So what should you do? Roll over and accept your inevitable deterioration? Of course not. Here are some easy nutritional, physical, psychological and sociological ideas to help you be your best self\u2026 for a little bit longer, at least.<\/p>\n
1. Eat more fibre<\/strong><\/h2>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> \u00a9 Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nFibre is so potent it\u2019s practically magic. Eating enough roughage can help you stave off heart disease, diabetes and keep your guts in good nick.<\/p>\n
And the data is pretty conclusive. A 2019 study in The Lancet,<\/em> which involved \u201c135-million person-years of data from 185 prospective studies and 58 clinical trials with 4,635 adults\u201d, suggested those eating sufficient fibre reduced their chances of conditions like type 2 diabetes<\/a>, while strokes plummeted by 15-50 per cent.<\/p>\n\u201cFibre also lowers the level of inflammation in the gut,\u201d says Peter Cronin<\/a> of the University of Limerick, who\u2019s an expert on gut health.<\/p>\n\u201cInflammation is an important factor in common intestinal diseases, such as colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. So, fibre has a protective effect against the development of these diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n
In fact, a 2015 analysis published in the American Journal Of Epidemiology<\/em> showed that every 10g fibre consumed cut mortality risk by 10 per cent<\/a>.<\/p>\nWhy will fibre transform your health?<\/strong><\/h3>\nFibre is a type of complex carbohydrate that the body can\u2019t break down. Fibre was once thought of as a major tool in keeping your stools regularly deposited and well-formed, but now scientists have discovered that there are further benefits to filling up on fibre.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust like any living organism, the gut microbiota need nutrients to survive,\u201d Cronin explains. \u201cCertain species of bacteria thrive in the presence of fibre as they\u2019ve evolved to break down and use it as a nutrient source. Increased fibre intake leads to higher levels of these bacteria and lower levels of other species that are unable to use fibre as a nutrient source.\u201d<\/p>\n
The benefits to the body are many, says Cronin. \u201cWhen bacteria break down fibre in the gut, they produce short-chain fatty acids. This family of molecules [short-chain fatty acids] has a beneficial effect on metabolism by lowering the level of lipids \u2013 cholesterol, for example \u2013 and glucose in the blood. These factors are associated with many diseases like obesity.\u201d<\/p>\n
By lowering the amount of \u2018bad\u2019 cholesterol in your blood, which can block blood vessels, you\u2019ll have a happy heart and reduce your chances of a stroke.<\/p>\n
How much fibre do you need to eat?<\/strong><\/h3>\nYou should aim for around 30g fibre each day. This is even more important as you grow older because of the increased risk of the diseases mentioned above.<\/p>\n
As you\u2019ve probably predicted, processed foods are a no-no as the grain-refining process removes the outer coat (bran) from the grain, lowering its fibre content.<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead, go for porridge oats, nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables,\u201d says Cronin. \u201cFibres come in many forms, so mixing up different sources is best for gut bacteria health.\u201d<\/p>\n
What does 30g look like? Well, consume one avocado (6.7g), a cup of lentils (13.1g) and 100g of popcorn (14.4g) and you\u2019d have more than covered your daily intake. But refrain from mixing together.<\/p>\n
Read more about healthy diets:<\/strong><\/p>\n- Our gut microbiomes aren\u2019t getting enough fibre, but supplements can help study finds<\/a><\/li>\n
- Does an apple a day keep the doctor away?<\/a><\/li>\n
- The carnivore diet: What eating only meat does to your health, a nutritionist explains<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
2. Stretch and Strengthen<\/strong><\/h2>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> \u00a9 Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nFact: cranking up your cardiovascular system bolsters health. But while walking, running and cycling are to be applauded, there\u2019s a powerful age-related case for stretching and strengthening.<\/p>\n
In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association recommend<\/a> \u201cmuscular strengthening and flexibility activities at least two days per week for the maintenance of physical independence and health.\u201d<\/p>\nWhy stretch and stretching is so important?<\/strong><\/h3>\nAs we age, we lose muscle mass, which then kills off muscle fibres. Research has shown that the vastus medialis muscle in your thigh contains around 800,000 fibres when you\u2019re 20; by 60, it has 250,000. On average, we lose 8 per cent of our muscle fibres between 40 and 50<\/a>, but that deterioration often starts earlier.<\/p>\nThat\u2019s especially true of \u2018fast-twitch\u2019 muscle fibres that are responsible for generating power (you also have \u2018slow-twitch\u2019 fibres that are more about endurance) and is why the fastest sprinters tend to be under 30.<\/p>\n
Similar to sleep, your hormones are important here, especially testosterone, which preserves and increases lean muscle mass. Testosterone also improves cognitive function and increases bone density. The problem is, from the age of around 30, your testosterone levels begin to drop.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where weight training comes in. It\u2019s an anabolic activity, meaning it generates higher levels of testosterone, which will counteract the natural drop as you age.<\/p>\n
Flexibility is important, too. A paper in the journal Sports Medicine And Health Science<\/em> investigated the association between flexibility and \u201cthe development of functional limitation\u201d (the growing struggle to perform daily tasks).<\/p>\nOut of the 1,318 adults studied, the 491 that undertook regular stretching exercises and the 122 that performed bodyweight exercises \u201cwere associated with 24 and 38 per cent decreased odds of incident functional limitation as they aged<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\nHow can you get enough strength and flexibility?<\/strong><\/h3>\nYou don\u2019t need to morph into Dwayne Johnson or the She-Hulk. It\u2019s hard to be too prescriptive, but a couple of strength and stretching efforts each week is a good start.<\/p>\n
Just note that when it comes to strength training, squats are the ideal. They work a large range of muscles, including the gluteus maximus (your backside), one of the biggest muscles in your body. The bigger the muscle you work, the greater the testosterone hit.<\/p>\n
As for stretching, dynamic stretches are regarded as being better than static ones for boosting strength and flexibility as they raise the temperature of the blood. Dynamic stretches are active movements where joints and muscles go through a full range of motion, while static ones are where you hold a stretch. You can do both types easily at home.<\/p>\n
Read more about the science of exercise:<\/strong><\/p>\n- Early risers and night owls: A sleep expert explains the best time to exercise<\/a><\/li>\n
- Exercise \u2018better than medicine\u2019 for dementia patients with depression<\/a><\/li>\n
- Exercise and the brain: why moving your body matters<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
3. Master your sleep with a few easy tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> \u00a9 Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nSleep<\/a> is the best medicine. It boosts physical and mental health, and is so important that Tour de France winners are the ones deemed to have slept best over the 21 stages and 3,500km of racing. Which is a shame for those over 30\u2026<\/p>\nOver the last four decades, the average age of parents having their first child has risen to 33.2 years for men and 30.3 years for women. Another way to put it is over the past 40 years, human beings have delayed the spectre of relentless sleepless nights.<\/p>\n
You see, a 2019 study in the journal Sleep<\/em> found that new parents faced up to six years of sleep deprivation<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe cumulative long-term effects of a lack of both sleep quality and quantity is associated with a wide range of health consequences, including an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack and stroke.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt also lowers your immune system and is detrimental to mood and cognitive ability,\u201d says Prof Shona Halson<\/a> from the Australian Catholic University.<\/p>\nWhy is sleep so important?<\/strong><\/h3>\nMany of the sleep-impaired physiological issues are due to hormones. Take human growth hormone (HGH). This repairs muscles by stimulating the liver and other tissues to make a protein called \u2018insulin-like growth factor 1\u2019.<\/p>\n
Lack of sleep equals lack of HGH production equals restricted muscle growth. (Alcohol has long been known to stall your secretion of HGH, with a study from 1980 showing alcohol decreased HGH secretion by 25 per cent<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\u201cSleep also affects your eating habits by affecting the hormones that control eating behaviour,\u201d adds Halson.<\/p>\n
For instance, rising levels of a hormone called ghrelin signal that it\u2019s time to start eating, while increased levels of the hormone leptin tell you that you\u2019re full.<\/p>\n
A German study, published in the Journal Of Sleep Research<\/em>, showed that just one night\u2019s broken sleep significantly raises ghrelin levels<\/a>, explaining why you crave a tube of Pringles when you\u2019re tired. They also showed that two nights or more poor sleep reduces leptin levels.<\/p>\nHow can you get more sleep?<\/strong><\/h3>\nStrangely, babies aren\u2019t receptive to a t\u00eate-a-t\u00eate about their erratic sleep patterns. So, if it\u2019s an option, work with them not against them.<\/p>\n
\u201cNapping can be important if you\u2019re sleep deprived,\u201d says Halson. \u201cA recent review of all the available napping literature found that the optimal nap duration was 20 to 90 minutes between 1pm and 4pm<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\nWhether you have kids or not, keep as consistent a bedtime as possible, avoid caffeine in the afternoon and banish your smartphone from your bedroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor people who are stressed or anxious, apps focused on relaxation or breathing may be useful, too,\u201d says Halson.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you could try tryptophan-rich foods like milk. There\u2019s evidence \u2013 albeit sometimes conflicting \u2013 that this amino acid can help you sleep.\u201d Finally, don\u2019t go to bed full or having drunk a pint of water, as you\u2019ll wake up needing a wee.<\/p>\n
Read more about how to get better sleep:<\/strong><\/p>\n- What\u2019s the best thing to do when you can\u2019t sleep?<\/a><\/li>\n
- 19 gadgets to help you nod off and wake up refreshed<\/a><\/li>\n
- Dr Michael Mosley: How deep breathing can soothe anxiety, help you sleep and more<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
4. Don\u2019t stop moving<\/strong><\/h2>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> \u00a9 Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nIt\u2019s irrefutable \u2013 for a longer life, get moving. That was the message from a 2019 study in the British Medical Journal<\/em> that showed 25 minutes per day of moderate exercise, like brisk walking, boosted the subjects\u2019 chances of living<\/a>. The most sedentary group were 60 per cent more likely to die prematurely than the most active group.<\/p>\nThis isn\u2019t wonderful news, as, according to a 2015 study co-commissioned by Public Health England, British people sit for an average 8.9 hours each day<\/a>. Further research that same year in the British<\/em> Journal Of Sports Medicine<\/em> suggested there\u2019s a 5 per cent increased risk of premature death with each additional hour off your feet<\/a>.<\/p>\nWhy is sitting<\/strong> for long periods bad for you?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\u201cThat\u2019s okay,\u201d you might be thinking. \u201cI have been manacled to a desk for the last 10 years, but I\u2019ve just bought a standing one, so I\u2019m all good.\u201d But hold your horses\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s evidence for some benefits of standing versus sitting at work for metabolic health, particularly how your body deals with sugar in your blood, which is an important factor in risk for diabetes and heart disease,\u201d says Dr Richard Pulsford<\/a>, senior lecturer in physical activity and public health at Exeter University.<\/p>\n\u201cHowever, these benefits tend to be noticeable in those who don\u2019t live active lives or who are in poorer health.\u201d<\/p>\n
Plus, while there is evidence that standing desks can help back pain, standing too long with a hunchback posture will only accentuate the symptoms.\u201cIt\u2019s inescapable,\u201d says Pulsford, \u201cyou need to move more.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMovement\u2019s an important component of healthy ageing,\u201d he continues. \u201cAgeing affects our metabolic processes and cardiovascular health, so anything we can do to support them \u2013 from exercising and keeping fit, through to moving little and often during otherwise inactive days \u2013 is beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n
How can you reverse the impact of prolonged sitting?<\/strong><\/h3>\nThis doesn\u2019t mean you need to mimic Eliud Kipchoge and start running sub-two-hour marathons. Dancing, gardening, swimming\u2026 anything that gets you moving counters the effects of sitting for long periods, no matter how insignificant.<\/p>\n
\u201c[The benefits of] breaking up your day with bouts of walking are certainly more pronounced than simply standing,\u201d says Pulsford.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a recent study we found that intermittent slow walking, of two minutes every 20 minutes, reduced insulin demand<\/a> and improved glucose uptake [both favourable metabolic changes for better health]. In the same study, intermittent standing didn\u2019t seem to make a difference.<\/p>\n\u201cExercising helps channel glucose from our blood \u2013 where it can cause damage if levels are too high \u2013 to our muscles and other tissues, where we can store it and use it later. The more we use in our muscles, the better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read more about how to reverse a sedentary lifestyle:<\/strong><\/p>\n- How short walking intervals could combat the health impacts of prolonged sitting<\/a><\/li>\n
- 30 minutes of exercise a day could counter risks of prolonged sitting<\/a><\/li>\n
- Getting as little as 10 minutes of vigorous exercise a week can help us to live longer<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
5. Get out of the house and into nature<\/strong><\/h2>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> \u00a9 Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nIf you\u2019re happy and you know it, clap your hands\u2026 and keep them clapping, as a study in Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences<\/em> found that people who had higher levels of optimism had a longer lifespan<\/a> and were likelier to live past 85 in a healthy, joyous state. That\u2019s the good news.<\/p>\nNow for the bad. A 2010 survey by relationship-support charity Relate showed that people between 35 and 44 felt more depressed than any other age group<\/a>.<\/p>\nLong work hours, arguments and division of household chores were cited equally by men and women as the most common causes of problems. But there is a solution: head outdoors.<\/p>\n
Why does getting outdoors boost your boost?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\u201cUsing data from nearly 20,000 people in England, we saw that those who spent more than two hours a week in nature showed consistently higher health and wellbeing than people who never visited,\u201d explains Dr Mathew White<\/a>, an environmental psychologist at Exeter University.<\/p>\nThese benefits are numerous and include six key mechanisms, says White. \u201cReducing exposure to environmental pollution, thanks to better air quality in places with more trees; exposing us to \u2018good\u2019 microbiota for healthy immune and gut function; encouraging \u2018capacity-building behaviours\u2019, such as promoting physical activity that\u2019s good for health; promoting social cohesion and good relationships, as nature seems to bring people together in positive ways; helping us to manage everyday stress by giving us less demanding contexts in which to collect our thoughts and restore depleted cognitive and emotional capacities; and building \u2018place attachment\u2019, which is important for people to orient themselves and find a place in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
How often do you need to be outdoors?<\/strong><\/h3>\nYou don\u2019t have to go all Bear Grylls and camp out on a deserted island to enjoy nature\u2019s benefits. But, according to White, being beside a waterway \u2013 a sea, river or lake \u2013 confers the best of both worlds: green and blue space.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, in our studies we\u2019ve also seen the benefits of house plants and even virtual experiences via the television. Some studies also show the benefits of urban parks are strongest for those in more deprived communities, who may also have less access to more remote places due to costs and time.\u201d<\/p>\n
6. Stay connected to others<\/strong><\/h2>\n ![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> \u00a9 Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nLoneliness is no laughing matter. But, once again, it appears longevity is, with a 2010 meta analysis showing that social support increases survival by up to 50 per cent<\/a>, with research going back to the early 20th Century.<\/p>\nA more recent study by the Loneliness Commission, part of the Jo Cox Foundation, showed that men in particular are most likely to hit \u201cpeak loneliness\u201d at 35 years old.<\/a><\/p>\nThis could be down to numerous factors, including unemployment, relationship break-ups, bereavement or moving away from family and friends. All of which are far from ideal, as a landmark study in the journal Science<\/em> showed that lack of social connection is a greater detriment to health than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure<\/a>.<\/p>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/fibre-a57b776.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Fibre is so potent it\u2019s practically magic. Eating enough roughage can help you stave off heart disease, diabetes and keep your guts in good nick.<\/p>\n
And the data is pretty conclusive. A 2019 study in The Lancet,<\/em> which involved \u201c135-million person-years of data from 185 prospective studies and 58 clinical trials with 4,635 adults\u201d, suggested those eating sufficient fibre reduced their chances of conditions like type 2 diabetes<\/a>, while strokes plummeted by 15-50 per cent.<\/p>\n \u201cFibre also lowers the level of inflammation in the gut,\u201d says Peter Cronin<\/a> of the University of Limerick, who\u2019s an expert on gut health.<\/p>\n \u201cInflammation is an important factor in common intestinal diseases, such as colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. So, fibre has a protective effect against the development of these diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n In fact, a 2015 analysis published in the American Journal Of Epidemiology<\/em> showed that every 10g fibre consumed cut mortality risk by 10 per cent<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fibre is a type of complex carbohydrate that the body can\u2019t break down. Fibre was once thought of as a major tool in keeping your stools regularly deposited and well-formed, but now scientists have discovered that there are further benefits to filling up on fibre.<\/p>\n \u201cJust like any living organism, the gut microbiota need nutrients to survive,\u201d Cronin explains. \u201cCertain species of bacteria thrive in the presence of fibre as they\u2019ve evolved to break down and use it as a nutrient source. Increased fibre intake leads to higher levels of these bacteria and lower levels of other species that are unable to use fibre as a nutrient source.\u201d<\/p>\n The benefits to the body are many, says Cronin. \u201cWhen bacteria break down fibre in the gut, they produce short-chain fatty acids. This family of molecules [short-chain fatty acids] has a beneficial effect on metabolism by lowering the level of lipids \u2013 cholesterol, for example \u2013 and glucose in the blood. These factors are associated with many diseases like obesity.\u201d<\/p>\n By lowering the amount of \u2018bad\u2019 cholesterol in your blood, which can block blood vessels, you\u2019ll have a happy heart and reduce your chances of a stroke.<\/p>\n You should aim for around 30g fibre each day. This is even more important as you grow older because of the increased risk of the diseases mentioned above.<\/p>\n As you\u2019ve probably predicted, processed foods are a no-no as the grain-refining process removes the outer coat (bran) from the grain, lowering its fibre content.<\/p>\n \u201cInstead, go for porridge oats, nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables,\u201d says Cronin. \u201cFibres come in many forms, so mixing up different sources is best for gut bacteria health.\u201d<\/p>\n What does 30g look like? Well, consume one avocado (6.7g), a cup of lentils (13.1g) and 100g of popcorn (14.4g) and you\u2019d have more than covered your daily intake. But refrain from mixing together.<\/p>\n Read more about healthy diets:<\/strong><\/p>\n Fact: cranking up your cardiovascular system bolsters health. But while walking, running and cycling are to be applauded, there\u2019s a powerful age-related case for stretching and strengthening.<\/p>\n In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association recommend<\/a> \u201cmuscular strengthening and flexibility activities at least two days per week for the maintenance of physical independence and health.\u201d<\/p>\n As we age, we lose muscle mass, which then kills off muscle fibres. Research has shown that the vastus medialis muscle in your thigh contains around 800,000 fibres when you\u2019re 20; by 60, it has 250,000. On average, we lose 8 per cent of our muscle fibres between 40 and 50<\/a>, but that deterioration often starts earlier.<\/p>\n That\u2019s especially true of \u2018fast-twitch\u2019 muscle fibres that are responsible for generating power (you also have \u2018slow-twitch\u2019 fibres that are more about endurance) and is why the fastest sprinters tend to be under 30.<\/p>\n Similar to sleep, your hormones are important here, especially testosterone, which preserves and increases lean muscle mass. Testosterone also improves cognitive function and increases bone density. The problem is, from the age of around 30, your testosterone levels begin to drop.<\/p>\n That\u2019s where weight training comes in. It\u2019s an anabolic activity, meaning it generates higher levels of testosterone, which will counteract the natural drop as you age.<\/p>\n Flexibility is important, too. A paper in the journal Sports Medicine And Health Science<\/em> investigated the association between flexibility and \u201cthe development of functional limitation\u201d (the growing struggle to perform daily tasks).<\/p>\n Out of the 1,318 adults studied, the 491 that undertook regular stretching exercises and the 122 that performed bodyweight exercises \u201cwere associated with 24 and 38 per cent decreased odds of incident functional limitation as they aged<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need to morph into Dwayne Johnson or the She-Hulk. It\u2019s hard to be too prescriptive, but a couple of strength and stretching efforts each week is a good start.<\/p>\n Just note that when it comes to strength training, squats are the ideal. They work a large range of muscles, including the gluteus maximus (your backside), one of the biggest muscles in your body. The bigger the muscle you work, the greater the testosterone hit.<\/p>\n As for stretching, dynamic stretches are regarded as being better than static ones for boosting strength and flexibility as they raise the temperature of the blood. Dynamic stretches are active movements where joints and muscles go through a full range of motion, while static ones are where you hold a stretch. You can do both types easily at home.<\/p>\n Read more about the science of exercise:<\/strong><\/p>\n Sleep<\/a> is the best medicine. It boosts physical and mental health, and is so important that Tour de France winners are the ones deemed to have slept best over the 21 stages and 3,500km of racing. Which is a shame for those over 30\u2026<\/p>\n Over the last four decades, the average age of parents having their first child has risen to 33.2 years for men and 30.3 years for women. Another way to put it is over the past 40 years, human beings have delayed the spectre of relentless sleepless nights.<\/p>\n You see, a 2019 study in the journal Sleep<\/em> found that new parents faced up to six years of sleep deprivation<\/a>.<\/p>\n The cumulative long-term effects of a lack of both sleep quality and quantity is associated with a wide range of health consequences, including an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack and stroke.<\/p>\n \u201cIt also lowers your immune system and is detrimental to mood and cognitive ability,\u201d says Prof Shona Halson<\/a> from the Australian Catholic University.<\/p>\n Many of the sleep-impaired physiological issues are due to hormones. Take human growth hormone (HGH). This repairs muscles by stimulating the liver and other tissues to make a protein called \u2018insulin-like growth factor 1\u2019.<\/p>\n Lack of sleep equals lack of HGH production equals restricted muscle growth. (Alcohol has long been known to stall your secretion of HGH, with a study from 1980 showing alcohol decreased HGH secretion by 25 per cent<\/a>.)<\/p>\n \u201cSleep also affects your eating habits by affecting the hormones that control eating behaviour,\u201d adds Halson.<\/p>\n For instance, rising levels of a hormone called ghrelin signal that it\u2019s time to start eating, while increased levels of the hormone leptin tell you that you\u2019re full.<\/p>\n A German study, published in the Journal Of Sleep Research<\/em>, showed that just one night\u2019s broken sleep significantly raises ghrelin levels<\/a>, explaining why you crave a tube of Pringles when you\u2019re tired. They also showed that two nights or more poor sleep reduces leptin levels.<\/p>\n Strangely, babies aren\u2019t receptive to a t\u00eate-a-t\u00eate about their erratic sleep patterns. So, if it\u2019s an option, work with them not against them.<\/p>\n \u201cNapping can be important if you\u2019re sleep deprived,\u201d says Halson. \u201cA recent review of all the available napping literature found that the optimal nap duration was 20 to 90 minutes between 1pm and 4pm<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Whether you have kids or not, keep as consistent a bedtime as possible, avoid caffeine in the afternoon and banish your smartphone from your bedroom.<\/p>\n \u201cFor people who are stressed or anxious, apps focused on relaxation or breathing may be useful, too,\u201d says Halson.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you could try tryptophan-rich foods like milk. There\u2019s evidence \u2013 albeit sometimes conflicting \u2013 that this amino acid can help you sleep.\u201d Finally, don\u2019t go to bed full or having drunk a pint of water, as you\u2019ll wake up needing a wee.<\/p>\n Read more about how to get better sleep:<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s irrefutable \u2013 for a longer life, get moving. That was the message from a 2019 study in the British Medical Journal<\/em> that showed 25 minutes per day of moderate exercise, like brisk walking, boosted the subjects\u2019 chances of living<\/a>. The most sedentary group were 60 per cent more likely to die prematurely than the most active group.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t wonderful news, as, according to a 2015 study co-commissioned by Public Health England, British people sit for an average 8.9 hours each day<\/a>. Further research that same year in the British<\/em> Journal Of Sports Medicine<\/em> suggested there\u2019s a 5 per cent increased risk of premature death with each additional hour off your feet<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s okay,\u201d you might be thinking. \u201cI have been manacled to a desk for the last 10 years, but I\u2019ve just bought a standing one, so I\u2019m all good.\u201d But hold your horses\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s evidence for some benefits of standing versus sitting at work for metabolic health, particularly how your body deals with sugar in your blood, which is an important factor in risk for diabetes and heart disease,\u201d says Dr Richard Pulsford<\/a>, senior lecturer in physical activity and public health at Exeter University.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, these benefits tend to be noticeable in those who don\u2019t live active lives or who are in poorer health.\u201d<\/p>\n Plus, while there is evidence that standing desks can help back pain, standing too long with a hunchback posture will only accentuate the symptoms.\u201cIt\u2019s inescapable,\u201d says Pulsford, \u201cyou need to move more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMovement\u2019s an important component of healthy ageing,\u201d he continues. \u201cAgeing affects our metabolic processes and cardiovascular health, so anything we can do to support them \u2013 from exercising and keeping fit, through to moving little and often during otherwise inactive days \u2013 is beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n This doesn\u2019t mean you need to mimic Eliud Kipchoge and start running sub-two-hour marathons. Dancing, gardening, swimming\u2026 anything that gets you moving counters the effects of sitting for long periods, no matter how insignificant.<\/p>\n \u201c[The benefits of] breaking up your day with bouts of walking are certainly more pronounced than simply standing,\u201d says Pulsford.<\/p>\n \u201cIn a recent study we found that intermittent slow walking, of two minutes every 20 minutes, reduced insulin demand<\/a> and improved glucose uptake [both favourable metabolic changes for better health]. In the same study, intermittent standing didn\u2019t seem to make a difference.<\/p>\n \u201cExercising helps channel glucose from our blood \u2013 where it can cause damage if levels are too high \u2013 to our muscles and other tissues, where we can store it and use it later. The more we use in our muscles, the better.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more about how to reverse a sedentary lifestyle:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019re happy and you know it, clap your hands\u2026 and keep them clapping, as a study in Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences<\/em> found that people who had higher levels of optimism had a longer lifespan<\/a> and were likelier to live past 85 in a healthy, joyous state. That\u2019s the good news.<\/p>\n Now for the bad. A 2010 survey by relationship-support charity Relate showed that people between 35 and 44 felt more depressed than any other age group<\/a>.<\/p>\n Long work hours, arguments and division of household chores were cited equally by men and women as the most common causes of problems. But there is a solution: head outdoors.<\/p>\n \u201cUsing data from nearly 20,000 people in England, we saw that those who spent more than two hours a week in nature showed consistently higher health and wellbeing than people who never visited,\u201d explains Dr Mathew White<\/a>, an environmental psychologist at Exeter University.<\/p>\n These benefits are numerous and include six key mechanisms, says White. \u201cReducing exposure to environmental pollution, thanks to better air quality in places with more trees; exposing us to \u2018good\u2019 microbiota for healthy immune and gut function; encouraging \u2018capacity-building behaviours\u2019, such as promoting physical activity that\u2019s good for health; promoting social cohesion and good relationships, as nature seems to bring people together in positive ways; helping us to manage everyday stress by giving us less demanding contexts in which to collect our thoughts and restore depleted cognitive and emotional capacities; and building \u2018place attachment\u2019, which is important for people to orient themselves and find a place in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to go all Bear Grylls and camp out on a deserted island to enjoy nature\u2019s benefits. But, according to White, being beside a waterway \u2013 a sea, river or lake \u2013 confers the best of both worlds: green and blue space.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, in our studies we\u2019ve also seen the benefits of house plants and even virtual experiences via the television. Some studies also show the benefits of urban parks are strongest for those in more deprived communities, who may also have less access to more remote places due to costs and time.\u201d<\/p>\n Loneliness is no laughing matter. But, once again, it appears longevity is, with a 2010 meta analysis showing that social support increases survival by up to 50 per cent<\/a>, with research going back to the early 20th Century.<\/p>\n A more recent study by the Loneliness Commission, part of the Jo Cox Foundation, showed that men in particular are most likely to hit \u201cpeak loneliness\u201d at 35 years old.<\/a><\/p>\n This could be down to numerous factors, including unemployment, relationship break-ups, bereavement or moving away from family and friends. All of which are far from ideal, as a landmark study in the journal Science<\/em> showed that lack of social connection is a greater detriment to health than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure<\/a>.<\/p>\nWhy will fibre transform your health?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How much fibre do you need to eat?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Stretch and Strengthen<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2023\/01\/barbell-woman-2ed69c5.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Why stretch and stretching is so important?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How can you get enough strength and flexibility?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Master your sleep with a few easy tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Why is sleep so important?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How can you get more sleep?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
4. Don\u2019t stop moving<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Why is sitting<\/strong> for long periods bad for you?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How can you reverse the impact of prolonged sitting?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. Get out of the house and into nature<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Why does getting outdoors boost your boost?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
How often do you need to be outdoors?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
6. Stay connected to others<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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