In this article, we are going to talk about one of the most important questions we could ask ourselves: How can we Die Young as Late as Possible?
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Let’s imagine…
…You wake up at 7 a.m, full of energy and ready to enjoy the day.
- Today, you do not have to work and you are going to spend the day exercising, walking and doing some shopping.
- You feel good, both physically and mentally and you are completely autonomous and functional.
Now, imagine that you are 75 years old and you can still do what I just said.
The world population is becoming older and older.
Medicine and public healthcare have allowed us to live many more years than a few decades ago.
- And how do we get that?
- Is Medicine the solution?
- Will we find a cure for aging and even death in decades to come?
- Will we take a pill a become 10 years younger?
The Work of a Lifetime
This will possibly happen in the following years, but it is not probable.
In the meantime, we need to use the research in gerontology and biology to find out why do we age and how can we slow down this process.
We have already explained the diets of some of the most long-lived populations, like the blue zones. Moreover, we have also talked about what telomeres are and how these structures play a crucial role in the aging process.That is, our objective will be to make a plan to Die Young as Late as Possible
But we are not going to talk about that today.
Once again, let’s focus on answering a question with all the information that we have available:
How can we die young as late as possible?
Injustices of Nature
Let me explain.
We need to mention another issue that I call the injustices of nature.
First of all, we need to be aware of some things:
- We cannot control our health 100% of the time.
- Neither can we eliminate all the risks.
- Unfortunately, we cannot make most diseases disappear either.
Therefore, there will always be injustices of nature
Guidelines to Die Young as Late as Possible
After accepting this fact, we have a series of guidelines that are quite easy to analyze but hard to carry out that will help us age slowly.
There are many, so we are not going to deepen in every single one of them.
This may come as a surprise, since most of them do not have anything to do with anti-aging creams or the esthetic symptoms of aging.
In fact, you can look young on the outside but have old cells on the inside, which is actually quite common.
So this post is not going to delve into the physical aspect or how to look more attractive.
Well, let’s begin with the guidelines to die young as late as possible:
Avoid a lack or excess of protein
We have already talked about that before: the issue of protein is actually quite controverted.
The key lies in knowing how much protein do we need in every stage of our lives.
If you are young and athletic, eat 1.5g/kg of body weight.
Avoid processed food
I will never get tired of saying this.
Nowadays, ultraprocessed products are the cause of many deaths.
- No, they are not poison.
- Yes, you can eat them every once in a while.
Avoid sedentarism
To sum up: you cannot be healthy if you do not follow an active lifestyle.
In other words: you can eat healthy, but if you are sedentary you will NOT be a healthy person.
But do not overtrain
However, going to the other extreme is also related to a shorter life.
Physical exercise behaves like a J curve regarding morality: this means that both no exercise and a lot of exercise can have negative consequences in the long term.
But, if I had to choose between both extremes, I would definitely would go with “a lot of exercise”.
Even Olympic athletes live longer than sedentary population.
Sunbathe moderately
Without taking into account specific pathologies, avoiding sunlight by all means is not healthy whatsoever. Not only due to vitamin D, but also mental health, chronorhythms and even cardiovascular health.
Fasting every once in a while
Caloric restriction (CR) is the best and most direct way of living longer.
Reaching a CR of a 30-40% of your maintenance kcals is not easy and even less in the long term.
That is why strategies such as intermittent fasting have become so popular among the general public… keep reading
Fruit and vegetables should be the base of your diet
Any diet that does not include plenty of fruit and vegetables cannot be regarded as healthy in the long term and it will not help you die young as late as possible.
Absolutely every single study associates the intake of fruit, vegetables and fiber with a better health and survival.
A healthy microbiota equals a longer and healthier life
The microbiota has been the discovery of the decade. These tiny bacteria are more crucial for your health than what you could possibly imagine.
The night is for sleeping, take care of your circadian rhythms
Another important finding in the world of health has been the importance of chronobiology and how following the biorhythms can prevent chronic diseases.
Any workout is not valid, take care of your muscles
If you just go running, you will end up suffering sarcopenia in the long term if you do not include strength exercises.
IF you want to live longer, you will have to take of your muscles.
A strength workout routine at least 2 or 3 times a week should be compulsory for everyone.
Acute stress not chronic stress
We are ready to face a period of acute stress followed by a recovery period, like a sprint or a fight.
Surround yourself of people who support you
The problem when we approach longevity from a scientific perspective is that we forget about aspects that are as important as the diet, exercise or pharmacology.
Having a community, family or not, that supports you is essential if we want to live long. Visit any of the blue zones in your next holidays and observe the relationships between their members.
Let me know what you think afterwards
Run away from solitude
Do you know that solitude is a great predictor of morality and cardiovascular disease?
- We do not know how to be alone.
- We are not made to be alone, regardless of how taciturn we may be.
Have a defined purpose
Having a purpose in this life, no matter what it is, is not only going to make you healthier, but it will also improve your quality of life. A life well lived needs goals, a direction, sense.
You will not hear many doctors talk about this factor which is so important for life.
Contact with nature
If you live closer to nature you already have a gift.
A simple stroll through the forest or by the sea lowers the blood pressure and improves the mental health.
It seems that nature wakes up something within us that tells us that we are exactly where we are meant to be…
- This is where we have evolved.
- We are also part of it.
Having lost contact with nature is one of the biggest problems of today’s society.
Control the anxiety
Stress and anxiety go hand in hand.
They are two sides of the same coin and both are extremely harmful.
Without any doubt, taking care of the aspects we have mentioned will help us control the anxiety. However, there are moments in our life when it will appear, whether if you want it or not.
At that moment, you will have to face it with all you have.
Children in school should be taught how to relax…
Be thankful for what you have
Another simple thing that can actually make a difference. Be thankful, even for the most insignificant things. You will start feeling better shortly after.
Have money
Yes, I am not joking, money is definitely important.
More money, to certain extent (another J curve) means:
- Less stress
- Better diet
- More exercise
- More purpose
- Less solitude
Let’s not forget that there is a J curve. We all know miserable and solitary rich people…
Move in the virtuous range of moderation
Your mother was right when she said that excess is not good. Stoics also said that and they were definitely right.
Believe in something
Those who believe in something or belong to a specific religion live longer.
Why? We do not know.
But if you are a believer or you have some kind of philosophy in life, the better.
We need something to answer the dreadful existential questions that haunt us.
There are medicines that mimic autophagy
So far, we have not mentioned any medicines, but there are some that can have an effect on key signalling pathways that mimic the autophagy. For example, Metformin, Rapamycin or Spermidine.
Do not fall into medicalization
Look for help when you need it, not before.
This last point is extremely important. Medicine is extraordinary when we use it properly.
Little medicine can kill but a lot of medicine also can…
- Do not fall into medicalization
- Not all of your day to day problems require medical attention
That is all for today. If you liked these tips to die young as late as possible, make sure to share it with the world so that it will help others.
Cheers!
Related Entries
- If you want to know what is Sarcopenia and how to treat it, click here.
- Tips to Lose Weight from the age of 50 or 60
Quality of life - 100%
Importance of Protein - 100%
Do Exercise - 100%
Tips and Guidelines - 100%
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