Anti aging health tips-5 to improve your health and longevity

Anti aging health tips

Anti aging is looking more young people, it's to feel young and remain vigorous and strong in your years in advance. As you approach your of the 70's, 80, and even the 1990s, it is possible to look and, more importantly, feel years younger. Secrets are simple but powerful and these five easy health tips may seem too simplistic to be effective, know that nothing could be further from the truth.

Regularly of the exercise

Regular exercise helps you build endurance and resistance. It also helps with balance improve and increase in density, two things that diminish with age. Walking is great exercise, but to make it truly effective, you need to quickly walk. Weight bearing exercises help tone your muscles, increase your strength and increase bone density. The recommends the American Heart Association by eight to ten exercises with 8-15 repetitions, two or three times a week. This is equivalent to about 10 minutes. Beginners can take a little more time to complete this routine.

Maintain a healthy diet

Eating consisting of fruits and vegetables fresh, lean meats and whole grains help to stay young. Berries and other antioxidants are great anti aging foods. It also allows to increase the fiber in your diet, since it is a primary way that you move the toxins and waste from your body. The more you age, your body becomes less effective using fibre that take you to compensate for this by increasing your fibre intake.

Get lots of sleep

Sleep in one of the best anti you can use tools of aging. It is also one of the most overlooked and ignored. Sleep helps the brain and body to rest and renew. While doctors have known for years just how important sleep is, recent studies indicate that it is much more vital to our well-being than previously thought. Getting lots of sleep is at the top of the list for general health advice.

Get a pet

An other anti aging point of health which does that begin to attract attention is the positive impact that pets can have on our lives. Studies reveal now when people caress cat their blood pressure drop. There are also groups that take dogs in nursing homes, and they have documented positive changes in mood and well-being of patients. Patients have become more active and had better Outlook when the animals were likely to visit. There is a specific link between animals and humans, but science has discovered only the tip of the iceberg at beneficial extent to which it is to have a cat or a dog.

Be happy

Being positive and happy is an anti aging strategy which is free and very simple. Physicians stress the importance to be happy and to have a positive attitude. They also say that these traits help to stay young. Therefore take measures to make feel me good and be happy. Depression is an illness common as you age, therefore top stay by talking to your doctor if you experience symptoms.

These anti aging health tips will help keep you young and bright for many years. Take good care of yourself, eat right, exercise, sleep enough, get a pet and keep your positive attitude. These are simple strategies, Yes, but sometimes the simplest things are the most effective.

For more information on hammocks and how they can help that you can relax or to order your quilted hammock our http://rockinhammocks.com site visit or call 1 800 652-4098.

How to Grow Tall Taller http://your-health-guru.blogspot.com

6 Surprising Ways to Heart Longevity

February is Heart Health month, and by now, you’ve read all about the heart-healthy benefits of good fats, whole grains, and stress reduction -- but did you know that you can protect your heart by flossing your teeth or topping your toast with marmalade? Read on to find out more surprising ways to keep your heart pumping strong!

Take this advice to heart, but if you have heart issues, don’t stop taking your medications; always consult with your physician any time you begin a new health regime.

1. Floss Your Teeth, Save Your Heart

Your dentist has been telling you for years about the importance of flossing. It turns out that flossing not only protects your teeth and gums, but also potentially your heart. For a long time, observational studies have found that people with periodontal disease have significantly higher odds of developing cardiovascular disease. While experts are not sure exactly why taking care of your teeth is linked with better heart health, they speculate that bacteria from your mouth may stick to the fatty plaques in your bloodstream, directly contributing to blockages. Another theory is that these oral bacteria travel through your body, triggering inflammation that causes the blood cells to swell, then narrowing an artery. While more studies are needed to confirm the connection, it’s never a bad idea to floss once a day!

2. A Nap a Day Keeps Heart Disease Away

One of the best ways to lower stress on your heart is to take a nap during the middle of the day. Chinese medicine has long observed that, in the body’s circadian rhythms, noontime is the peak hour for the heart. Therefore, Chinese doctors advise calming activities and rest at this time of day to maintain the health of the cardiovascular system. Researchers have found that men who napped at least thirty minutes a day were 30 percent less likely to develop heart disease than those who didn’t nap. A siesta is a sign of wisdom, not laziness!

3. Pets: Heartwarming and Heart Protecting

Getting a pet is a great boon to heart health. A study reported in the Medical Journal of Australia found that, in general, pet owners have lower blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels than people who do not own pets. Having a cat companion could cut your heart attack risk by nearly one third! According to a study by the Minnesota Stroke Institute, which followed over 4,000 cat owners during a 10-year period, being a feline owner can significantly decrease the chance of dying from heart disease. Another study, published in the American Journal of Cardiology, found that male dog owners were significantly less likely to die within one year after a heart attack than those who did not own a dog. Man’s best friend helps your heart in yet another way -- all those daily walks add up to real cardiovascular benefits.

4. Peel Away Cholesterol with Orange Rind

Plaque in your arteries narrows the artery over time, impairing blood flow and dramatically increasing your risk for heart disease. Here’s a simple way to keep your arteries healthy: grate a little orange peel into your food regularly. In Chinese medicine, orange peel has been traditionally used to improve digestion of fatty and rich foods, and it is often found in traditional Chinese dishes with red meat. It turns out that orange peel may actually lower cholesterol better than some current medications, and without the side effects. Studies show that compounds called polymethosylated flavones (PMFs), found in pigments of orange and tangerines, reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) without altering the level of good cholesterol (HDL). Who would guess that orange-peel laden marmalade would also be good for lowering LDL cholesterol?

5. Celery: Just Juice It

High blood pressure is often the root cause of stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure. A time-tested Chinese remedy for this condition is fresh celery juice, which can be made with a blender or a juicer. Drinking one to two large glasses a day can help prevent high blood pressure or restore it to normal in those who already have high blood pressure. Studies have found that celery stalks are packed with more than a dozen anti-inflammatory agents, including apigenin, a cox2-inhibiting compound similar to some anti-inflammatory drugs.

6. Heart Health with Hawthorn Berries

Widely used since the seventeenth century by European herbalists, the hawthorn berry was traditionally considered a digestive aid for heavy meats and rich foods, as well as a potent activator of the circulatory system. Today it is used to cleanse the blood of plaque and other toxins. Recent European studies of this bioflavanoid-rich plant have confirmed its cardiovascular benefits, including lowering blood pressure during exertion, strengthening the heart muscle, and improving blood flow to the heart and throughout the body. Additionally, hawthorn has also been shown to lower cholesterol and balance blood sugar. You can make hawthorn berry tea or take it in supplement form. Available in powder, capsules, and liquid extracts, a typical dosage is up to 500 mg daily.

Bonus Tip: If you want to take your heart health one step further, you can try taking tonic herbs that support a robust and open cardiovascular system, such as Super Clarity.

You can find many more ways to protect your heart and live to 100 in Secrets of Longevity: Hundreds of Ways to Live to Be 100, which is now available on Kindle. If you are interested in a lifestyle program, designed to transform your health and lengthen your years, check out my new book Secrets of Longevity 8-Week Program.

I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

—Dr. Mao

This blog is meant to educate, but it should not be used as a substitute for personal medical advice. The reader should consult his or her physician or clinician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field is ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.

- - - - - - - - - -

Transform your health and bring quality to your years with Dr. Mao's natural health products from the Tao of Wellness.

Discover a high-quality water filtration system that will provide you with pure, healthy water.

Order Dr. Mao's new book Second Spring: Hundreds of Natural Secrets for Women to Revitalize and Regenerate at Any Age.

Learn hundreds of ways for living a long and happy life with Dr. Mao's book Secrets of Longevity.

Find out amazing ways you can naturally increase your energy and heal common ailments in Secrets of Self-Healing, Dr. Mao's landmark book on natural healing.

View the original article here

The Longevity Resolution: Live to 100

This New Year's, make your resolution to live to 100. Is it possible? Yes! Your body wants to live to be 100 -- you just have to get out of its way. This means taking an honest look at your lifestyle as it is today and noticing what habits are limiting your true health potential. Knowing is half the battle; once you see bad habits for what they are, it is much easier to create new healthier habits that will eventually replace them.

Here is the formula for true success: start slow, start small, and start now. For the year 2011, I have compiled a Longevity Program, a yearlong plan of activities, month by month, that come from the habits of centenarians from around the world. I have spent 25 years studying the lifestyles of centenarians, and the monthly habits in this longevity program are the most simple and powerful ways to boost your longevity and improve your health.

For a more formalized longevity program, check out my new book Secrets of Longevity 8-Week Program, which will transform your health and lengthen your years.

 

The 2011 Longevity Program

So how does this 2011 program work? You will slowly, over a period of 12 months, address 12 different areas of health that are essential for achieving longevity. Each month, you will work on one small activity to the best of your ability. By the end of the month, it will become a new healthy habit that will serve you for the rest of your life!

It takes about 14 to 21 days of consistent practice to cement a new habit, as long as the activity is fairly simple. So, for example, the habit for one month is to do a simple breathing exercise every day, which may take you between 5 and 15 minutes every day. If you do it nearly every day, and especially if you do it at almost the same time every day, it will become automatic, like how you brush your teeth before bed every night.

Go easy on yourself. This longevity program is designed to fit into your life as it is now with small incremental changes that you gradually work into your schedule. You don’t have to change everything over night! If staying motivated is the issue, here’s a trick: Keep track of progress. Seeing positive results is a powerful motivator. Feel free to keep a written record of your progress every day. When you notice an improvement in your health and general outlook, there is a very good chance you will be motivated to repeat the activity again and again, helping you integrate it into your life as a new longevity habit that will stick -- for years to come!

This program is not just about living to 100. What would be the fun of that if you were suffering from health issues? This program is about quality and quantity of years: expect to gain energy, lose weight, reduce stress, sleep better -- and the list goes on. Are you on board? Stay tuned! Every month I will be writing a complete article that goes into further detail about each area that includes motivational tips and questions to help you track progress.

Here is the yearlong 2011 Longevity Program at a glance:

January: Start anew with cleansing exercise. January is about starting the year fresh with a simple daily walking practice, or another indoor fitness option if the snows are blocking your path. This will balance and cleanse your body from harmful toxins that you may have accumulated in 2010.

February: Restore and replenish. Indulge your urge for hibernation. Every day you will perform a practice specially designed to improve the quality of your sleep and release your stress. February will be your rest and relaxation month to restore your energy.

March: Boost your energy. Now that you’ve restored yourself, this month is time to energize. March will focus on when and what to eat to increase your energy level.

April: Power up your immunity. This month you will get your immune system in tip-top shape by eating a rainbow of antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies every day.

May: Keep digestion on track. To live like a centenarian, one of the key ingredients is to maintain healthy digestion. When your digestion runs smoothly, you get the maximum nutrients from your food, which keeps your body functioning in peak condition. May gives you the secrets to keep your digestion on track.

June: Get heart healthy. To keep your heart pumping strong, you have to minimize plaque buildup. With a few simple dietary changes that you will learn this month, you will dramatically improve your heart health.

July: Brainy basics. Keeping your brain in shape is a key factor in longevity. During July, you will practice mental exercises that will stimulate your memory and mental acuity.

August: Stay hydrated. Most of us just aren’t getting enough water everyday, which has a negative impact on all our body’s functions. This month focuses on getting hydrated in the heat of summer to improve cellular function, metabolism, and organ function.

September: Get mindful at meals. This month, you will learn centenarian secrets for eating in a way that promotes weight loss and makes the most of your meals.

October: Don’t be tricked by treats. October offers simple and near-painless strategies for cutting back on the simple sugars that make our energy levels crash, pack on unwanted pounds, and even put us at risk for diabetes.

November: Give thanks. This month is all about counting your blessings! An attitude of gratitude is a proven way to live a longer and happier life.

December: Take a breather. The hurried holiday season is the perfect time to remember to breathe. Deep breathing can have a profound affect on your heart, brain, digestion, immune system, and longevity. You will learn a simple breathing practice that will come in handy during times of stress.

Look for my monthly articles to guide you through a healthy and happy 2011. You can find many more ways to live to 100 in Secrets of Longevity: Hundreds of Ways to Live to Be 100, which is now available on Kindle.

I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

—Dr. Mao

This blog is meant to educate, but it should not be used as a substitute for personal medical advice. The reader should consult his or her physician or clinician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field is ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.

- - - - - - - - - -

Transform your health and bring quality to your years with Dr. Mao's natural health products from the Tao of Wellness.

Discover a high-quality water filtration system that will provide you with pure, healthy water.

Order Dr. Mao's new book Second Spring: Hundreds of Natural Secrets for Women to Revitalize and Regenerate at Any Age.

Learn hundreds of ways for living a long and happy life with Dr. Mao's book Secrets of Longevity.

Find out amazing ways you can naturally increase your energy and heal common ailments in Secrets of Self-Healing, Dr. Mao's landmark book on natural healing.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

 

To purchase Dr. Mao's book, "Secrets of Longevity" on Kindle, click here.

To learn more about Dr. Mao and other natural health tips, go to askdrmao.com.

To purchase Dr. Mao's book, "Second Spring," click here.

View the original article here

Health Tips for Old Age: Get a Long and Healthy Life

Everyone wants to be healthy and vigorous throughout their life. But more so being healthy in old age is just like a boon. Since, old age brings with itself many health problems and if you are not taking complete care of yourself then these diseases becomes hard to cure and manage in old age. Here are given some useful health tips for old age:

Drink enough water:

It cleanses your body machinery and helps your heart in functioning well. Drinking of enough water will keep away chances of kidney stone and urine problem. It will also keep you looking young and active along with natural glow on your face.

Exercise regularly:

Inclusion of regular exercise in your daily life is the best health tips for old age. Exercising will not only help in promoting brain regeneration but also obviate decline in body parts. Practice any form on exercise depending on what you and your body can manage. Talk to you health care provider on what exercise you should undertake in your old age. Seniors can also use yoga which generates flexibility and balance in their body.

Well balanced diet:

Well balanced diet plays a very important part in keeping you healthy in old age. Avoid taking rich food like sweets, high stuffed and fried. As it will leave impact on your lever and may result in damaging it. You should add calcium rich diet as it will strengthen your bones. In old age teeth becomes week and so diet should also be soft cooked so that it intake is easy. Add fruits, vegetables and greens in your daily diet to maintain your health in old age. Proper nutritional food keeps many diseases away and also save you from common problems of aging. Addition of nutrition food can save from problem like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and osteoporosis as these are generally prevalent nutrition related health problems which occur in old age.

Be happy and engage in recreational activities:

During old age, Factors like social isolation, low income and depression affect health in old age. Loneliness is a common problem in old age and leads to related problems. During this time, it becomes all the more important for seniors to take on some activity which occupy their time. Take part in social activities and indulge in pursuing your hobbies in spare time. Make friends and make use of their company to keep yourself active and happy.

Be happy and visit your doctor regularly:

During old age, seniors should take deep care of their health. This includes a regular visit to a health care professional. You should visit and consult your doctor regularly and try to implement all the suggestions and precautions given by your doctor.

Health in old age is not that hard to have and maintain. All you need is to follow some simple steps which can be easily included in your daily life without much effort. Most likely you are to know them already but now is the time to get started.

source: http://www.articlesbase.com/elderly-care-articles/health-tips-for-old-age-get-a-long-and-healthy-life-348422.html

6 Salads that Help You Live Longer

By Dr. Maoshing Ni - Posted on Fri, Aug 21, 2009, 4:34 pm PDT

The long, hot days of summer aren’t much encouragement for cooking in the kitchen over a hot stove. Instead, why not take advantage of the bounty of local seasonal fruits and veggies and cool yourself down with a fresh salad?
Quick and simple to make, salads with the right ingredients also bring you some serious health benefits.

Produce Pointers: Start with Healthy Ingredients
When making these salads, be sure to use organic, locally-grown produce from farmers’ markets and health food stores. Fresh, local produce contains more nutrients and is picked when naturally ripe. Commercial produce, on the other hand, is picked unripe and treated with ethylene gas to ripen artificially late. Then it is shipped on a week-long, sometimes even month-long, cross-country trip before it is served on your dining table—how’s that for fuel efficiency?
While the waste of gas is bad enough, studies regularly emerge about the hazardous effects of pesticides and herbicides used on commercial crops: cancer risk, inflammation, reproductive imbalance, among other dangers. So eat food grown close to home: it’s better for your health, better for the environment, and has an unbeatable taste!

6 Summer Salads
Nature has the perfect plan in providing the right foods for the season and summer foods tend to be on the cooling side, helping prevent overheating. One item to note: Eating raw food all the time requires more energy for digestion and tends to put out the digestive fire, so don't forgo the stove altogether. As you will see below, many of these salads require some cooking, as well.

1. Classic Beet Salad
Steam beets and slice into a salad of mixed greens, sliced avocado, and a handful of pine nuts and walnuts. If you want to bulk up the salad, add crumbled soft tofu or shredded chicken.

What is this salad doing for you?
This is an all-in-one anti-aging salad. Beets contain powerful nutrients that help protect against heart disease, birth defects and cancer, especially colon cancer. The avocado and pine nuts are healthy fats and walnuts have omega-3 fatty acids, which bring heart health benefits.

2. Cooling Cucumber Salad
Thinly slice cucumbers, removing the peel if you prefer, and toss with red onions. Let this sit for 30 minutes, then top with apple cider vinegar mixed with Dijon mustard.

What is this salad doing for you?
Cucumbers are a cooling food and also a natural diuretic, helping to hydrate you and lower the pressure in your arteries. The vinegar has antiseptic and antibiotic properties and may also help to reverse hardening of the arteries, as well as dissolve gall stones and kidney stones.

3. Tomato Basil Salad
Cook whole cherry or grape tomatoes in olive oil over medium-high heat until they are lightly browned. Cool, and then toss with fresh basil. For dressing, combine olive oil, vinegar, and a pinch of fresh oregano.

What is this salad doing for you?
Cooking partially breaks down your food, making the nutrients accessible to your body's systems; for example, lycopene, an essential carotenoid antioxidant that has been found to reduce the risks of heart disease, macular degeneration, as well as prostate and other cancers, is more available in cooked tomatoes than uncooked. Basil is filled with luteolin, a bioflavonoid that studies have shown to be the best protection of cell DNA from radiation.

4. Fennel and Dried Plum Salad
Combine sliced fennel, sautéed or raw, and dried plums on a plate. Drizzle with a ginger vinaigrette. (Olive oil, vinegar and minced ginger, if you are making yourself.)

What is this salad doing for you?
This salad soothes digestion and supports weight loss. Fennel helps digestion in two ways: It stimulates the production of gastric juices and also calms the nervous system, regulating the action of the muscles that line the intestine. Packed with vitamin C and essential minerals like potassium and magnesium, dried plums contain a perfectly balanced proportion of soluble and insoluble fibers, ensuring bowel regularity and preventing insulin resistance—making them a great ingredient for weight management.

If weight loss is one of your goals, you may benefit from the herbal formulation B-Slim, a nutrient-rich dietary supplement designed to be part of a sensible overall weight management program.

5. Asian Carrot Salad
Combine shredded carrots, green onion, and sprouts (alfalfa, red clover, daikon radish, and bean sprouts will all work). Dress with sesame oil and rice vinegar. Then sprinkle sesame seeds over the top. For extra kick, add a small amount of grated ginger or chili pepper.

What is this salad doing for you?
Carrots are antioxidant-rich foods filled with beta-carotene, beneficial to eye health. Sprouts are packed with many nutrients with a bounty of health benefits. And sesame oil, the oil most commonly consumed oil by Chinese centenarians, is rich in phytic acid, the antioxidant that may prevent cancer. Studies have also indicated that one variety of sesame oil, called lignan sesamin, radically reduced cholesterol levels in the bloodstream and liver of rats.

6. Watercress with Tofu Dressing
To make the tofu dressing, combine 1/2 pound of plain tofu with a 1/4 cup of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of rice or apple vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon of tamari soy sauce (or a pinch of salt), and 1 tablespoon of tahini. Simply blend until creamy and drizzle over a bed of salad greens.

What is this salad doing for you?
Watercress contains a rich supply of vitamins A and E as well as the minerals calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, phosphorous, iodine, and zinc. It is also a natural diuretic that cools you down, and helps alleviate excess water retention and the bloated sensation that comes with it.

I hope you enjoy these six summer salads! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao

Top 5 Habits to Increase Longevity

By Dr. Maoshing Ni - Posted on Tue, Dec 18, 2007, 6:12 pm PST

Is it really possible for anyone to live happily to 100? The good news is that your body was designed to be 100 - you just have to get out of the way.

Getting out of the way means taking an honest look at the habits and lifestyle you are living with today. Most of us have developed habits that limit our true health potential.
But don't let these bad habits of the past discourage you - it is never too late to make new choices. What you did in the past can be changed, and your body will respond in kind. What matters is what you do from this moment forward.

Top 5 Daily Habits for Your Longevity
It takes 14 to 21 days of repetitive behavior to form a new pattern in your brain. Once the pattern is formed, it becomes an automatic behavioral response.
As you develop new healthy habits, they will begin to replace bad habits. These healthy lifelong habits are adapted straight from the time-tested traditions practiced by centenarians all around the world, and I can say with certainty that they will transform and rejuvenate you!

Eat five small meals a day.
In the Western culture, meals are taken three times a day, but it is much better to eat five smaller meals. When you eat smaller portions five times a day, you deliver a steady stream of nutrients, blood sugar, and energy to your body throughout the day.
Additionally, eating this way is less taxing on the digestive and metabolic systems and also reduces your risk of heart disease.

Climb the stairs instead of using elevators.
The health benefits of a daily exercise program cannot be stressed enough. Regular exercise can help promote physiological well-being, strengthen the immune system, maintain joint mobility, increase energy - and the list goes on.
Look for opportunities all through your day to work in physical activity. Power-walk, run, or ride your bike instead of driving. Begin a daily tai chi practice. Join a gym and actually go! Practice safely and watch your health results pile up.

Laugh it up!
We know from research that laughter and joy boost immune functions, especially the production of the natural killer cells that help protect the body from illness and cancer. Laughter also increases the release of endorphins, compounds that give you a sense of well-being, in your brain. Without a doubt, joyful people live longer and healthier lives.

Drink 8 glasses of water every day.
Water is essential for all healthy body functions. Centenarians from around the globe cite their native water as the source of their health and longevity - and the scientists agree with them. What they all have in common is pure water sources located far from any city, free from chemicals and toxins.
Choose filtered water; the best filtration processes are the ones that use activated charcoal, which removes the impurities but leaves the water-soluble minerals. Also, do not store water in plastic containers because the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can leach into the water.

Unwind with meditation.
Stress is the root cause of most of the diseases that shorten our life span. In our modern society stress will continue to increase - unless you find techniques to manage it. Meditation is the best way to release tension and revitalize your being. It teaches you to breath properly, which is critical for eliminating up to 70% of your body's toxins and wastes. It also quiets your mind, lowers your stress hormones, and teaches self-discipline, which is a necessary attribute to achieving your health and longevity goals.

Try this beginning meditation:
Sit comfortably on a chair or the floor. Breathe naturally and close your eyes. Each time a thought appears, put it inside a balloon and let it fly up into the sky and disappear. Do this until the thoughts are exhausted. After a bit, your body will feel very light, and your mind will become still. The first few times it may take a while, but it will get easier and faster with practice.

I hope you use these healthy habits for years to come! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao

How to Live to 100

By Dr. Maoshing Ni - Posted on Tue, Sep 29, 2009, 3:29 pm PDT

People often ask me if it is actually possible to live to age 100, especially if they had bad habits in the past. I always answer that while aging is inevitable, poor health is not. Read on to find the most effective ways to live to 100.
It really is possible to live to 100.
The good news is that your body was designed to be 100 — but, you have to get out of the way. Getting out of the way means taking an honest look at the habits and lifestyle you are living with today. Most of us have developed habits that limit our true health potential. But don't let these bad habits of the past discourage you. What matters is what you do from this moment forward. Leave behind the habits that aren't serving you — smoking, eating fast food, and so on — and start choosing habits that your body needs to thrive.

Lifestyle habits that age you most quickly
The culprits that will most quickly age you and negatively affect your health are:
1. Poor diet
2. Lack of exercise
3. Stress and worry
4. Exhaustion
5. Unhappiness
6. Lack of love
7. Toxic overload
8. Blockages and congestion of the transportation highways within our bodies.

Healthy habits to live long
It takes 14 to 21 days of repetitive behavior to form a new pattern in your brain. Once the pattern is formed, it becomes an automatic behavioral response. As you develop new healthy habits, they will begin to replace bad habits. Here are some of the most transformative longevity habits:

1. Drink more water
Drink 8 glasses of fresh, filtered water every day. Water is very important for proper lymphatic drainage and hydrating the cells to prevent buildup of toxic waste products. Your safest bet is filtered water. The best kind of filtration processes for removing contaminants use activated charcoal, which removes the impurities but leaves the water-soluble minerals. Avoid water softeners, which take away essential minerals. To learn about a high-performance filtration system that I recommend, click here.

2. Eat like a centenarian
The rural community of Rugao, four hours north of Shanghai, enjoys the reputation as the "longevity county of China" because there are over 200 centenarians in the small region -- the highest number per 1,000 residents anywhere in China. Rugao residents eat mostly fish, vegetables, mushrooms, seaweed, corn and buckwheat. There was virtually no meat or poultry present in the majority of their diet. Scientists have confirmed the health benefits of a diet high in fish and vegetables and low in animal products.

Know what foods to enjoy and what to avoid:
• The very best thing you can do for your health is to eat a wide array of colorful fruits and vegetables every day.
• Eat fish and cut back on meat and poultry.
• Choose the right fats. Cut back on saturated fats like butter and avoid all trans fats. Instead, choose mono-saturated fats: olive, sesame, canola, flax, and fish oils.
• Avoid all refined sugars.
3. Restore with regular rest
Get 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep every night.

4. Take the stairs!
Take a walk. Go for a swim. Join the gym. Find an exercise activity that works for you and stick to it, practicing at least four times a week for thirty minutes a session. Regular exercise can strengthen your immune system, uplift your mood, maintain joint mobility, increase energy - the list goes on and on!

5. Manage your stress.
Stress is the root cause of most of the diseases that shorten our life span. Meditation is a powerful way to manage your stress level. For the best results, meditate every day. Start with five minutes and work your way up to fifteen or twenty minutes. (See 3 Easy Beginner Mediation Techniques.) For a guided CD that is filled with meditations for living to 100, click here. Another option? Get your exercise and stress-management all in one by beginning a tai chi practice.

6. Detoxify your surroundings.
With environmental factors causing ever more damage to our well-being, it is important to know what to look out for and avoid. For starters, you can avoid many dangerous chemical compounds if you buy organic foods and use glass and recycled paper products. In addition, it is beneficial to undergo periodic detoxification treatments with special dietary and herbal regimens to lower your body's toxic load. An herbal blend that is specially formulated for helping your body detoxify is Internal Cleanse. Also learn how to eliminate the toxins with this 5-Step Detox to Revitalize You.

I hope you found the answers to get you started on your own longevity quest! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao