Easing into old age starts with making healthy choices right now.

Here are the best ways to give your brain and body a leg up as you age.

Maintain a positive outlook on aging.

You are what youthinkyou are when it comes to aging.

Eat nutrient-rich, whole foods.

Nutrition plays a major role in how your body ages.

One great example is theMediterranean diet, which has been named the Best Overall Diet in 2022 byU.S.

News & World Report for the fifth year in a row.

The Mediterranean diet involves eating fish twice each week and cutting back on excess salt.

Eat until you’re satisfiednot stuffed.

For nutritional recommendations, check out theDietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025for in-depth info, research, and tips.

Exercise regularly.

Staying active is a vital part of aging well.

Socialize and stay connected.

Belonging to a community and staying connected with people you love is a big deal.

Spending time with friends and relatives isn’t just fun, it can help you live longer.

Prioritize sun protection.

Too much time in the sun can cause wrinkles, not to mentionskin cancer.

“Here are the facts,” Dr. Benabio says.

“After a few minutes of sun, your skin stops making vitamin Dand starts making skin cancer.”

Buy a sun hat you love and a pair ofsunglasses with legit UVA and UVB protection.

Get plenty of sleep.

And it turns out that"beauty sleep" isn’t a myth.

“Too many of us treat sleep as a luxury instead of a need,” says Benabio.

“If I could encourage people do make one healthy change, it would be tosleep more.”

2014;104:2425-2431. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2014.302151

Cercato C, Fonseca FA.Cardiovascular risk and obesity.Diabetol Metab Syndr.

2021;18(24):13331. doi:10.3390/ijerph182413331

WHO,Dementia.Date Accessed May 12, 2022.

Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Layton JB.Social relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review.PLoS Med.

2010;7(7):e1000316.