What Are Your Unhealthy Habits?

Staying Healthy as you Age

Most of you who follow me or read my articles know that I spend a lot of time talking about how to get healthier as we age, to be better than we were 5 years ago, to realize that what you do right now, prepares you for the life you lead in 5 years.

So found this on Quora (https://www.quora.com/). If you don't know Quora.com you need to check it out. A great way to get updates and learn new things based on the interest profile you set up. My interest include, among other things, health and exercise. Quora is simply people asking questions and getting back answers from some very knowledgeable and experienced people.

This week a question showed up..."What are some of the unhealthiest habits after 50?" The question was answered by Dr. Gary Epler, known as America's Health Doctor. (Here is Gary's web site ..https://garyepler.com). I was somewhat surprised by the response and also grateful for the thoughtfulness of his answers. Wanted to share this with you.

We are all either busy living or dying...going forward or backward...there is no stasis in life. So take this to heart and lets all get busy going forward!

Gary's answer below.

Here’s my list of the unhealthiest habits after 50:

1.     They have a low happiness level of 6 or less on a scale of 1 to 10. No one wants to be around unhappy people, especially people that can help. A high level of happiness can be sustained by learning to be content with the current situation, especially during troubling times after 50. Experience moment by moment by not thinking about the negative problems of the past or the fears of the future.

2.     They have no meaning in life outside of themselves. They only take. They need to give. Give their energy. Give their time. Give their help.

3.     They have negative destructive social communication, which means they respond to other people’s positive comments with one ups, put downs and purposely destructive comments.

4.     They eat foods that cause inflammation. There are 3 of them. Foods with added sugar. Foods with added salt. Foods with processed omega-6 fats.

5.     They’re not grateful. They’re self-centered and self-important.

6.     They have no self-compassion. Instead of being kind to themselves during troubling times, they attack themselves for making a mistake or not being smart enough.

7.     They are not being their true selves. They blame, criticize, make excuse and complain instead of taking responsibility for all of their actions..

8.     Financially, they spend more money than they make.

9.     They have chronic stress from problems with money, work or relationships. Chronic stress results in cortisol release and inflammation causing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes and cancer.

10.  They don’t live a mindful life which means they don’t learn how their brain and mind respond to their physical activities and their emotions. Learn these responses for improved posture, improved eating and managing anger, fear, worry and anxiety. They only think about their problems of the past and their fears of the future instead of living moment by moment enjoying the good and dealing with the bad during the ebb and flow of the day.

Gary R. Epler, M.D.