Gratitude enhances health, brings happiness — and may even lengthen lives
Respiratory health harms often follow flooding: Taking these steps can help
Could tea tree oil help treat acne or athlete’s foot?
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c): What to know if you have diabetes or prediabetes or are at risk for these conditions
What could be causing your blurry vision?
Avocado nutrition: Health benefits and easy recipes
Swimming lessons save lives: What parents should know
Preventing and treating iliotibial (IT) band syndrome: Tips for pain-free movement
Wildfires: How to cope when smoke affects air quality and health
What can magnesium do for you and how much do you need?
Staying Healthy
Achieving and maintaining good health means adopting healthy lifestyle habits, from consuming nutritious foods and getting regular physical activity to prioritizing sleep and reducing stress.
Dietary patterns that are most closely linked to a longer, healthier life tend to focus on unprocessed or minimally processed foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts as well as fish and healthy fats.
Physical activity can mean going for long walks, riding your bike, gardening, playing pickleball, or regularly participating in any activity you enjoy. Exercise lowers your risk for serious health problems, strengthens and tones your muscles, helps preserve independence, and boosts your mood.
Restorative sleep is similarly vital to your health and wellbeing, as is managing stress. Regular checkups, screening tests, and other preventive health measures are also important.
Over time, these efforts will pay dividends. You’ll be rewarded with more energy, improved mobility, less pain, a brighter outlook, and enhanced physical and mental health.
Related Articles
Women's Health
Should postmenopausal women boost their aerobic exercise time?
Exercise & Fitness
5 tips for getting started with a walking program
Mind & Mood
3 ways to harness positive psychology for a more resilient you
Exercise & Fitness
Tai chi can improve life for people with chronic health conditions
Harvard Health Publishing Staff
The type of fat you eat matters!
Harvard Health Blog
What is the magic sleep number?
Nutrition
Is chocolate really a health food?
Nutrition
What's the scoop on bone soup?
Nutrition
Olive oil consumption linked with slightly lower diabetes risk for women
Mind & Mood
Vigorous exercise may counter cognitive decline in early Alzheimer's
Bladder & Bowel
Frequent nighttime urination
Nutrition
Ask the doctor: Healthy nuts: How much should I eat?
Free Healthbeat Signup
Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!
Sign Up
