How long you live is determined by a multitude of factors. Some are beyond our control such as genetics, illnesses and injury.
However, others are lifestyle habits including our diet and how often we exercise. These play a huge role in both our overall health and our heart health.
This is of particular concern to many experts and health bodies due to the fact that cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death globally. It also accounts for a quarter of all fatalities in the UK.
With this in mind, a cardiologist revealed three things he does to boost life expectancy.
Speaking on social media platform TikTok, Doctor Mohammed Alo from the US advised the following:
- Maintaining your ideal body weight
- Eating a Mediterranean diet
- Choosing a physical activity you will stick to.
Maintain your ideal body weight
Obesity and being overweight is known to be a major risk factor for many health issues, including heart disease.
Dr Alo said: “Number one, try to get as close to your ideal body weight as humanly possible.”
The NHS warns: “Obesity is a serious health concern that increases the risk of many other health conditions.
“These include: type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, some types of cancer, such as breast cancer and bowel cancer, and stroke.
“Living with overweight and obesity can also affect your quality of life and contribute to mental health problems, such as depression, and can also affect self-esteem.”
If you are concerned about your weight you should speak to your GP.
Follow a Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet has long been hailed as the benchmark of a healthy diet.
“Number two, try to eat as close to a Mediterranean style diet as humanly possible,” Dr Alo said.
This means eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains and healthy fats such as olive oil.
It does not include lots of processed foods, sugary foods or saturated fats.
The British Heart Foundation says: “Research into this style of eating has shown a reduced risk of developing problems such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and raised cholesterol, which are all risk factors for heart disease.
“Researchers have also found that people who closely follow a Mediterranean diet are more likely to live a longer life and are less likely to become obese.”
Regularly do a physical activity
To ensure you regularly exercise Dr Alo advised finding a physical activity you enjoy.
He said: “Choose an activity of some sort that you like to do that you can see yourself doing forever and try to do that as often as humanly possible.”
He added: “Those are the three things that scientifically have been shown to help you live longer, happier and healthier.”
According to the NHS, regular exercise will make your heart and blood circulatory system more efficient, lower your cholesterol level, and also keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.
“Any aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming and dancing, makes your heart work harder and keeps it healthy,” it says.
