Looking after Your Body

Aging well used to mean "choosing your parents wisely." Not anymore. The results of a major nationwide study reveal that your lifestyle -- more than your genes -- determines your health as you get older, and that most "age-related" health problems are entirely preventable. That's great news -- if you take the right steps now to protect yourself from illness and pave the way to a long, enjoyable life. What's the trick to slowing the clock? It's the little things you do every day. For instance, simply taking a daily multivitamin can help boost your immune system, counter depression, and lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. And a mere 20 minutes of exercise a day can mean the difference between developing a chronic disease like diabetes or avoiding it. Researchers have also discovered that people with strong social ties live longer and get sick less often.Reader's Digest Editors is the author of 'Looking after Your Body' with ISBN 9780762103027 and ISBN 0762103027.