
Respiratory health harms often follow flooding: Taking these steps can help

Tips to leverage neuroplasticity to maintain cognitive fitness as you age

Can white noise really help you sleep better?

Celiac disease: Exploring four myths

What is prostatitis and how is it treated?

What is Cushing syndrome?

Exercises to relieve joint pain

Think your child has ADHD? What your pediatrician can do

Foam roller: Could you benefit from this massage tool?

Stepping up activity if winter slowed you down
Staying Healthy
Achieving and maintaining good health means adopting healthy lifestyle habits, from consuming nutritious foods and getting regular physical activity to prioritizing sleep and reducing stress.
Dietary patterns that are most closely linked to a longer, healthier life tend to focus on unprocessed or minimally processed foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts as well as fish and healthy fats.
Physical activity can mean going for long walks, riding your bike, gardening, playing pickleball, or regularly participating in any activity you enjoy. Exercise lowers your risk for serious health problems, strengthens and tones your muscles, helps preserve independence, and boosts your mood.
Restorative sleep is similarly vital to your health and wellbeing, as is managing stress. Regular checkups, screening tests, and other preventive health measures are also important.
Over time, these efforts will pay dividends. You’ll be rewarded with more energy, improved mobility, less pain, a brighter outlook, and enhanced physical and mental health.
Related Articles

Staying Healthy
Mediterranean diet beats low-fat diet for long-term weight loss
Heart Health
Caffeine unlikely to trigger palpitations in healthy people

Staying Healthy
What's new in nutritional guidelines?

Staying Healthy
Are artificial sweeteners safe?
Skin and Hair
The best ways to treat spider veins

Heart Health
Put your heart in the right place

Nutrition
High-dose vitamin D may not lower risk of falls

Nutrition
Why Harvard experts have a beef with the new meat guidelines
Sleep
How can I tell if I'm sleeping enough?

Staying Healthy
Why dietary supplements are suspect

Exercise & Fitness
New survey reveals the rapid rise of yoga — and why some people still haven’t tried it

Harvard Health Blog
Neuroscience can help you live a healthier life
Free Healthbeat Signup
Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!
Sign Up