Even if you want to live as long as humanly possible, it’s not easy to commit to a drastic lifestyle overhaul. Completely giving up sweets and getting five servings of vegetables a day just isn’t realistic for everyone, no matter how badly you want to live past 100.
Here’s some good news: That’s OK, according to Dr. Amanda Kahn, a board-certified internist and longevity specialist in New York who founded a concierge longevity practice. You don’t need to give up all of your favorite foods to help you live longer, she said. “Longevity isn’t about strict restriction. It’s about micro-optimizations practiced daily. Small, consistent swaps can have a profound effect on longevity,” she explained.
Moreover, people are more likely to stick to small swaps than seismic shifts, explained Dr. Florence Comite, founder of the Comite Center for Precision Medicine and Healthy Longevity in New York and author of the forthcoming book “Invincible: Defy Your Genetic Destiny to Live Better, Longer.” “The reason most diets or other attempts to improve health fail is because sacrifice is unnatural and, frankly, hard,” she explained.
“Small swaps don’t seem so daunting. And if they happen to be very tasty too, you’re more likely to adopt them,” she said.
