Living longer, made simple

We all wish to live long and healthy, right?

We also hear about many fads or some cutting edge research funded by tech-giants in longevity and wonder, ‘is it going to be affordable?’

Well living longer and healthier does not have to be complicated and expensive- as per Ayurveda and, now modern science is coming to same conclusion.

It comes down to 4 simple principles (or we can call them ‘hacks’ as per modern terminology)

• Good organ function

• Diet

• Regular proper exercise

• Right Mindset

  And these 4 are interdependent as we will see.

  Good organ function:

  • Optimum cardiovascular health is important for every one of us and our longevity. After all, what’s good for the heart is also good for the brain. The good brain and good liver are linked as well through gut-brain axis.

  • European Heart Journal advised that consuming plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts plus moderate amounts of fish and whole-fat dairy products is key to lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease- does that sound like Ayurvedic diet?

  • The eight health measures named by the American Heart Association:

    Eat a healthy diet

    Be more active

    Quit smoking

    Get healthy sleep

    Maintain a healthy weight

    Control cholesterol

    Watch blood sugar

    Manage blood pressure

  • The supplements worth taking are: omega-3, turmeric or beetroot juice.

  • Ayurveda’s Marma therapy also compliments to maintain good organ function.

  • Optimal weight is key to good organ function. There is no need to follow diet fads and intense workouts to maintain weight. Right diet/nutrition, exercise are common sense keys to optimal weight.
    

    Diet

  • In one study involving 10,000 Australian women, those with the highest proportion of ultra-processed food in their diet were 39 per cent likelier to develop high blood pressure than those with the lowest percentage. Recent studies have linked diets high in ultra-processed foods to increased risks of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and depression; all affecting the life span and quality.

  • When people ate the majority-ultra-processed diet, they ended up consuming about 500 calories more a day than they did on the less-processed diet. After two weeks, they gained about 2 pounds. Participants lost about 2 pounds after two weeks on the unprocessed diet.

  • A study by Stanford University says switching to a vegan diet for just two months can cut the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

  • Choose the right protein. Nuts, lentils are a good source of protein which is light on gut, leaving less toxins in the body. Walnuts are for example good for brain function, fight inflammation and useful for gut health.

  • Spices offer a variety of benefits- both medicinal as well as taste-wise. Turmeric is #1 spice to reduce inflammation- a root cause of ageing process. You can always match diet to changing weather to make the most.

  • Eating fatty foods like chips when stressed affects more than helps; as per two recent studies, researchers from the University of Birmingham have discovered that eating high-fat foods when you are feeling frazzled triggers a cascade of unwanted health reactions.

  Exercise:

  • A total equivalent of 40 minutes activity five times a week is the bare minimum for good health. A 2020 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology researchers from University College London found first-time marathon runners, most of them midlifers, who jogged two to three times a week for six months before completing the 26.2-mile (42km) distance had arteries that were healthier and up to four years “biologically younger” than when they started running.

  • Those who dont want to run or can’t run, walking is a great way to get fit and healthy. Incorporating resistance training and regular walking into your routine leads to effective weight loss, improved metabolic health, and significant anti-ageing benefits, enhancing overall quality of life and longevity, is the view Naturopathy takes.

  
  Right Mindset

  • Mind-body connection is no longer a new-age or hip concept, but a proven scientific reality, to which modern systems are still warming up to.

  • Positive psychology, keeping happy, positive mindset are being proved by research as key ingredients to health and longevity.
    They also help foster social connections; who will not like to associate with a person who is not happy and cheerful? Having strong social connections support longevity by upto 50%.!

  • Mind-body practices like yoga, tai chi and meditation promote relaxation and, indirectly, cognitive health and brain function. They also help to conquer various cravings for unhealthy food, alcohol etc things that affect health and longevity.

  • There are countless research articles, books which support daily meditation as key to emotional health. There is even some evidence that meditation changes your brain—enlarging areas of brain tissue that help us think and learn… while decreasing areas that cause us stress and anxiety. Here is link to download pdf about how meditation can provide physical health benefits.

    Still skeptical? Top 5 secrets to healthy ageing as per a recent survey by Australian seniors confirms this.

All this can be achieved through above 4 principles-

that’s what Ayurveda is saying since thousands of years!

The content provided in this blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a history of mental health issues, eating disorders or other health conditions, please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, exercise routine, mental health practices or weight loss plan.