Your body will take you through all the stages of your life. Like a properly maintained machine, your body will work more efficiently when it’s well taken care of. An additional bonus is that you’ll feel better both physically and mentally when you take good care of yourself.

There are a broad range of actions and activities that best serve us when it comes to living a healthy life and preventing illness.

In fact, we may already know much of what we should do.

• Eat well. Build a healthy, balanced diet around plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid fried, fatty, sugary/salty and fast foods, however convenient they may be.
• Maintain a healthy weight, which will lower your risk of developing heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and many types of cancer. Be aware that as we age, our metabolism changes, and we need to exercise more and eat less or the pounds can quickly add up.
• Keep your immunizations up to date, make sure to see your doctor(s) regularly and have an annual physical.
• Remember to get eight hours of sleep a night, which contributes to overall health and well-being and strengthens your immune system. To that end, avoid caffeine after 12 p.m., try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day and take a warm bath or try meditation as a way to relax before bed.
• Get more exercise, which has been shown to positively affect every aspect of health and mood. Being sedentary is now considered “the new smoking” because it is equally bad for your health. But the good news is that every minute counts when it comes to movement.
• Try to get in different types of movement, with a minimum of 150 minutes (two and a half hours) of exercise a week: aerobic exercise for cardiac health, strength training to build muscle strength and bone health and walking for general health and mobility. Start slowly if you’re new to an exercise program to build up strength over time without injuries. Stay hydrated and listen to your body — if you’re in pain, pull back.
• Avoid tobacco, vape products, alcohol and drugs. Did you know that all forms of alcohol (even red wine, which is touted as healthy) are classified as carcinogens? Remember that moderation is key in all things.

Easier said than done? Find ways to incentivize your health. Reward yourself with a smoothie for a good workout or a long walk. Before you know it, you will form good habits and find yourself wanting that avocado toast for breakfast and yearning to stretch and move or meditate. Big changes can be built on small steps. Find your way to a healthier you!