September is Healthy Aging Month, a month where aging individuals are encouraged to make healthy choices and positive lifestyle changes to help improve their overall health. That’s why, in this blog post, we’re outlining three simple habits you can work into your everyday routine to increase your mood, longevity and overall quality of life as you age: 
- Choose the right foods for a healthy diet
As we age, our worn down taste buds and low energy levels may cause us to lose our appetites. In order to make eating more enjoyable, it’s necessary to maintain a regular meal schedule and include a lot of nutrient-dense foods, such fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Try to substitute your intake of cholesterol, processed sugar and salt with healthy fats such as olive oil, salmon and raw nuts. Eating these healthier foods will help improve your digestion, boost your metabolism and stimulate your memory and brain function.
- Exercise regularly
It is important to incorporate moderate aerobic activity into your daily routine to increase your lifespan, reduce stress and prevent against the onset of harmful diseases, including type-2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. Even if it’s just a 5-minute walk down the road, regular exercise can help strengthen your heart and lungs and improve your overall health.
- Think Positively
Even if we try to eat right and exercise regularly, we won’t see the benefits of healthy living if we let stress and negative emotions take over. Many physical ailments, such as heart disease, arthritis and cancer, are caused by perpetual stress and emotional trauma.
To avoid these chronic and sometimes life threatening conditions, try incorporating daily meditation, social interaction or prayer into your everyday routine. These practices will help center your mind and promote emotional wellness as you age.
Have other healthy aging tips? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!