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Don't Let Yourself Go in Middle Age: Health Between 45 and 55 Is the Key to Preventing Heart Failure

  • November 29, 2016

If you want to avoid heart failure as you head into your senior years, be sure to stay slim and heart-healthy in your middle-aged years, the Daily Mail reports — and men and women who follow this advice can possibly live 10.6 and 14.9 years longer, respectively.

The truth is age is not the best predictor of your health: It’s actually linked to a number of different factors, including your ability to see contrast in similar color backgrounds, psychological well-being and mobility. When it comes to mobility, even if you’ve let yourself go in middle age, it’s never too late to start with a good diet, exercise program and overall positive outlook on life.

If you’re really out of shape and need to start slowly, begin with a balance program that incorporates gait and toe-touch drills. Start by standing on one leg and work up to squats and posture exercises.

From there — or if you already have a fairly good sense of balance, posture and strength — you can graduate to exercises to strengthen your muscles and bones, as well as high intensity interval training (HIIT). Top it off with an intermittent fasting program, which can improve brain function by boosting production of the protein BDNF, which activates brain stem cells and triggers other chemicals that promote neural health.

And don’t worry: It’s never too late to start weight training. My own mother didn’t start working out until she was 74 years old, and you can too!