The food most of us eat could be slowly killing us. The Western diet, laden with sugary processed foods and red meats, is one of the top reasons the American life span had declined  in recent years. This type of diet raises our risk for overall death as well death from heart disease and cancer. 

That said, there’s good news if you’re still eating a Western-style diet: Switching to a Mediterranean-style diet, which involves adding:

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What we eat profoundly influences how long and how well we live. 

Hi, I’m Dr. Michael Roizen, chief wellness officer emeritus of the Cleveland Clinic and author of The Great Age Reboot. I’ve launched an app called the RebootYour Age app, designed to help you live better, longer!

If you smoke, you already know it’s dangerous. It’s the leading cause of preventable disease and contributes to one of every five deaths in the United States every year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The real discussion is about quitting. About 70 percent of smokers would like to quit. 

Why Do People Smoke?

About 90 percent of smoking adults began during adolescence. But there are distinct differences among the genders regarding their smoking habits. 

Getting consistent, good quality sleep is crucial for your health. Sleep deprivation raises your risk for:

What's the best exercise for stroke victims? Patients may have a new tool to help them recover from the debilitating effects of a stroke: seated Tai chi. A new study has demonstrated the ancient Chinese martial art is a beneficial form of rehab.

The eyes are the windows to the soul, but they’re also the windows to our health. While most Americans fear losing their vision more than other serious ailments like cancer, stroke and heart disease, they know a lot less about eye health than they think they do, according to a 2020 Harris Poll. Ironically, this lack of knowledge puts them at risk for vision loss. 

When it comes to our life spans, stress plays an important role. Believe it or not, our reactions to stress are designed to help us survive – it’s part of our “fight or flight” response. When we experience acute stress, a threat to our health, our body does all sorts of good things to help us get away from that danger or deal with it.

MDVIP’s Chief Medical Officer Andrea Klemes, DO, plays a game of This or That with longevity pioneer and best-selling author Michael Roizen, MD, on what he prefers to promote longevity.

Sleep deprivation is a widespread problem that many Americans face. Disordered sleep, whether it be driven by:

• A health issue
• Work conditions
• Lifestyle

Poor sleep leads to fatigue and raises your risk for injuries. Sleep deprivation is also linked with many chronic illnesses including:

You can also boost your life span with something you probably haven’t thought of – optimism. A growing body of research links higher levels of optimism with a longer lifespan.
 
Yes, as you go through life, you’ll endure trials and tribulations that affect your outlook and potentially dim your positivity, including issues such as:

• Poor health
• Environmental conditions
• Socioeconomic issues