People are living longer than ever thanks to advances in medicine and the growing understanding on how lifestyle choices affect health and longevity. What's even better is that as we get older we are staying healthy longer. After all, no one wants to live an extended lifespan if it means they will be infirm or suffering from dementia during those extra years. Here are a few tips that will improve your health and help you live longer too.

Eat A Healthy Diet

Your diet plays a big role in your health as you age. Many of the chronic diseases people struggle with today can be traced straight back to an unhealthy diet. Eating the wrong foods can contribute to obesity, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, cancer, heart disease, and even dementia. Those diseases can cut your life short and make your final years less fulfilling than they could be. A healthy diet is filled with plenty of nutrient dense raw vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and lean protein. Saturated fat, simple carbohydrates, sugar, and chemical additives should be strictly avoided if you want to live a long healthy life.

Get Plenty Of Exercise

Exercise is vital for longevity. Staying active keeps your body in shape and wards off disease. Experts recommend you get at least thirty minutes of moderate intensity exercise every single day. Doing so will keep your heart strong and your weight under control. Studies indicate that regular exercise may be able to slow down the progression of or stave off diseases like type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Aerobic exercises like swimming, walking briskly or even dancing are fun social activities that stimulate the mind as well as being good for your body.

Eliminate Stress Or Learn How To Control It

Stress can rob you of good health and longevity. There is a link between chronic stress and conditions like cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, migraines, chronic pain, and depression. Remove as many sources of stress from your life as you can. It will not be possible to avoid stress altogether so it is important to learn ways to control it so it does not adversely affect your health. Daily meditation has been beneficial for many people. Yoga, relaxation tapes, and making a determined effort to stay positive may help too. Put your health and your happiness on top priority and do not tolerate stressful situations or stressful people. Eliminate them when you can and replace them with things that bring you peace and joy.

Have Something To Look Forward To

No matter how old you are, setting goals and working towards them is important to a fulfilled life. Too often, seniors retire and suddenly find themselves with nothing to do and rather than beginning new long term projects and keeping an eye on the future, they become inactive mentally and physically. Although your senior years are the time to relax and enjoy life, staying mentally active should remain a top priority.

Keep An Eye On Your Health

Don't put off seeking medical advice when you have troubling health symptoms. The older you get, the higher your risk rises for acquiring various medical conditions. Stick to a schedule of regular physical examinations so you can nip health problems in the bud before they get serious enough to impact your life in a negative way or even shorten it.

Living To Be 100 And Beyond

According to a report published by the UN, by the year 2050 one out of every 5000 people is expected to be over 100 years old. While today centenarians are still considered a novelty, people are quickly gaining the ability to live longer healthier lives. In a few short decades, being 80 years old may still seem fairly young and living to 100 will be much more common.

In order to live to such a ripe old age and stay healthy on your journey there, you must start taking care of yourself now. Eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise. Those two things will help you ward off many diseases that claim lives every day. Maintain a happy outlook on life and never give up hope for a better future.