This post was originally published on Well + Good
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ICYMI, the internet loves to talk about aging. One click or scroll, and you’re overwhelmed by a plethora of health hacks that all claim to freeze your body and mind in time, no matter how old you are.
Pause. This is your invitation to take a breath, hit the escape key, and celebrate a holistic healthy-aging journey. Trends come and go—but according to Taz Bhatia, MD, board-certified integrative-medicine physician and founder of CentreSpringMD, supporting your health as you age comes down to a few basic habits that stand the test of time.
Key aspects of the healthy-aging puzzle are (you guessed it) exercise, stress management, and nutrition. But as aging begins deep within the body’s trillions of cells, there’s always room for additional support, Dr. Bhatia says—and she finds that in One A Day® Age Factor
Cell Defense, a dietary supplement that helps defend against cellular aging from the inside.*† It’s specially designed with olive polyphenols from olive fruit extract, plus tried-and-true nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins C, D, B3, and more to help support cell health†. (PS: You can snag it on Amazon and save 10 percent with code 10AGEFACTOR.)
If you’re ready to invest in your healthy-aging journey without a flood of social-media fads, check out Dr. Bhatia’s six holistic-health habits and challenge yourself to integrate them into your daily life.
1. Establish a consistent sleep schedule
Be honest: How often are you actually getting the recommended seven to nine hours of shuteye? “Sleep is a foundational part of well-being,” Dr. Bhatia says. “Your body needs deep, quality sleep to recover and restore your cells after the stresses of a long day. Sleep is especially important for your brain—it’s during sleep that you consolidate memories and repair your neurons.” So next time you think about watching just one more episode, add it to tomorrow’s queue instead.
2. Treat your food as medicine
By now, you probably know that choosing to nourish your body with a balanced diet and nutrient-rich foods is essential. But have you thought about how or why you make your food choices? Dr. Bhatia recommends taking inventory of your eating habits to try to identify patterns and how it makes you feel. “Treat your food as medicine,” she says. “Think about your food like you would your clothes. Be deliberate and thoughtful about it.”
3. Add a nutritional supplement
No surprise to the olive-oil lovers out there: Olives are packed with antioxidants, which play an important role in neutralizing free radicals that contribute to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a natural part of the aging process, and occurs when there is an imbalance between antioxidants and free radicals. Incorporating a supplement with antioxidants into your routine is another way to support your holistic health as you age.
“To support cellular health, I recommend One A Day® Age Factor Cell Defense*, which is a new supplement specially designed with olive polyphenols, antioxidants from olive fruit extract,” Dr. Bhatia says. “It also includes omega-3 fatty acids, resveratrol, astaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin D, and niacin to help support cell resilience.†”
4. Build a stress-management and mindfulness routine
Life’s daily pressures pile up quickly, and when you’re feeling extra frazzled, Dr. Bhatia recommends making a daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly schedule for stress management and mindfulness. Need some inspo? Take ten minutes a day to journal, attend a yoga class once a week, schedule a monthly dinner with friends, and plan a weekend getaway (psst: it can be a staycation) every quarter. Dedicating time to relaxation is key to supporting your health as you age.
5. Vary your exercise
Exercise is vital for holistic health—and Dr. Bhatia recommends targeting different muscles from day to day. “Sometimes, we focus just on cardio or muscle strength, but we have to take it all into consideration for balance,” she says. “Working toward a goal and doing one type of workout is great, but we need a variety of exercise to stay challenged, work our muscles, and be our healthiest.” Avid runners, give Pilates a go. Pickleballers, try weight training. Yogis, take a swim. Your body will thank you.
6. Build a life you love
At the end of the day, when the workout is over and the dishes are clean, fulfillment and joy are the most essential ingredients to a healthy-aging journey. But how do you make them a habit? “Restoring your health means crafting a life and routine where your energy flows and your mood is consistent,” Dr. Bhatia says. “After all, your physical health is integrally related to your happiness.” So if you’re looking for a sign to quit that unfulfilling job, leave a taxing relationship, or finally sign up for guitar lessons? This is it.
As your mind and body age, you’ll want to look back on a life filled with health, happiness, and holistic habits that never went out of style—and sustained you every step of the way.
*Always talk to your doctor about adding supplements to your routine.
