{"id":18719,"date":"2025-09-07T11:00:56","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T15:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/?p=18719"},"modified":"2025-08-27T06:39:41","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T10:39:41","slug":"longevity-expert-and-80-year-old-doctor-reveals-5-habits-to-live-longer-its-never-too-late-to-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/sports\/training\/longevity-expert-and-80-year-old-doctor-reveals-5-habits-to-live-longer-its-never-too-late-to-start-18719\/","title":{"rendered":"Longevity expert and 80-year-old doctor reveals 5 habits to live longer \u2014 \u2018it\u2019s never too late to start\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Living longer and staying healthy is a goal many people share, and <a href=\"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/nutrition\/food\/scientists-say-eating-this-fruit-every-day-could-help-you-live-longer-and-just-a-third-of-a-cup-might-be-enough-17894\/\"><strong>longevity<\/strong><\/a> experts often point to lifestyle as the most powerful factor. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/BF03324800\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Richard W. Besdine<\/a><\/strong>, MD, an 80-year-old doctor and professor of medicine and public health at Brown University, has dedicated his career to studying aging and caring for older adults. Now, he\u2019s sharing the <strong>practical habits that can add years to life and life to years<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>With more than five decades of experience in geriatrics, Dr. Besdine has seen how<strong> simple daily decisions can make a real difference<\/strong>. Despite reaching an age beyond the national life expectancy, he continues to feel strong and active, crediting a handful of key routines that he practices consistently.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_76 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contenido<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/sports\/training\/longevity-expert-and-80-year-old-doctor-reveals-5-habits-to-live-longer-its-never-too-late-to-start-18719\/#What_habits_does_an_80-year-old_longevity_expert_recommend_for_living_longer\" >What habits does an 80-year-old longevity expert recommend for living longer?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/sports\/training\/longevity-expert-and-80-year-old-doctor-reveals-5-habits-to-live-longer-its-never-too-late-to-start-18719\/#1_Follow_a_Mediterranean-style_diet\" >1. Follow a Mediterranean-style diet<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/sports\/training\/longevity-expert-and-80-year-old-doctor-reveals-5-habits-to-live-longer-its-never-too-late-to-start-18719\/#2_Keep_your_body_moving\" >2. Keep your body moving<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/sports\/training\/longevity-expert-and-80-year-old-doctor-reveals-5-habits-to-live-longer-its-never-too-late-to-start-18719\/#3_Stop_smoking_%E2%80%94_or_never_start\" >3. Stop smoking \u2014 or never start<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/sports\/training\/longevity-expert-and-80-year-old-doctor-reveals-5-habits-to-live-longer-its-never-too-late-to-start-18719\/#4_Stay_current_with_medical_checkups\" >4. Stay current with medical checkups<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/sports\/training\/longevity-expert-and-80-year-old-doctor-reveals-5-habits-to-live-longer-its-never-too-late-to-start-18719\/#5_Protect_your_mental_health\" >5. Protect your mental health<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/sports\/training\/longevity-expert-and-80-year-old-doctor-reveals-5-habits-to-live-longer-its-never-too-late-to-start-18719\/#Why_small_lifestyle_changes_make_a_big_difference\" >Why small lifestyle changes make a big difference<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_habits_does_an_80-year-old_longevity_expert_recommend_for_living_longer\"><\/span>What habits does an 80-year-old longevity expert recommend for living longer?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Dr. Besdine highlights <strong>five habits that he believes can extend both lifespan and healthspan<\/strong>, proving that meaningful change is possible at any age.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Follow_a_Mediterranean-style_diet\"><\/span>1. Follow a Mediterranean-style diet<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Nutrition plays a central role in healthy aging. Dr. Besdine emphasizes <strong>a plant-forward Mediterranean diet filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seafood, and extra-virgin olive oil<\/strong>. Unlike restrictive plans, he views it as a sustainable lifestyle that allows for occasional indulgences while limiting processed and fast foods. Fatty fish such as salmon and sardines provide omega-3s that support heart health, and olive oil helps protect against cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Keep_your_body_moving\"><\/span>2. Keep your body moving<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Regular exercise<\/strong> combats some leading causes of premature death, including<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/obr.12781\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">obesity and inactivity<\/a><\/strong>. Dr. Besdine stresses that movement<strong> doesn\u2019t need to be extreme to be effective<\/strong> \u2014 even a daily 30-minute walk can help. He personally plays squash several times a week, but any activity that elevates the heart rate can improve mood, reduce disease risk, and strengthen overall health.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Stop_smoking_%E2%80%94_or_never_start\"><\/span>3. Stop smoking \u2014 or never start<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Few habits are more damaging than smoking. Even minimal use <strong>raises the risk of serious conditions like heart disease, cancer, and lung illness<\/strong>. Quitting, however, quickly brings benefits: the chance of a heart attack drops within a year, and stroke risk begins to normalize within numerous years. Dr. Besdine also <strong>cautions against vaping<\/strong>, pointing to evidence that e-cigarettes damage arteries in ways similar to traditional cigarettes.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Stay_current_with_medical_checkups\"><\/span>4. Stay current with medical checkups<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Preventive care allows doctors to <strong>detect problems early and track health over time<\/strong>. He recommends keeping up with exams and screenings for cholesterol, blood pressure, cancer, and other conditions, depending on personal and family history. These visits are also an opportunity to<strong> review lifestyle choices<\/strong> and mental well-being with a healthcare provider.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Protect_your_mental_health\"><\/span>5. Protect your mental health<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Emotional well-being is just as important as physical health. <strong>Untreated mental illness can shorten life<\/strong> <strong>expectancy<\/strong> significantly, so Dr. Besdine encourages making time for stress relief and connection. Whether through meditation, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/psychology\/emotions-and-mental-health\/this-simple-but-rewarding-hobby-supports-brain-health-and-memory-function-for-women-over-65-18282\/\">hobbies<\/a><\/strong>, or meaningful social interaction, caring for mental health supports both happiness and longevity. Even simple video calls with friends or family can provide an important boost.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_small_lifestyle_changes_make_a_big_difference\"><\/span>Why small lifestyle changes make a big difference<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Dr. Besdine stresses that it\u2019s <strong>never too late to adjust daily habits<\/strong>. He has seen patients of all ages benefit from choosing healthier routines, and he considers himself proof that consistent effort pays off. These five habits aren\u2019t complicated or extreme, but they<strong> can add resilience, energy, and potentially years of life<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Living longer doesn\u2019t just come down to genetics \u2014 it\u2019s largely about how you live each day, and the good news is that change can start right now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Living longer and staying healthy is a goal many people share, and longevity experts often point to lifestyle as the most powerful factor. Richard W. Besdine, MD, an 80-year-old doctor and professor of medicine and public health at Brown University, has dedicated his career to studying aging and caring for older adults. Now, he\u2019s sharing &#8230; <a title=\"Longevity expert and 80-year-old doctor reveals 5 habits to live longer \u2014 \u2018it\u2019s never too late to start\u2019\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/sports\/training\/longevity-expert-and-80-year-old-doctor-reveals-5-habits-to-live-longer-its-never-too-late-to-start-18719\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Longevity expert and 80-year-old doctor reveals 5 habits to live longer \u2014 \u2018it\u2019s never too late to start\u2019\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":18720,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-training"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18719","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18719"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18719\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18723,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18719\/revisions\/18723"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18719"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}