Healthy Retirement Tips
Follow these basic steps to reduce your risk of developing a wide range of deadly conditions or to keep a chronic disease in check. The benefit: a longer and healthier life.
Diet : Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish, and low-fat or no-fat dairy. Easy on the sugars and saturated and trans fats. Consult with your doctor on vitamins and other supplements.
Exercise : Engage in a physical activity most days for 30 minutes. It could be walking, raking leaves, or more vigorous exercise. Add strength and flexibility exercises into your routine.
Smoking : Don't, and if you do, quit.
Stress : Manage or reduce it with exercise, stretching, relaxation, breathing, medication, or other stress-control techniques.
Checkups: Regular doctor visits and tests, from those for cholesterol to cancer screenings, help find diseases or problems early and make them easier to treat.
This story appears in the June 13, 2005 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.