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Ask HN: What to do to be healthy when old?

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Re: Ask HN: What to do to be healthy when old?

#61

Post by thorin »

p0d wrote: post #19

I am 51 and lost 80lbs over the last two years walking 3 miles everyday. I have a lot of porridge/fruit for breakfast, vegetable curry etc at lunch and dinner can be pretty much anything, including some ice-cream. I drink a lot of coke zero. I think the takeaway is routine. Walk and don't eat a lot of sugar, bread. I generally eat bread once a week in what I call my Scooby Doo sandwich.

That all sounds great, but why would you drink a lot of coke zero, surely that has a lot of crap in it? If you're that dedicated with everything else why not just drink water or tea?

Re: Ask HN: What to do to be healthy when old?

#62

Post by lifeplusplus »

matai_kolila wrote: post #41
lifeplusplus wrote: post #22

Move to higher altitude Marry someone way younger Be religious Walk a lot Fast sometimes or often Be close to parents relationship wise Use moisturizer even in 20s Donate blood or plasma Keep carbs very low Always be learning something mental and something else physical Eat organic Reduce omega-6 (grass fed meat has less of it AND AVOID all vegetable oils)

> Be religious Er, seems like an outlier on this list. I doubt religion, which often suggests causes and effects originating from divinity rather than predictive behavior, will overall result in life extending decisions. Besides, just logically it would seem to be a source of acceptance of your impending death, when perhaps continuing to fight for life may be the superior strategy.

https://time.com/5159848/do-religious-people-live-longer

added sources for other points in the comments as well

Re: Ask HN: What to do to be healthy when old?

#63

Post by lifeplusplus »

jen729w wrote: post #25
lifeplusplus wrote: post #22

Move to higher altitude Marry someone way younger Be religious Walk a lot Fast sometimes or often Be close to parents relationship wise Use moisturizer even in 20s Donate blood or plasma Keep carbs very low Always be learning something mental and something else physical Eat organic Reduce omega-6 (grass fed meat has less of it AND AVOID all vegetable oils)

> Eat organic All this is gonna make you is poorer.

organic food is likely to have less of pesticide like glyphosate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw16LPVnNco

added sources for other points as well in the comments

Re: Ask HN: What to do to be healthy when old?

#64

Post by t0bia_s »

reify wrote: post #51

65 year old, very healthy for my age, apart from the damage to my body as a young man. Your heart is a muscle just like your bicep. Exercise your heart with cardio exercises and it will grow bigger and stronger just like doing weights to increase your muscle size and strength. I used to cycle 15 miles every morning and at 55 years of age I had a resting heart rate of 50 bpm. I have a huge heart both physically and me…

"Avoid the likes of zoom and any digital screen forms of communication. We, as humans, cannot read and engage with another human being through a screen. We miss all the wonders of micro-expressions and bodily expressions in our fellow humans."

I hope more and more people will realize that and reduce screen time for communication with others.

Re: Ask HN: What to do to be healthy when old?

#65

Post by lifeplusplus »

bitxbitxbitcoin wrote: post #27
lifeplusplus wrote: post #22

Move to higher altitude Marry someone way younger Be religious Walk a lot Fast sometimes or often Be close to parents relationship wise Use moisturizer even in 20s Donate blood or plasma Keep carbs very low Always be learning something mental and something else physical Eat organic Reduce omega-6 (grass fed meat has less of it AND AVOID all vegetable oils)

Donating blood and plasma is good for healthspan? This is news to me.

https://news.berkeley.edu/2020/06/15/diluting-blood-plasma-r...

added sources for other points in comments as well

Re: Ask HN: What to do to be healthy when old?

#66

Post by lifeplusplus »

AnimalMuppet wrote: post #36
lifeplusplus wrote: post #22

Move to higher altitude Marry someone way younger Be religious Walk a lot Fast sometimes or often Be close to parents relationship wise Use moisturizer even in 20s Donate blood or plasma Keep carbs very low Always be learning something mental and something else physical Eat organic Reduce omega-6 (grass fed meat has less of it AND AVOID all vegetable oils)

What's the connection between higher altitude and health?

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110325151643.h...

Theories I've heard go from increased red cells to people environment containing fewer unknown chemicals that become concentrated downstream (unknown because even wild animals are becoming obese by getting exposed to something)

added sources for other points in comments as well

Re: Ask HN: What to do to be healthy when old?

#68

Post by oldsklgdfth »

wonnor wrote: post #49
oldsklgdfth wrote: post #33

To get metaphysical, realize that time is a construct of the mind. "You" in your 50s in an entirely different person. The only connection you have with that person is the story in your head. Then the question become "what should you be doing to be healthy now". Make the most of today, everyday.

I don't understand this at all. Do you also think like this about the "future you" that might have to shit themself on the bus ride if you don't go to the bathroom before you leave?

In such a scenario, I wouldn't put much thought into going to the bathroom.

I think of it as setting my future self up for success. Go to bed early, go for groceries, have some food prepared, make plans to do something.

Re: Ask HN: What to do to be healthy when old?

#69

Post by 5bolts »

thorin wrote: post #61
p0d wrote: post #19

I am 51 and lost 80lbs over the last two years walking 3 miles everyday. I have a lot of porridge/fruit for breakfast, vegetable curry etc at lunch and dinner can be pretty much anything, including some ice-cream. I drink a lot of coke zero. I think the takeaway is routine. Walk and don't eat a lot of sugar, bread. I generally eat bread once a week in what I call my Scooby Doo sandwich.

That all sounds great, but why would you drink a lot of coke zero, surely that has a lot of crap in it? If you're that dedicated with everything else why not just drink water or tea?

some people prefer their caffeine cold? Lots of people talk about drinking tons of coffee - but when you watch them make a cup its half dairy and sugar anyway... could be the same with Tea (builders tea for example)

and it could just be their guilty pleasure - better than the "normal" coke

Re: Ask HN: What to do to be healthy when old?

#70

Post by algoatecorn »

Every "thing" you do to improve health has a marginal benefit attached to it.

There is so much crap out there which claims to have a huge impact, but at the end of the day, we have to compare the [cost and time] against marginal benefit.

The following provide the greatest marginal benefit:

1. Body-weight: this is going to have downstream impacts on cardiovascular function and sleep, so I'll go ahead and claim this is probably the most impactful variable. Simply being a healthy body-weight has an ENORMOUS positive impact on overall health. Likelihood of cancer and other non-communicable disease are tightly linked with bodyweight.

2. Diet: tied to bodyweight, sleep, and cardiovascular function as well. Diet is not complicated, at least in terms of gaining a large marginal benefit. Sure, you can optimize, but rigid fad diets are often a sham and will rob you of liberty, time, and money. Just eat a recommended diet of mostly whole foods. Keto, carnivore, low carb, low fat... it's all just product differentiation. Maybe one is better than another, but what is the marginal benefit of giving up the liberty of what you put in your stomach?

3. Sleep: Practice good sleep hygiene. Get as much as you need. Don't lay in bed unless you're actually sleeping. Get out of bed immediately upon waking up.

4. Exercise: for longevity, focus on moderate cardiovascular function. Overdoing it can be as bad as none. Strength training is important as well. Grip strength is a leading indicator of whether or not an elderly person will recover from a fall.

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