspective about each birthday you celebrate can play a major role in your staying emotionally strong throughout your life.

#2: Eat MediterraneanStyle

Nutrition plays a major role in how your body holds up over time. "The latest research shows that a lowglycemic diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein is healthiest," says Jeffrey Benabio, MD, physician director of Health Care Transformation at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego.