Staying Healthy Archive

Even if you've been sedentary for many years, a slow and steady incremental approach can help you reach your workout goals.

Some people count the time since their last workout in hours or days. But you may count yours in years, maybe even decades. You know you need to start exercising to improve or maintain your health. But it's been so long, where do you even start?

The first thing you should know is it's not too late, says Dr. Beth Frates, an assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School and director of wellness programming for the Stroke Research and Recovery Institute at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Exercise can benefit almost everyone, regardless of age or health status. Provided you get your doctor's okay, you can start now.

Research we're watching

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Pictures may be more effective than words in helping consumers make healthier choices. A new study, published online June 18 by Psychological Science, found that using warning labels that included photos to outline the health risks of sugary drinks appeared to be more effective than written warnings in encouraging people to choose healthier drinks.

Researchers tested two different types of warnings for sugary beverages: warnings with photos and text, and text-only warnings. The warnings were placed near bottled and fountain drinks in a cafeteria at a Massachusetts hospital at different times. During the study period, there were more than 20,000 drinks sold.

Research we're watching

Wondering if that herb or herbal supplement is safe and effective? A new app can tell you. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has introduced a new app called HerbList, which provides research-based information on various herbal products.

The app, which is available free on the Apple App store and Google Play store, is designed to give consumers important details on the safety and effectiveness of some of the most popular herbs and herbal supplements. While marketers may claim these products bring health benefits and are safe, that might not always be the case. This app can help you sort through the claims to determine what's real — and what's not.

You're probably already doing a lot to ensure that you stay in good health and are able to enjoy your later years: eating right, exercising, getting checkups and screenings as recommended by your doctor. But it also makes sense to have some contingency plans for the bumps in the road that might occur.

1. Adapt your home. Stairs, baths, and kitchens can present hazards for older people. Even if you don't need to make changes now, do an annual safety review so you can make necessary updates if your needs change.
2. Prevent falls. Falls are a big deal for older people — they often result in fractures that can lead to disability, further health problems, or even death. Safety precautions are important, but so are exercises that can improve balance and strength.
3. Consider your housing options. You might consider investigating naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs). These neighborhoods and housing complexes aren't developed specifically to serve seniors — and, in fact, tend to host a mix of ages — but because they have plenty of coordinated care and support available, they are senior-friendly.
4. Think ahead about how to get the help you may need. Meal preparation, transportation, home repair, housecleaning, and help with financial tasks such as paying bills might be hired out if you can afford it, or shared among friends and family. Elder services offered in your community might be another option.
5. Plan for emergencies. Who would you call in an emergency? Is there someone who can check in on you regularly? What would you do if you fell and couldn't reach the phone? Keep emergency numbers near each phone or on speed dial. Carry a cellphone (preferably with large buttons and a bright screen), or consider investing in some type of personal alarm system.
6. Write advance care directives. Advance care directives, such as a living will, durable power of attorney for health care, and health care proxy, allow you to explain the type of medical care you want if you're too sick, confused, or injured to voice your wishes. Every adult should have these documents.

To learn more ways to enjoy independence and good health in your senior years, buy Living Better, Living Longer, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.

ARCHIVED CONTENT: As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date each article was posted or last reviewed. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. 

Q. I have started noticing more coconut oil at the grocery store and have heard it is better for you than a lot of other oils. Is that true?

Of course, observing safe driving habits is a common-sense practice that can help you avoid injury, but these driving guidelines can help protect your brain as well.

News briefs

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What's the secret to living longer? A Harvard study published online April 30, 2018, by Circulation suggests that it may come down to five healthy habits: eating a healthy diet, exercising daily, keeping a healthy body weight, drinking alcohol only in moderation, and not smoking. Researchers combed through information from two large studies that tracked more than 123,000 men and women for about three decades. Scientists estimated that life expectancy for study participants (at age 50) was 79 for women and 75 for men, if they didn't maintain healthy habits. But if they adopted all five habits, life expectancy at age 50 jumped to 93 for women and 87 for men. And following even one healthy habit was associated with a lower risk for dying young. The study is only observational and doesn't prove that healthy habits extend your life. But the findings build on similar research. "It's never too late to make positive lifestyle changes. Even for those who are 70 or older, following a healthy lifestyle such as eating a healthy diet and being physically active can add more years to life," says Dr. Frank Hu, senior author of the study and chair of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables can go a long way to protecting against heart disease and cancer.

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We've been told the importance of eating fruits and vegetables ever since childhood, and yet we still tend to ignore this nutritional advice. In fact, a CDC survey found that only 18% of adults eat the recommended five daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

"The main reason older men have trouble reaching this amount is lack of awareness," says Vasanti Malik, a research scientist in the Department of Nutrition of Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "They are not always engaged in their nutrition or aware of the impact fruits and vegetables can have on their health."