There may be no fountain of youth, but there are easy steps you can take to keep your body and mind younger than your chronological age. Dr. Brett Osborn, a board-certified neurosurgeon in West Palm Beach, Florida, recently told Fox News about five easy habits that can add years to your life.
Be vigilant about getting checked for potential health issues that can be addressed before they become full-blown problems. "In general, standard health surveillance for the average American is poor," Osborn told the network. "We simply are not aggressive enough in checking for and catching risk factors of fatal diseases."
The doctor urges Americans to be proactive and self-monitor for issues like high cholesterol and insulin resistance. "People who wait for their annual check-up to find out what's going on with their health are making a terrible mistake," he said. "A lot can go wrong in the year or two between visits to the doctor, and lack of persistent attention or procrastination can kill you."
Osborn recommends that everyone get six blood tests to help prevent age-related diseases. They are: lipid profile (a cholesterol test), vertical auto profile (a more detailed cholesterol test), C-reactive protein (CRP, which can indicate a higher risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes), homocysteine, and hemoglobin A1C (blood sugar), and vitamin D3.
The doctor said these ten supplements can protect against age-related disease by preventing free radical damage, oxidative stress and chronic inflammation: Omega-3 fatty acids, resveratrol, green tea extract, vitamin D3, curcumin, B-complex, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, and probiotics.
Both physically and mentally. "Physical exercise and critical thinking both forge neural pathways in the brain," he said. "There is a component of learning while exercising or working through mental challenges like puzzles, and this process of learning literally rewires the brain." This may prevent the development of conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
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The glycemic index (GI) rates the impact foods have on blood sugar and insulin. "Simply put, the sweeter the food, the higher the GI value," Osborn said. When in doubt, eat vegetables—they can lead to weight loss and have life-extending health benefits.
