In her newest book, Living the Good Long Life, Martha Stewart aims to help ‘baby boomers’ (and everyone coming behind them) to stay healthy as we age.
“When you were a child, you didn’t have to schedule exercise,” she explains. “You just ran outside to play.”
Regardless of what we played as youngsters, we experienced the benefits of exercise – muscles grew stronger, lungs became sturdier and creativity was stimulated.
But she says people lose that.
“Today’s schedules are busier. We have to push ourselves to be active, or it’s too easy for life to get in the way.
“As soon as people start figuring out that they want to live a long time, it’s time to develop a program so you will live long, and live better. That’s what it’s all about,” she says.
Experts say that even if you’ve been sedentary most of your adulthood, it’s not too late to start. Cardiologists suggest that if you are fit in midlife, you double your chances of living to 85 or older.
“Arteries have walls that contain muscles, so they can dilate or constrict,” explains Dr Jana Klauer, a New York–based physician specialising in nutrition and metabolism. “When you exercise, you strengthen those muscles so they can dilate to allow more blood flow. That means the heart can pump more efficiently.”
Exercise also keeps your lungs healthier, counteracting the diminishment of respiratory capacity that often comes with age, and reduces the risk factors for chronic conditions that can shorten the life span: high blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol.
“Exercise is an especially effective way to improve health and extend healthy longevity,” Dr Klauer adds. “There’s no better medicine I can prescribe!”
Martha Stewart gives three habits she believes are key to a healthy lifestyle and ageing well.
1. Work out
“I have a full gym at home and I work out religiously,” she says. She tries to work out 5-7 times a week as well as have regular yoga sessions. She says she also likes to stay active in holidays. “I’d rather be catching lobsters, cooking them for dinner, fishing, hiking, swimming or paddle boarding than lazing by a pool.”
2. De-stress with distractions
“I’m not good at de-stressing but there are things I do that distract me from business.” She says it’s important to find what they are for you and give yourself time to be distracted.
3. Learn every day
Martha Stewart says she likes to keep her mind engaged and one of the best ways to do this is to constantly change your routine, to work on something you care about and to learn something new every day. “I think people age quickly the minute they stop doing things they’re interested in.”
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Martha Stewart’s book is available from Amazon.
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