Photo Credit: ShutterstockImproving longevity is Haute Beauty expert  Dr. Deepa Verma’s ultimate goal as an integrative/anti-aging MD. As she would say, “biohacking the aging process.” Even though in this day and age, we live longer, the quality of life is substandard. What’s the point of living to 100 years if the last 30 years of your life are lived in pain and misery? We spend most of our youthful years living an unhealthy life because we feel we are resilient and invincible, but little do most people know that decline in health can start as early as the late 20s. And while it seems bleak and somber to think of your life going downhill after just 3 decades, it is a reality for many.

If we can be more mindful of taking care of our health, we can enjoy life to its fullest. We work at jobs most of us are unhappy with, where stress becomes so overwhelming that it causes extensive mental and physical imbalances. Anxiety, depression, obesity, adrenal fatigue, leaky gut and hormone imbalance are just the tip of the iceberg. This fuels a vicious cycle where poor diet and lack of sleep and a sedentary lifestyle come into play. We find ourselves sinking in quicksand figuratively, losing all hope of climbing out of the quagmire we got ourselves into.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

We work hard to make money to enjoy life and its pleasures, but down the road, we spend most of our money trying to repair our health sadly. We live in a fractured healthcare system that is reactive, not proactive or preventative. People rely on pharmaceuticals as a cure, not fully understanding how toxic the long-term side effects can be.

Learn how to age optimally and embrace aging gracefully. That is the first step. Follow my 4 pillars of a healthy lifestyle. It may seem too simple, but it’s unbelievable how many people cannot adhere to it. A clean diet, exercise, restorative sleep, and stress reduction are the keys to creating a solid foundation. Here’s what you can do:

• Play brain games
• Practice gratitude
• Follow a more plant-based diet
• Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep
• Stay active
• Get in-depth labs
• Take physician-regulated nutraceuticals instead of relying upon pharmaceuticals
• Practice intermittent fasting

To sustain longevity, you must evolve and think outside the box. Don’t follow the masses. Strive to be healthy and happy and awesome.