{"id":147804,"date":"2025-05-21T14:00:46","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T18:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/?p=147804"},"modified":"2025-09-16T16:49:04","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T20:49:04","slug":"the-cost-of-health-optimization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/the-cost-of-health-optimization","title":{"rendered":"The True Cost of \u201cOptimal\u201d Health"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>\u201cI want to know I\u2019m doing absolutely everything I can to preserve my health for as long as possible.\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>We hear this kind of thing a lot.<\/p>\n<p>People tell us they not only want to stay in good shape as they age, they also want to outlive their peers and age expectancies.<\/p>\n<p>Imagine you could maximize your healthspan and lifespan, fend off disease, and generally remain fit, lean, and youthful into your 90\u2019s, 100\u2019s, and then some.<\/p>\n<p>Sounds pretty compelling, doesn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s just one problem: <strong>Common longevity advice seems to involve an extraordinary amount of effort. And time. And money. And complexity. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Is all the effort necessary? Is it worth it?<\/p>\n<p>And, will it even work?<\/p>\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll explore:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li><a href=\"#myths\">The biggest myths\u2014and realities\u2014about optimizing your health<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#costs\">The real costs and tradeoffs of \u201coptimizing\u201d your health<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#whats-required\">What\u2019s <em>actually<\/em> required to improve your healthspan and lifespan<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#enjoying-life\">Why enjoying your life isn&#8217;t separate from good health; it&#8217;s part of it<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And, we\u2019ll help you weigh the pros and cons so you can make informed decisions about your health, your body, and your life.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"myths\">The myths\u2014and realities\u2014of \u201coptimizing\u201d your health<\/h2>\n<p>Health and longevity advice is everywhere these days: podcasts, books, social media, that guy at the gym\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Plus, influential \u201cfigureheads\u201d have given the movement outsized attention. Think: popular podcasters and health experts Dr. Peter Attia, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and Dr. Rhonda Patrick, and biohacker Bryan Johnson.<\/p>\n<p>We understand the appeal of this kind of content. Who doesn\u2019t want a longer, healthier life? (Not to mention the comforting sense of control that can come from designing and executing a \u201cperfect\u201d health plan.)<\/p>\n<p>But for us at PN, where we\u2019ve collectively coached hundreds of thousands of people with real human lives, we know that \u201coptimal\u201d is rarely realistic.<\/p>\n<p>Not only that, <em>optimal isn\u2019t necessary<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Making modest, relatively consistent efforts towards health and well-being will likely give you better results than following an intense, highly \u201coptimized\u201d protocol. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If that sounds hard to believe, we get it. So let\u2019s explore that bold statement, starting with the biggest myths surrounding longevity and health optimization.<\/p>\n<h3>Myth: The \u201cbasics\u201d aren\u2019t enough.<\/h3>\n<p>There\u2019s an idea that getting and staying healthy must require a set of complex, \u201ccutting edge\u201d strategies\u2014especially if your goal is to outlive the average American.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In reality, the \u201cbasics\u201d work really, <em>really<\/em> well.<\/strong> (These are things like exercising regularly; eating a nutrient-rich diet; getting adequate sleep; managing stress; and staying socially connected. We\u2019ll discuss these more later.)<\/p>\n<p>Only, very few people <em>do<\/em> the basics consistently.<\/p>\n<p>The real reason more people aren\u2019t living as long, or as well, as they could be <em>isn\u2019t <\/em>because they\u2019re not taking ice baths or getting vitamin C infusions\u2026<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s because they\u2019re not doing the (relatively) simple stuff, consistently.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you\u2019re really, truly doing a well-rounded set of health-promoting behaviors with 80-90 percent consistency, you\u2019re probably already close to peak optimization.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Myth: More is better<\/h3>\n<p>If a handful of basic behaviors get results, then doing them <em>perfectly<\/em> and <em>as much as possible<\/em> will help you get, and stay, even healthier\u2014right?<\/p>\n<p>Not so fast. There\u2019s a law of diminishing returns when it comes to health and fitness efforts.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147912\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/07\/effortlongevitygraph_r2.png\" alt=\"Graph shows that with small amounts of health effort, longevity can improve a lot, but as those efforts increase, longevity benefits plateau\" width=\"1024\" height=\"892\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Plus, in our experience, doing too many things or adding in too much complexity to your health and fitness regime can:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li><strong>Add risk factors <\/strong>that could actually make your health and fitness worse (such as chronic injuries or burnout due to overtraining, and\/or nutrient deficiencies or disordered eating due to an over-preoccupation with &#8220;clean&#8221; or restrictive eating).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Make it harder for you to sustain good habits. <\/strong>People who take on too much are more likely to burn out. Research shows people who try to accomplish multiple goals are <em>less committed <\/em>and <em>less likely to succeed<\/em> than those focused on a single goal.<sup>1<\/sup><\/li>\n<li><strong>Make your life less enjoyable, which in turn compromises health.<\/strong> Striving to maximize physical health can interfere with mental, emotional, and social well-being, which plays an essential role in healthspan and lifespan. (One study showed people with high levels of happiness and life satisfaction lived up to 10 years longer than people with low levels.<sup>2<\/sup>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And what\u2019s the point of living longer if you\u2019re not living a full, well-rounded, <em>enjoyable<\/em> life? While some effort is definitely important, past a certain point, more isn\u2019t <em>necessarily<\/em> better.<\/p>\n<h3>Myth: Cutting-edge strategies offer significant benefits.<\/h3>\n<p>Let\u2019s say you <em>could<\/em> put all those advanced, complex strategies into action without sacrificing consistency or life enjoyment, or compromising your overall well-being.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019d have to pay off, wouldn\u2019t they?<\/p>\n<p>Not necessarily.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Much of the research on longevity optimization (so far) is either in mice, is observational, is theoretical, or has been tested on very small numbers of people for very short periods of time. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In fact, many of the fringe methods and supplements touted by influencers or biohackers are not only unproven but even potentially unsafe.<sup>3 4 5 6<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Point being: Put your efforts towards foundational health behaviors with proven track records (the kind we\u2019ll cover in this article) before you invest in fringe efforts.<\/p>\n<h3>Myth: It\u2019s all or nothing.<\/h3>\n<p>You might think, \u201cWell, I\u2019m not getting out of bed at 5 a.m. five times a week to go running for 60 to 90 minutes to optimize my VO\u2082 max, so I may as well just accept I\u2019m not going to be a healthy person.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Some folks feel overwhelmed by the idea of optimizing their health, so they figure they might as well do nothing.<\/p>\n<p>However, <strong>our internal data shows that you can be far from \u201cperfect\u201d to get results.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In our year long PN Coaching program, even clients who practiced their (basic) habits <em>less than half <\/em>of the time got measurable results.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147907\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/10-49-percent-client-consistency.png\" alt=\"10-49% consistency gets results; ALT TEXT: Graph shows men and women with 10 to 49 percent consistency still lost 11 pounds, 8 to 11 inches in girths, and 2 to 3 inches from waist\" width=\"900\" height=\"424\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/10-49-percent-client-consistency.png 900w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/10-49-percent-client-consistency-300x141.png 300w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/10-49-percent-client-consistency-768x362.png 768w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/10-49-percent-client-consistency-94x44.png 94w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/10-49-percent-client-consistency-295x139.png 295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>(Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/body-transformation-research\">Nearly 1 million data points show what it REALLY takes to lose fat, get healthy, and change your body<\/a>)<\/p>\n<h3>Don\u2019t let optimization culture convince you great health is beyond your capabilities.<\/h3>\n<p>Instead, we encourage you to\u2026<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li><strong>Consider your options. <\/strong>Review the facts, and get a clear understanding of which behaviors are most likely to give you the best bang for your buck.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Get clear on the tradeoffs.<\/strong> Decide which things you are, and aren\u2019t willing to commit to.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Make decisions that align with your goals.<\/strong> Including what kind of lifestyle you want, and how you want to spend your time and dollars.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Keep reading and we\u2019ll guide you through it.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"costs\">The benefits\u2014and tradeoffs\u2014of a healthy lifestyle<\/h2>\n<p>Putting effort towards your health is great. But efforts come with tradeoffs.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a look at both the efforts, and the tradeoffs, to achieve the health you want for yourself.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147908\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/07\/cost-of-optimization-continuum-r2.png\" alt=\"Large image shows six categories of health levels: coasting, light effort, medium, high, very high, and extreme. The medium and high categories offer the best \u201creturn on investment\u201d in terms of effort and sacrifice versus overall health benefits.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"4495\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"longevity-cta\">\n<h2>Take The Longevity Assessment<\/h2>\n<p>How do <em>your<\/em> health and longevity efforts stack up? What can you do to make the biggest difference? Take The Longevity Assessment and find out! To begin, simply click &#8220;Get started&#8221; below.<\/p>\n<div class=\"longevity-box\">\n<p style=\"padding-bottom: 10px;\"><a style=\"display: block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/longevity-assessment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/08\/longevity-assessment.jpg\" alt=\"Longevity Assessment\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; padding-bottom: 5px;\"><a class=\"read_more button_blue\" href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/longevity-assessment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get started<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"cta-copyright\">\u00a9 Precision Nutrition<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"whats-required\">A deeper look: The most effective health behaviors (and their optimal dose)<\/h2>\n<p>If you want to reduce your risk of chronic disease, and generally stay healthier for longer, what should you do?<\/p>\n<p>As we said earlier, the issue isn\u2019t that we need some highly detailed, cutting-edge protocol. The basics work. The issue is that most people don\u2019t do them.<\/p>\n<p>For example, as shown in the image below, most people don\u2019t get enough fruits and veggies, sleep, or exercise. And the number of people who do all these things on a regular basis (while also avoiding tobacco and minimizing alcohol) is extremely low: likely a fraction of a percent.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147915\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/FundamentalHealthBehaviors_v4.png\" alt=\"Graph shows only 10 percent of people eat 5 servings of fruits and veggies daily; 15 percent sleep 7 to 9 hours a night\u2019 24 percent get recommended weekly aerobic and resistance exercise; 71 percent drink moderately or less; and 89 percent don\u2019t smoke\" width=\"1024\" height=\"826\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/FundamentalHealthBehaviors_v4.png 1024w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/FundamentalHealthBehaviors_v4-300x242.png 300w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/FundamentalHealthBehaviors_v4-768x620.png 768w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/FundamentalHealthBehaviors_v4-94x76.png 94w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/FundamentalHealthBehaviors_v4-295x238.png 295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Finally, let\u2019s take a closer look at what these basics are, and the \u201csweet spot\u201d of effort versus reward.<\/p>\n<h3>Foundational Health Behavior #1: Exercise regularly<\/h3>\n<p>All health experts agree: Moving your body is important.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, exercise will help you stay lean, and improve mood, energy, and function, but it will also help you stay alive (and healthier) for longer.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, a study of Harvard alumni found that <em>any<\/em> amount of physical activity reduces the risk of death from any cause. <strong>Exercise extended lifespan regardless of body weight, blood pressure, smoking habits, or genetic predisposition.<\/strong><sup>7<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Another study of 272,550 older adults found engaging in even low amounts of physical activity significantly decreased risk of death from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and all causes.<sup>8<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Specifically, steep risk declines happened when accumulating at least 7.5 MET-hours* of activity per week. The greatest increase in benefits came from achieving 7.5 to 15 MET hours. Increasing activity beyond that further decreases risk, but at a continually lower rate, as the graph below shows.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147917\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/MET_Graph.png\" alt=\"Graph show that cancer mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality all decrease as exercise increases, with the greatest increase in benefits from achieving 7.5 to 15 MET hours of exercise per week\" width=\"1024\" height=\"547\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/MET_Graph.png 1024w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/MET_Graph-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/MET_Graph-768x410.png 768w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/MET_Graph-94x50.png 94w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/MET_Graph-295x158.png 295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>*MET-hours (Metabolic Equivalent Hours) measures the energy cost of activity, based on duration and intensity. Some examples: 2 hours of resting = ~2 MET-hours; 2 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity = ~8 MET-hours; 2 hours of moderate resistance training = ~7 MET-hours.<\/p>\n<p>Increasing the intensity of exercise is an efficient way to rack up MET-hours, but plain old walking counts too: In a study of 28,000 adults, <strong>every 1,000 daily step increase was associated with a 12 percent lower risk of death<\/strong>. (This association began at 2,500 steps and continued up to 17,000 steps.)<sup>9<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>(Cool factoid: For folks concerned with dementia in particular, one study showed that getting just 3,826 steps per day was associated with a 25 percent reduced risk of dementia\u2014and getting 9,826 steps per day was associated with a 50 percent lower risk!<sup>10<\/sup>)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ideally, cardiovascular activity is paired with resistance or weight-bearing exercise.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Resistance training supports health and longevity in various ways: it can help preserve valuable muscle mass, maintain mental sharpness, improve odds of surviving cancer, support metabolic health, and generally help you stay alive.<sup>11<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Among older adults especially, falls are a leading cause of death.<sup>12<\/sup> Resistance training can both prevent the risk of falls&#8211;because of improved balance and muscle stability<sup>13<\/sup>\u2014as well as reduce the risk of serious injury&#8211;because of better bone density.<sup>14<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147914\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ExerciseImprovesHealth.png\" alt=\"Image shows how resistance training and aerobic training benefit numerous areas of health, such as cognitive function, blood sugar regulation, mobility, and more.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1196\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ExerciseImprovesHealth.png 1024w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ExerciseImprovesHealth-257x300.png 257w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ExerciseImprovesHealth-877x1024.png 877w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ExerciseImprovesHealth-768x897.png 768w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ExerciseImprovesHealth-94x110.png 94w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ExerciseImprovesHealth-295x345.png 295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/sup><\/p>\n<p>A sedentary lifestyle does the opposite, increasing risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancer (breast, colon, colorectal, endometrial, and epithelial ovarian cancer), and all-cause mortality.<sup>15<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>In fact, two decades of sedentary lifestyle is associated with twice the risk of premature death compared to being physically active.<sup>16<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 How much exercise should you do?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Standard exercise recommendations suggest:<sup>17<\/sup><\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li>150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity (or some combination of both), <em>plus<\/em><\/li>\n<li>2 sessions per week of resistance training, targeting most major muscle groups<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Getting up to 300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity or 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (or some mix of both) <em>as well as<\/em> three resistance training sessions per week provides further benefits.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Are people getting enough exercise? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Most people are not.<\/p>\n<p>Only 24 percent meet the recommendations for <em>both<\/em> aerobic and resistance exercise. And fewer than 47 percent of American adults meet recommendations for aerobic physical activity.<sup>17<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Is getting more than the recommended amount better?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For the most part yes, but past a certain point, more effort delivers less benefit\u2014and potentially more risk.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Overtraining <\/strong>(and\/or under-recovering) can disrupt hormone levels, mess with sleep and mood, cause excess fatigue, chronically elevate your heart rate, cause injuries, and more.<sup>18 19<\/sup> Extreme volumes of endurance exercise training may be detrimental for the heart, and increase risk of myocardial fibrosis, coronary artery calcification, and atrial fibrillation.<sup>20 21 22 23<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>So, the benefits of exercise exist on a U-shaped curve. (This is known as the <strong>\u201cExtreme Exercise Hypothesis,<\/strong>\u201d<sup>24<\/sup> as seen in the image below.)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147913\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ExerciseHypothesisGraph_v5.png\" alt=\"Graph shows a u-shaped curve where health risks are highest when exercise is either very low or extremely high, with the least risks at moderate or high exercise.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"875\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ExerciseHypothesisGraph_v5.png 1024w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ExerciseHypothesisGraph_v5-300x256.png 300w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ExerciseHypothesisGraph_v5-768x656.png 768w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ExerciseHypothesisGraph_v5-94x80.png 94w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ExerciseHypothesisGraph_v5-295x252.png 295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A \u201chigh\u201d amount of exercise is good for you, but the \u201chighest\u201d amount possible probably isn\u2019t. (Health benefits likely max out around 7-10 hours of cardio, and 3-4 resistance training sessions per week.)<\/p>\n<p>We like what one study concluded: <strong>\u201cIf the mantra \u2018exercise is medicine\u2019 is embraced, underdosing <em>and<\/em> overdosing are possible.\u201d<\/strong><sup>25<\/sup><\/p>\n<h3>Foundational Health Behavior #2: Eat a nourishing, nutrient-rich diet<\/h3>\n<p>Eating well doesn\u2019t have to be complicated. There are a few key elements to nail down, and the rest is up to your own personal preferences and needs.<\/p>\n<p>We suggest focusing on three nutrition fundamentals.<\/p>\n<h4>Nutritional key #1: Eat more whole and minimally-processed foods<\/h4>\n<p>Whole and minimally-processed foods are naturally nutrient rich\u2014complete with fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals\u2014and far less calorie-dense than highly- or ultra-processed foods (UPFs). They also have less sugar, sodium, and trans fats\u2014the latter which is directly linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, complications during pregnancy, colon cancer, diabetes, obesity, and allergy.<sup>26 27 28<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>These qualities contribute to their many health benefits; Diets rich in whole or minimally-processed foods are associated with lower rates of depression,<sup>29 30 31<\/sup> heart disease,<sup>32<\/sup> type 2 diabetes,<sup>33<\/sup> cancer,<sup>34<\/sup> and improved longevity.<sup>35<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>The largest study on processed foods\u2014which included almost 10 million participants\u2014found UPFs are linked to 32 harmful effects, including type 2 diabetes, mental health disorders, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality.<sup>36<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Another study found that a higher consumption of ultra-processed foods (four or more servings daily) was associated with a 62 percent increased risk of all-cause mortality. (For each additional serving of ultra-processed food, all-cause mortality increased by 18 percent.)<sup>37<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Not that you need to be plucking tomatoes straight off the vine.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Eating a minimally processed food diet is more about overall dietary patterns\u2014and moving along the continuum of improvement\u2014rather than rigidly avoiding all forms of processing.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147918\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ProcessFoodsGraph.png\" alt=\"Illustrated table shows various foods types and their whole, minimally processed, or ultra-processed options. All foods exist on this continuum between whole and ultra-processed.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ProcessFoodsGraph.png 1024w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ProcessFoodsGraph-222x300.png 222w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ProcessFoodsGraph-758x1024.png 758w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ProcessFoodsGraph-768x1037.png 768w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ProcessFoodsGraph-89x120.png 89w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/ProcessFoodsGraph-295x398.png 295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 How many minimally-processed foods should you eat?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There currently aren\u2019t any formal guidelines for the amount of minimally-processed foods to eat. In our experience coaching over 100,000 clients, we find people are most satisfied, and get significant health improvements, when 70 to 80 percent of their diet comes from whole or minimally-processed foods.<\/p>\n<p>Any improvement counts though. If you\u2019re currently eating very few whole and minimally processed foods, getting at least 50 percent of your diet from these foods would make a big difference to your health, energy, and longevity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Are people eating enough minimally-processed foods?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>No.<\/p>\n<p>Recent US data shows that Americans get about 28.5 percent of their calories from whole or minimally-processed foods, and 56 percent of their calories from highly- or ultra-processed foods.<sup>38<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Is getting more than the recommended amount better?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Not beyond a certain point.<\/p>\n<p>If you <em>want<\/em> to, consuming up to 90 percent of calories from minimally-processed foods will truly maximize your benefits, but beyond that there are likely no further benefits.<\/p>\n<p>Besides, some processed foods enhance health rather than detract from it. Think about the protein powder that helps you meet your protein requirements, the commercial salad dressing that helps you eat your vegetables, or the weekly brownie \u00e0 la mode you share with your grandkid that brings joy to both of your lives.<\/p>\n<p>(Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/minimally-processed-foods \">What you should know about minimally-processed foods vs. highly-processed foods<\/a>)<\/p>\n<h4>Nutritional key #2: Eat five fruits and vegetables<\/h4>\n<p>You\u2019ve heard it a million times. We\u2019ll be the nag and say it again: Eat your fruits and veggies.<\/p>\n<p>A massive study involving over 1.8 million people showed that eating more fruits and vegetables was significantly associated with a decreased risk of death\u2014with the benefits plateauing at five servings a day. <strong>People who ate five servings a day had a 13 percent lower risk of death from any cause compared to people who ate two servings per day.<\/strong><sup>39<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the consumption of fruits and vegetables <em>very likely <\/em>reduces the risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke; <em>probably<\/em> reduces the risk of cancer; and <em>possibly<\/em> prevents weight gain.<sup>40<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 How many fruits and vegetables should you eat?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A healthy target is five fist-sized servings of fruits and vegetables daily. (Generally, we recommend dividing that into three servings of veggies and two servings of fruit.)<\/p>\n<p>For bonus points, try to eat a variety of colors.<\/p>\n<p>The pigments in fruits and veggies come from various healthful nutrients (called phytochemicals or phytonutrients). Different colors mean different phytochemicals, giving you a diverse array of these beneficial compounds, which are likely responsible for a majority of the health benefits of fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n<p>(Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/color-chart\">What the colors of fruits and vegetables mean<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Are people eating enough fruits and vegetables?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>No.<\/p>\n<p>Americans only eat an average of 2.5 servings of produce (fruit and vegetables combined) per day.<sup>41<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Only 12.2 percent of people meet fruit intake recommendations, and less\u20149.3 percent\u2014meet vegetable intake recommendations.<\/p>\n<p>A mere ten percent of Americans get a full five servings of fruits and vegetables combined per day.<sup>42<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Is getting more than the recommended amount better?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are likely diminishing returns to eating more than the above suggestions.<\/p>\n<p>In that massive study mentioned earlier that observed 1.8 million people, the life-extending benefits of fruits and veggies plateaued at five servings per day.<sup>39<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>In other words, higher intake (beyond two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables) was not associated with additional disease risk reduction.<\/p>\n<p>That said, there may be other benefits to eating more fruits and vegetables. For example, due to their fiber and water content, fruits and vegetables are filling yet low in calories, so they can support weight management\u2014and they certainly aren\u2019t going to harm your health.<\/p>\n<h4>Nutritional key #3: Eat enough protein<\/h4>\n<p>Protein is the most important macronutrient to get right, especially as we age.<\/p>\n<p>Plant protein in particular is linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and death from all causes.<sup>43 44 45<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>In terms of animal proteins, the results are more mixed. (That said, research on protein intake and mortality is generally based on observational studies that don&#8217;t give us clear ideas about cause and effect.) Generally, minimally processed forms of fish, poultry, and low-fat dairy are the best animal protein sources.<\/p>\n<p>To minimize health risks such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, limit processed forms of red meat (like bacon, hot dogs, deli slices, and pepperoni sticks). Even <em>un<\/em>processed forms of red meat should likely be limited to about 18 oz (~4 to 5 palm-sized portions) or less per week.<sup>46 47 48<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, regardless of the source, getting sufficient protein\u2014at least 1.2 g of protein per kg of body weight\u2014significantly reduces the risk for sarcopenia (muscle loss), frailty, and neuromuscular decline.<sup>49 50<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Protein is also vital for maintaining and building muscle, keeping bones and soft tissues healthy, supporting immunity, and more. It\u2019s also the most satiating macronutrient, and thus helpful for fat loss and\/or body recompositioning.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 How much protein should you eat?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The current USDA recommendation for protein intake is at least 0.8 grams of protein per kg of body weight (0.35 g\/lb). However, newer research suggests this is likely the <em>absolute minimum<\/em> amount, and only for relatively young sedentary individuals.<\/p>\n<p>A better minimum intake for most is likely 1.2 g\/kg (0.55 g\/lb, or about 3 to 5 palm-sized portions of protein-rich foods), especially for older adults, as they\u2019re at greater risk of muscle loss.<\/p>\n<p>Protein intake for muscle growth and retention, and\/or if performing resistance training or other vigorous exercise would be 1.6 to 2.2 g\/kg (0.75-1 g\/lb), or about 4 to 8 palm-sized portions of protein-rich foods.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Are people eating enough protein?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>That depends on how \u201cenough\u201d is defined.<\/p>\n<p>Most adults eat at least 0.8 g\/kg. However, up to 10 percent of young women and up to 46 percent of older adults don\u2019t hit this mark.<sup>51<\/sup> And, as noted, that recommendation is probably conservative compared to the ideal intake.<\/p>\n<p>Protein is also especially critical for those on GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound) to help prevent the muscle loss they can lead to. Aiming for <em>at least<\/em> 1.2 g\/kg is vital for this population, especially if they are also older. (Getting closer to 1.6 g\/kg is even better, if possible.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Is getting more than the recommended amount better?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Once you get up to 1.2 g\/kg, not necessarily. That amount is likely adequate for most, especially sedentary folks.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re trying to build muscle and strength or recover from vigorous exercise, or are taking GLP-1 medication for fat loss, striving towards 1.6 g\/kg would help you achieve that goal more easily.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re trying to maximize strength and muscle gains, and\/or are doing lots of strenuous exercise, consuming 1.6-2.2 g\/kg is optimal (with the highest end of that range maxing out all benefits).<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout_box\"><\/p>\n<h2>What about supplements?<\/h2>\n<p>Supplements make up a large part of the discussion around aging, but in reality only play a small role when it comes to increasing health and longevity.<\/p>\n<p>Using supplements (like a multivitamin, or doctor recommended vitamin D or iron) to prevent or correct deficiencies can be helpful for overall health well-being.<\/p>\n<p>Then, there are other supplements that have reasonably strong track records and can help us meet nutritional needs (protein powder), improve performance (creatine), or potentially even slow aging (fish oil might slow biological aging by a small amount).<sup>52<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>However, the buzziest, trendiest supplements are often less proven.<\/p>\n<p>For example, curcumin, spirulina, and ginger are often listed as supplements that might help with inflammation, a hallmark of aging. However, the research here is still early, and far from definitive.<\/p>\n<p>There are also even less substantiated supplements that might modify other aspects of aging (resveratrol, NAD+, NAC), but the evidence is either very minimal or only in animal models.<\/p>\n<p>Some supplements (especially herbal supplements) can even cause harm, like liver damage.<sup>53<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>If you want to give supplements a try, check for high-quality third-party seals of approval from organizations such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsf.org\/consumer-resources\/articles\/supplement-vitamin-certification\">NSF<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/examine.com\">Examine.com<\/a>\u2014an online database that provides independent research summaries and analyses on most popular supplements\u2014is also an excellent resource to help you determine which supplements might actually be effective.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless, talk to your healthcare provider before taking supplements, particularly if you take other medication.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<h3>Foundational Health Behavior #3: Get adequate sleep<\/h3>\n<p>Research shows that men who get enough quality sleep live almost five years longer than men who don&#8217;t, and women who get enough live two and a half years longer.<sup>54<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Studies also show sleep is just as important for your heart health as exercise, whole foods, weight management, cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar control.<sup>55<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Compared to 7 hours of sleep per day, a 1 hour decrease in sleep duration has been associated with an 11 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease and a 9 percent increased risk of type 2 diabetes.<sup>56<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Older adults who sleep less than 6 hours per night are at higher risk for dementia and cognitive decline than those who sleep 7 to 8 hours.<sup>57<\/sup> (Deep sleep helps clear beta-amyloid plaques and wash out toxins from our brain, thought to be partially responsible for dementia.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 How much sleep should you get?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sleep experts agree that 7 to 9 hours a night on average\u2014with at least 7 hours of sleep most nights of the week\u2014is ideal for most.<\/p>\n<p>However, the exact ideal hours may vary person to person.<\/p>\n<p>Generally, the right amount of sleep for you is the amount that allows you to feel relatively refreshed shortly after waking up, and allows you to fall asleep relatively easily at bedtime, with relatively sustained energy throughout the day.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Are people getting enough sleep? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>About a third of US adults don\u2019t meet the recommended amount of 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night.<sup>58<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Is getting more than the recommended amount better?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Not necessarily.<\/p>\n<p>It seems that 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night is ideal in terms of health outcomes.<sup>56<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, longer sleep duration (over 9 hours per night on average) is associated with an <em>increased<\/em> risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and overall mortality.<sup>59 60 61<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>However, it&#8217;s not clear that these risks are <em>caused<\/em> by sleeping more. Just as likely, it may be other health problems (such as depression, sleep apnea, or heavy alcohol consumption) that lead to both longer sleep times <em>and<\/em> higher health risks.<\/p>\n<p>(Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/how-to-sleep-better\">Transform your sleep\u2014The scientific way to energize your body, sharpen your mind, and stop hitting snooze<\/a>)<\/p>\n<h3>Foundational Health Behavior #4: Manage stress<\/h3>\n<p>When left unchecked for long periods of time (say, months or years without periods of recovery), stress can have negative effects on nearly every aspect of our health, as the below image shows.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147911\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/EffectsOfStress_v2.png\" alt=\"Image shows the variety of effects chronic, unmanaged stress can have on the body, from brain fog, frequent infection, poor recovery, weight gain, and more.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1054\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/EffectsOfStress_v2.png 1024w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/EffectsOfStress_v2-291x300.png 291w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/EffectsOfStress_v2-995x1024.png 995w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/EffectsOfStress_v2-768x791.png 768w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/EffectsOfStress_v2-94x97.png 94w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/EffectsOfStress_v2-295x304.png 295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Chronic stress\u2014which tends to increase heart rate, blood pressure, and inflammation\u2014increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.<sup>62 63 64<\/sup>\u00a0Additionally, long-term stress tends to worsen mental and emotional health, increasing the risk of anxiety and depression.<sup>65<\/sup> It can also make people more likely to turn to substances like alcohol as an attempt to cope.<sup>66<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>That said\u2026 Not all stress is bad.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, <strong>stress is a normal, natural, and even <em>beneficial<\/em> part of life; <\/strong>the right amount helps us feel motivated, purposeful, and engaged with life.<\/p>\n<p>So, rather than avoiding or demonizing stress, it\u2019s helpful to work <em>with <\/em>it, using it as an opportunity to develop healthy coping mechanisms, appropriate recovery strategies, and overall resilience.<\/p>\n<p>And this doesn\u2019t necessarily mean sitting on a cushion and meditating.<\/p>\n<p>Stress management can include simple mindset shifts: Practicing self-compassion,<sup>67<\/sup> having a growth mindset,<sup>68<\/sup> and framing stress as a normal and even beneficial part of life<sup>69<\/sup> have all been associated with better coping under stress.<\/p>\n<p>Basic self-regulation skills also help. This involves noticing and naming what you\u2019re feeling, having good control over your actions, and using a broad range of coping skills to help yourself process emotions and recover from stress. With these skills, you build self-awareness and the ability to handle challenges better, because you know how to calm yourself down after an activating event\u2014regardless of how it went.<\/p>\n<p>The below image offers a spectrum of more\u2014small and big\u2014ways to regulate stress.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147921\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/StressWheel.png\" alt=\"Image shows a continuum of options for stress management, ranging from 1 to 10 on an effort scale.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"772\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/StressWheel.png 1024w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/StressWheel-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/StressWheel-768x579.png 768w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/StressWheel-94x71.png 94w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/StressWheel-295x222.png 295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 How much stress management should you engage in?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Think of stress management and recovery as a thing you do <em>in proportion<\/em> to the stress and demands of your life.<\/p>\n<p>We often use the analogy of a jug: When stress drains your tank, stress management and recovery practices help fill it back up again.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147919\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/recovery-stress.png\" alt=\"Image shows a faucet pouring water into a jug next to a list of recovery practices. These are things that fill your recovery jug. There is also a faucet draining water out of the jug next to a list of stressors. These are things that drain your jug. The goal is to fill your jug as much as you are draining it.\" width=\"600\" height=\"490\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/recovery-stress.png 600w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/recovery-stress-300x245.png 300w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/recovery-stress-94x77.png 94w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/recovery-stress-295x241.png 295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><br \/>\nAnd, as with all of the foundational health habits we\u2019ve discussed, every little bit counts.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you\u2019re experiencing a little or a lot of stress in your life, even three to five minutes of purposeful recovery\u2014doing deep breathing exercises, some journaling or gentle stretching, or just stepping outside to get some fresh air and listen to the birds\u2014can help fill your tank.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Are people doing enough to manage stress? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Probably not.<\/p>\n<p>In the US, over a quarter of people report that most days, they\u2019re so stressed they can\u2019t function.<sup>70<\/sup>\u00a0In Canada, it\u2019s similar: Just under a quarter of people say that most days in their life are either \u201cquite a bit\u201d or \u201cextremely\u201d stressful.<sup>71<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Additionally, over a third of people say they don\u2019t know where to start when it comes to managing their stress.<sup>72<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Is getting more than the recommended amount better?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Not necessarily.<\/p>\n<p>The goal is to find your stress \u201csweet spot.\u201d Because we all enjoy and tolerate different types and amounts of stress, how you feel is actually a pretty good indicator of whether stress is too low, too high, or \u201cjust right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As the image below shows, if you generally feel bored and purposeless, stress is likely too low; if you feel energized and engaged, stress is probably close to your \u201csweet spot\u201d; and if you feel panicky or so overwhelmed you\u2019ve started to feel hopeless, stress is likely too high.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147920\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/StressContinuum.png\" alt=\"Image shows a continuum of stress. When stress is too low, we feel bored or purposeless. When stress is just right, we feel energized and engaged. When stress is too high, we feel anxious or numb.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"696\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/StressContinuum.png 1024w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/StressContinuum-300x204.png 300w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/StressContinuum-768x522.png 768w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/StressContinuum-94x64.png 94w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/StressContinuum-295x201.png 295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>While having a routine for stress management is a smart idea, there\u2019s likely a point of diminishing returns here too. If you\u2019re in that stress \u201csweet spot\u201d (energized\/engaged, not bored and not overwhelmed), then adding <em>more <\/em>stress reduction techniques might not help further\u2014and may actually <em>add<\/em> stress by giving you yet another task to do.<\/p>\n<h3>Foundational Health Behavior #5: Stay socially connected<\/h3>\n<p>You might not think of social connection as a health imperative, but it is.<\/p>\n<p>Not only is the social and emotional support associated with improved well-being, it\u2019s also associated with reduced risk of premature death.<sup>73 74<\/sup> When relationships are strong, people have a 50 percent increased likelihood of survival during any given time.<sup>75<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>In fact, one of the longest running studies\u2014the Study of Adult Development out of Harvard Medical School, which has been tracking participants for over 87 years (and counting)\u2014<strong>found that strong relationships were the biggest predictor of not only life satisfaction but longevity.<\/strong> (Relationships were more predictive of these outcomes than social class, wealth, IQ, or genetics.)<sup>76<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>No surprise, <em>not having<\/em> a social circle comes with its own distinct risks.<\/p>\n<p>Social isolation and loneliness can increase a person&#8217;s risk for heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression and anxiety, suicidality and self-harm, dementia, and earlier death.<sup>77 78<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>A frequently cited statistic highlights its profound impact:<\/p>\n<p><strong>The effect of social isolation on mortality is comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes per day<\/strong><sup>79<\/sup>\u2014surpassing even the risks associated with obesity and physical inactivity.<sup>80<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Are people getting enough social connection?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It seems many of us could use more friends.<\/p>\n<p>About 1 in 3 adults report feeling lonely, and 1 in 4 report not having social and emotional support.<sup>77<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Eight percent of adults say they have no close friends, 53 percent say they have between one and four close friends, and 38 percent report having five or more friends.<sup>81<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 How much social connection should you aim for?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Generally speaking, research finds that people who have three to five close friends they regularly interact with (one to three times per week, in-person or via phone call) get the most social benefit.<sup>82 83 84 85<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>On average, interaction with a smaller group of people tends to provide more benefit than a large network of acquaintances.<sup>86<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>That said, individual needs vary. If you feel authentically connected to others, have a strong sense of belonging, and generally feel socially fulfilled, that\u2019s what matters most.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Is getting more than the recommended amount better?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Likely not. Some evidence suggests that excessive social engagement (daily or multiple times daily) actually might increase mortality risk.<sup>87<\/sup> That\u2019s probably because over-socializing can increase mental, emotional, and physical fatigue,<sup>88<\/sup> and often this level of socialization includes alcohol or other potentially risky behaviors.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, it can take away time and energy that could be put towards other life-building and health-promoting behaviors (like work, exercise, or sleep).<\/p>\n<p>The takeaway? Strive for socializing that brings value to your life. No need to add so much that you wind up exhausted, or unable to keep up with other priorities.<\/p>\n<h3>Foundational Health Behavior #6: Minimize known harms<\/h3>\n<p>Minimizing activities we know to be harmful is a key part of looking after your long-term health, yet it can be easy to overlook these things. (Maybe because we\u2019d rather keep doing them.)<\/p>\n<p>Two of the biggest culprits are smoking and drinking alcohol.<\/p>\n<h4>Harm Avoidance Key #1: Don\u2019t Smoke<\/h4>\n<p>We all know smoking is bad for us. But smoking is still relatively common:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li>In the US, 10.9 percent of adults smoke cigarettes, and 6.6 percent smoke e-cigarettes.<sup>89<\/sup><\/li>\n<li>Globally, the trend is even higher: 22.3 percent of the world\u2019s population use tobacco (36.7 percent of men and 7.8 percent of women).<sup>90<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The WHO estimates more than 8 million people die prematurely yearly from tobacco use (with an additional 56,000 people dying annually from chewing tobacco).<sup>91<\/sup> This makes tobacco a leading (i.e. top 3) risk factor for premature death and all-cause mortality.<sup>92<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Smoking is also a risk factor for several chronic conditions, including coronary heart disease, stroke, emphysema, and cancer.<sup>93<\/sup> (Globally, about a quarter of cancer deaths are attributed to smoking.<sup>90<\/sup>)<\/p>\n<h4>Harm avoidance key #2: Limit alcohol<\/h4>\n<p>At this point, the research is pretty clear: Alcohol has negative implications for your health, especially past a certain point of regular use.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147910\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/DrinkingCancerRisks_v5.png\" alt=\"Two graphs show that risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer increase a lot with heavy drinking, and a little with moderate drinking\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/DrinkingCancerRisks_v5.png 1024w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/DrinkingCancerRisks_v5-216x300.png 216w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/DrinkingCancerRisks_v5-736x1024.png 736w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/DrinkingCancerRisks_v5-768x1069.png 768w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/DrinkingCancerRisks_v5-86x120.png 86w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/DrinkingCancerRisks_v5-295x411.png 295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Alcohol plays a causal role in 200+ diseases, particularly liver diseases, heart diseases, at least seven types of cancers, depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorders, and dementia.<sup>94 95<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>In 2019, 2.6 million deaths worldwide were attributable to alcohol consumption.<sup>96<\/sup> <strong>For people in the 15-49 age range, alcohol is <em>the <\/em>leading risk factor for death,<\/strong> with 3.8 percent of female deaths and 12.2 percent of male deaths attributable to alcohol use.<sup>97<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 How much alcohol is \u201csafe\u201d to drink?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>US guidance on alcohol suggests keeping intake at moderate levels, or less.<sup>98<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>A moderate intake means:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li>Two drinks or less per day for men (14 or less per week), with no more than 4 at a single sitting<\/li>\n<li>One drink or less per day for women (7 or less per week), with no more than 3 at a single sitting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Importantly, a drink is defined as containing 14 grams (about 0.6 fluid ounces) of pure ethanol, which equates to:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li>12 ounces of regular beer (5% alcohol by volume)<\/li>\n<li>5 ounces of table wine (12% alcohol by volume)<\/li>\n<li>1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (40% alcohol by volume)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Are people limiting their alcohol enough?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the US, people tend to drink more than the recommended guidelines.<\/p>\n<p>In 2021, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reported that the average American aged 21 or older consumed 2.51 gallons of pure alcohol over the course of a year\u2014equivalent to about 10 standard drinks\/week.<sup>99<\/sup> However, research suggests surveys typically underestimate consumption by 40 to 50 percent.<sup>100<\/sup> Further, other research shows that the heavier a person drinks, the more significantly they&#8217;re likely to underestimate and\/or underreport their drinking.<sup>101<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>All that to say, the average American is likely having more (or even far more) than 10 drinks per week.<\/p>\n<p>Add to that:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li>In 2016, 36.4 percent of Americans (age 15+) said they had at least one episode of binge drinking (6+ drinks in one session) in the last month<sup>102<\/sup><\/li>\n<li>About 7 percent of the world\u2019s population aged 15+ years have an alcohol use disorder<sup>96<\/sup><\/li>\n<li>Alcohol-related deaths have been rising: in the last five years, alcohol-induced deaths have increased by 26 percent<sup>103<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Is more abstinence from alcohol better?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In 2023, the WHO released a statement saying no amount of alcohol is \u201csafe.\u201d<sup>104<\/sup> This interpretation is still debated, and data continues to emerge.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s our take: An abstinence-only policy is likely a failed policy for many. Rather, we want people to be informed so they can make intentional decisions.<\/p>\n<p>To be clear, alcohol is not beneficial for physical health; it\u2019s a known human carcinogen. However, while alcohol does increase health risks, risk does not rise in a linear fashion with intake. Meaning, <em>small<\/em> doses are unlikely to have a significant impact on your health. But when you drink more heavily, the risks rise exponentially.<sup>105<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Drinking heavily can mean either:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li>Having more than 7 drinks in a week for a woman, or more than 14 drinks in a week for a man, or<\/li>\n<li>Having 4 or more drinks in one sitting for a woman, or 5 or more drinks in one sitting for a man (binge drinking).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>(Reminder: A single drink refers to those definitions mentioned previously. Pints of beer, and heavily poured wine glasses and cocktails are more than single servings\u2026 Just because it fits in a single glass doesn\u2019t mean it counts as \u201cone\u201d drink.)<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, <strong>it&#8217;s about finding the level of risk you&#8217;re willing to tolerate relative to whatever benefits you feel alcohol provides you.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Our general recommendations:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li>If you\u2019re otherwise healthy and have no other alcohol-related risk factors, limit drinking to moderate levels or less<\/li>\n<li>If you\u2019re otherwise healthy but have one or two alcohol-related risk factors (such as breast cancer history), limit drinking to light levels (1 to 3 or 4 drinks per week) with occasional moderate intakes on special occasions, or less<\/li>\n<li>If you have several alcohol-related risk factors (such as breast cancer history, family history of alcoholism, or contraindicated medications) abstain from alcohol entirely<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Foundational Health Behavior #7: Do Basic Preventive Health Measures<\/h3>\n<p>In all the chatter about longevity optimization, it can be easy to forget about all the boring\u2014but no less important\u2014things that help you stay safe and healthy throughout your life.<\/p>\n<p>These include things like:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li>Getting regular check-ups, or seeing your doctor or healthcare provider if questions or concerns arise<\/li>\n<li>Getting recommended bloodwork, screenings, and vaccines<\/li>\n<li>Getting and keeping blood cholesterol, sugar, and pressure in recommended ranges as early as possible<\/li>\n<li>Regularly seeing your dentist, and regularly brushing and flossing<\/li>\n<li>Practicing safer sex<\/li>\n<li>Seeing medical specialists as recommended or appropriate (OBGYN, optometrist, ENT, dermatologist, etc.)<\/li>\n<li>Wearing seatbelts (Buckling up in the front seat reduces risk of fatal injury by 45 percent!<sup>106<\/sup>)<\/li>\n<li>Wearing a helmet when cycling, skateboarding, or motorbiking<\/li>\n<li>Regularly wearing sunscreen (Used appropriately, sunscreen decreases risk of skin cancers by 40 to 50 percent<sup>107 108<\/sup>)<\/li>\n<li>Protecting your hearing (Untreated hearing loss increases risks for depression, social isolation,<sup>109 110<\/sup> cognitive decline,<sup>111<\/sup> dementia,<sup>112 113<\/sup> and falls<sup>114 115<\/sup>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u2026 And generally using common sense. (As in, avoid the \u201chold my beer\u201d type stuff.)<\/p>\n<p>Basic health maintenance and risk avoidance practices matter\u2014a lot.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, we can\u2019t control every element of our environment. Some factors influencing our health are more structural and systemic, woven into the fabric of our societies.<\/p>\n<p>These are called <strong>social determinants of health<\/strong>, and include poverty, racism, homophobia, lack of accommodation for disabilities, and displacement (as in the case of refugees). For some folks, doing the above protective behaviors\u2014like visiting the family doctor, getting glasses, going to the dentist, or even walking safely down the street\u2014will be harder, sometimes near impossible.<\/p>\n<p>This isn\u2019t meant to be a throwaway line that diminishes the difficult reality for so many people, but rather a gritty, realistic mantra: Do the best you can with what you\u2019ve got.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 How much preventative health care do you need to do? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Generally speaking, aim to be consistent with the habits you know you \u201cshould\u201d do.<\/p>\n<p>You know the drill: Brush and floss daily; wear your helmet every time you ride a bike; wear your seatbelt every time you drive; put on sunscreen when you go out into the midday sun; don\u2019t regularly blast your music at full volume; and so on.<\/p>\n<p>And if you have lingering things on your \u201cI should really do that\u201d list (like getting that weird mole checked out, or that bloodwork done), go do it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Are people practicing enough basic preventative health measures?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve offered a long-ish list of basic health practices that can protect health, so we won\u2019t go into each in-depth.<\/p>\n<p>That said, when looking at the above list, it&#8217;s probably fair to say most people will notice a few behaviors they might practice more consistently.<\/p>\n<p>For example, while most of us are <em>really <\/em>consistent with our seat belts (usage is close to 92 percent!<sup>116<\/sup>), many of us could break out the floss more often (only 32 percent of Americans floss daily<sup>117<\/sup>).<\/p>\n<p>And, research shows that only about half of cyclists and motorcyclists wear helmets when riding<sup>118 119 120<\/sup> (and use is even lower among skateboarders and rollerbladers<sup>121<\/sup>).<\/p>\n<p>Hearing loss is the number one modifiable risk factor for dementia,<sup>122<\/sup>\u00a0so make sure you also follow the \u201c60\/60 rule\u201d if you like to pump up the tunes on your headphones: Listen at 60 percent of your device&#8217;s maximum volume for 60 minutes, then take a break. (And wear earplugs when you mow the lawn!)<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u25b6 Are more preventative measures better?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Once again, there&#8217;s likely a law of diminishing returns when it comes to preventative health measures, just like everything else.<\/p>\n<p>The point isn\u2019t to become obsessed with eliminating all possible risks at every turn.<\/p>\n<p>Rather, it\u2019s that <strong>reasonable efforts towards protecting your health <em>do<\/em> count, and they\u2018re immeasurably more important for overall health than the latest optimization fads.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"callout_box\"><\/p>\n<h2>Bonus Foundational Health Behavior: Foster a sense of purpose and meaning<\/h2>\n<p>Research consistently shows that having a strong sense of purpose and meaning for our life improves our health, overall well-being, and longevity too.<sup>123<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>A sense of purpose seems to help people live longer, even when controlling for other markers of psychological well-being.<\/p>\n<p><strong>There\u2019s something uniquely beneficial about having a strong purpose that\u2019s different from, say, being <em>happy<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Having a strong sense of purpose can mean many things, but it generally indicates that you have goals, and an aim in life.<\/p>\n<p>This purpose can be many things:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li>Helping others<\/li>\n<li>Being connected to family and\/or close friends<\/li>\n<li>Being a key part of a community<\/li>\n<li>Enjoying a hobby<\/li>\n<li>Learning new skills<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Having purpose may help with longevity for a few reasons:<\/p>\n<p>It makes you more likely to engage in health-promoting behaviors, such as getting enough sleep and eating more fruits and vegetables.<sup>123<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>It also tends to improve mental health. For example, one study showed that people with the strongest sense of purpose had a 43 percent reduced risk of depression.<sup>123<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Finally, it may simply help people live longer because<em> it makes you want to live longer<\/em>. When people have a sense of purpose, they often want to live longer, healthier lives, so they can fulfill that purpose to its fullest. And while wanting to live won\u2019t make it so, it certainly doesn\u2019t hurt.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<h2>Still thinking about optimizing? Consider these additional tradeoffs<\/h2>\n<p>We hope it\u2019s clear by now: You can take yourself really far with some solid basics (that will themselves take some decent time and effort!).<\/p>\n<p>But, if you want to go even further, your effort might have to increase exponentially, just as those gains become less certain, and more marginal.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what to keep in mind.<\/p>\n<h3>First, it takes a lot of time (and money) to optimize.<\/h3>\n<p>Let\u2019s compare the time and financial investment of two imaginary people.<\/p>\n<p>The first person is what you might call a \u201chealthy\u201d or \u201cmedium effort\u201d person. They\u2019re someone who is pretty consistently meeting all of the above recommendations.<\/p>\n<p>The second person is what you might call an \u201coptimizer.\u201d They do all the above recommendations, but to the max, <em>and <\/em>many of the fringe recommendations often discussed on health-related podcasts and books.<\/p>\n<p>How much time and money might each of these people invest in their health efforts on a weekly basis? Here\u2019s what that might look like.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147922\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/WeeklyTally_v6.png\" alt=\"Table compares various activities and costs of a regular healthy person and an \u201coptimizer\u201d. Generally, it takes 3 to 4 times the time and cost to \u201coptimize\u201d exercise, nutrition, and self-care activities.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/WeeklyTally_v6.png 1024w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/WeeklyTally_v6-300x293.png 300w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/WeeklyTally_v6-768x750.png 768w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/WeeklyTally_v6-94x92.png 94w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/WeeklyTally_v6-295x288.png 295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>On top of that, there are \u201coptimizing\u201d behaviors and assessments that might be performed less often\u2014say, monthly, seasonally, annually, or even every few years. Of course, these practices will still require time and money, so even though they\u2019re less frequent, they still have to be accounted for.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some examples of those kinds of products, therapies, and tests:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li>Dietary supplements (vitamin, mineral, and\/or herbal supplements; \u201csuperfoods\u201d; fish oil; probiotics, resveratrol, NAD+, NAC, curcumin, &amp; more)<\/li>\n<li>Bloodwork testing (for advanced lipid testing, inflammatory markers, hormone levels, and nutrient status)<\/li>\n<li>IV therapy (for hydration, vitamins, glutathione, or NAD+)<\/li>\n<li>Infrared sauna sessions<\/li>\n<li>Plasma transfusions<\/li>\n<li>Gene therapy<\/li>\n<li>Stem cell therapy<\/li>\n<li>Medical tourism and therapeutics retreats<\/li>\n<li>Full-body MRIs<\/li>\n<li>Genetic testing<\/li>\n<li>Concierge medical services<\/li>\n<li>And more\u2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Though it\u2019s hard to estimate the cost of these items, opting to do just a handful could easily cost an extra $10,000+ per year.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, <strong>we\u2019d estimate it takes <em>at least<\/em> three to four times the time, effort, and money to follow an \u201coptimizer\u201d type lifestyle, compared to a plain old \u201chealthy\u201d lifestyle.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As we\u2019ve seen above, this 3-4x effort will <em>likely<\/em> translate to some extra benefits, but the medium-effort \u201chealthy\u201d lifestyle will likely get most people <em>at least<\/em> 80 percent of the results they\u2019re after (such as improved lifespan, healthspan, and quality of life).<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"enjoying-life\">Besides, optimizing <em>too<\/em> much can negatively impact your well-being and quality of life.<\/h3>\n<p>The harder and more extreme someone\u2019s fitness or health regime, the harder they typically fall off the wagon. So, taking on too much can actually put you more at risk of quitting the foundational health behaviors we mentioned earlier.<\/p>\n<p>Even if you stick with it, <strong>over-focusing on health and longevity will almost certainly interfere with your ability to enjoy a full, well-rounded, meaningful life. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For example, if you get <em>too<\/em> focused on physical health, you may find other aspects of your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/healthspan-and-longevity\">deep health<\/a> and overall wellbeing suffer, such as your relational, existential, mental, and emotional health.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147909\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/deep-health-wheel-with-text.png\" alt=\"Image shows that there are six domains of deep health: social, physical, existential, emotional, mental, and environmental.\" width=\"900\" height=\"701\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/deep-health-wheel-with-text.png 900w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/deep-health-wheel-with-text-300x234.png 300w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/deep-health-wheel-with-text-768x598.png 768w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/deep-health-wheel-with-text-94x73.png 94w, https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/deep-health-wheel-with-text-295x230.png 295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Take this a step further, and \u201coptimizing\u201d can tip over into obsession. Sometimes, under the surface of \u201cI just really care about my health\u201d is disordered eating, orthorexia, or another mental health condition.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-147916\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/07\/lifelongevitygraph_r2.png\" alt=\"Graph shows that with small amounts of health effort, life satisfaction and overall well-being can improve a lot, but as those efforts increase, well-being benefits plateau\" width=\"1024\" height=\"669\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>This, to us, is the heart of things: It\u2019s important to not only stay relatively healthy, but also to <em>enjoy your life <\/em>while you\u2019re living it. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In fact, enjoying your life isn\u2019t separate from good health. <em>It\u2019s part of it.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>What to do next<\/h2>\n<h3>1. Clarify your goals.<\/h3>\n<p>Take a step back and consider what you really want most for yourself.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What kind of life do you want to have?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>How important is it to maximize your healthspan and lifespan, and how does that line up with your other priorities?<\/p>\n<h3>2. Consider the tradeoffs.<\/h3>\n<p>Given what you want most for yourself, and the resources you have available, <strong>what\u2019s realistic for you? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>How much time, money, and effort are you willing to put in to achieve health and lifespan goals?<\/p>\n<p>What are you prepared to give up? What <em>aren\u2019t <\/em>you prepared to give up?<\/p>\n<h3>3. When looking to make improvements, start with the basics first.<\/h3>\n<p>Review the foundational health behaviors in this article. How many of them are you already doing? <em>Consistently?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re covering most of the basics, you might not need to do more. (Give yourself a pat on the back. You\u2019re already elite!)<\/p>\n<p>Or, maybe there\u2019s some room for improvement and you\u2019d like to step it up a bit. Great! For the vast majority of people, improving any of these behaviors will deliver real, tangible results. Start with these, before chasing faddish, fringe, \u201csuper-optimal\u201d stuff.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Tune out the noise.<\/h3>\n<p>Those people you hear on podcasts or social media aren\u2019t the experts on you and your life.<\/p>\n<p><em>You<\/em> get to decide what you want, and how to go about getting it.<\/p>\n<p>Be honest with yourself, and make choices aligned with what matters most to you.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s plenty of advice out there, but remember: It\u2019s your life. You get to make decisions that work for <em>you<\/em>.<\/p>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\t\t\t\tjQuery(document).ready(function(){\n\t\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"#references_link\").click(function(){\n\t\t\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"#references_holder\").show();\n\t\t\t\t\t\tjQuery(\"#references_link\").parent().hide();\n\t\t\t\t\t});\n\t\t\t\t});\n\t\t\t<\/script>\n\n\t\t\t<h2>References<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<p><a id=\"references_link\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Click here to view the information sources referenced in this article.<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"references_holder\" style=\"display:none\">\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<ol class=\"pn-list__spaced\">\n<li>Dalton, Amy N., and Stephen A. 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Marks, et al. 1999. <a href=\" https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/10475183\/ \">\u201cDaily Sunscreen Application and Betacarotene Supplementation in Prevention of Basal-Cell and Squamous-Cell Carcinomas of the Skin: A Randomised Controlled Trial.\u201d<\/a> <em>Lancet<\/em> 354 (9180): 723\u201329.<\/li>\n<li>Green, Ad\u00e8le C., Gail M. Williams, Valerie Logan, and Geoffrey M. 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Peskoe, Maragatha Kuchibhatla, Alexander Gordee, Juliessa M. Pavon, Se Eun Kim, Jessica S. West, and Sherri L. Smith. 2022. <a href=\" https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC9554784\/ \">\u201cImpact of Hearing Aid Use on Falls and Falls-Related Injury: Results from the Health and Retirement Study.\u201d<\/a> <em>Ear and Hearing<\/em> 43 (2): 487\u201394.<\/li>\n<li>N.d. Accessed May 2, 2025. <a href=\"https:\/\/injuryfacts.nsc.org\/motor-vehicle\/occupant-protection\/seat-belts\/\">https:\/\/injuryfacts.nsc.org\/motor-vehicle\/occupant-protection\/seat-belts\/<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Fleming, Eleanor B., Duong Nguyen, Joseph Afful, Margaret D. Carroll, and Phillip D. Woods. 2018. <a href=\" https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6434526\/ \">\u201cPrevalence of Daily Flossing among Adults by Selected Risk Factors for Periodontal Disease-United States, 2011-2014.\u201d <\/a><em>Journal of Periodontology<\/em> 89 (8): 933\u201339.<\/li>\n<li>Olsson, Bj\u00f8rn. 2023. <a href=\" https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0022437523001329 \">\u201cIncreased Bicycle Helmet Use in the Absence of Mandatory Bicycle Helmet Legislation: Prevalence and Trends from Longitudinal Observational Studies on the Use of Bicycle Helmets among Cyclists in Denmark 2004-2022.\u201d<\/a> <em>Journal of Safety Research<\/em> 87 (December): 54\u201363.<\/li>\n<li>Bonyun, Marissa, Andi Camden, Colin Macarthur, and Andrew Howard. 2012. <a href=\" https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC3378939\/ \">\u201cHelmet Use in BIXI Cyclists in Toronto, Canada: An Observational Study.\u201d<\/a> <em>BMJ Open<\/em> 2 (3): e001049.<\/li>\n<li>Shool, Sina, Seyed Mohammad Piri, Zahra Ghodsi, Reza Tabrizi, Mohammad Hosein Amirzade-Iranaq, Mahdieh Mashayekhi, Mohammad Amin Dabbagh Ohadi, et al. 2024. <a href=\" https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/38628097\/ \">\u201cThe Prevalence of Helmet Use in Motorcyclists around the World: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 5,006,476 Participants.\u201d<\/a> <em>International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion<\/em> 31 (3): 431\u201369.<\/li>\n<li>Waltzman, Dana, Kelly Sarmiento, Xinjian Zhang, and Gabrielle F. Miller. 2023. <a href=\" https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0022437523001093 \">\u201cEstimated Prevalence of Helmet Use While Bicycling, Rollerblading, and Skateboarding among Middle School Students in Selected U.S. States- Youth Behavior Risk Survey, 2013-2019.\u201d<\/a> <em>Journal of Safety Research<\/em> 87 (December): 367\u201374.<\/li>\n<li>Livingston, Gill, Jonathan Huntley, Andrew Sommerlad, David Ames, Clive Ballard, Sube Banerjee, Carol Brayne, et al. 2020. <a href=\" https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7392084\/ \">\u201cDementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care: 2020 Report of the Lancet Commission.\u201d<\/a> <em>Lancet<\/em> 396 (10248): 413\u201346.<\/li>\n<li>Kim, Eric S., Ying Chen, Julia S. Nakamura, Carol D. Ryff, and Tyler J. VanderWeele. 2022. <a href=\" https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34405718\/ \">\u201cSense of Purpose in Life and Subsequent Physical, Behavioral, and Psychosocial Health: An Outcome-Wide Approach.\u201d<\/a> <em>American Journal of Health Promotion: AJHP<\/em> 36 (1): 137\u201347.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<h2>If you\u2019re a coach, or you want to be\u2026<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>\r\nYou can help people build <em>sustainable<\/em> nutrition and lifestyle habits that will significantly improve their physical and mental health\u2014while you make a great living doing what you love. We'll show you how.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nIf you\u2019d like to learn more, consider the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/nutrition-certification-level-1-register-now\">PN Level 1 Nutrition Coaching Certification.<\/a><\/strong> (You can enroll now at a big discount.)\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Common longevity advice seems to involve an extraordinary amount of effort, time, money, and complexity. Is it all necessary? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":250,"featured_media":148045,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,174,176],"tags":[],"coauthors":[406,213,252,405],"class_list":["post-147804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-food-nutrition","category-healthy-living"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Extreme longevity and health optimization: What it really takes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Unlock the keys to longevity and understand how to stay healthy and active as you age, with minimal complexity involved.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/the-cost-of-health-optimization\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The True Cost of \u201cOptimal\u201d Health\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Plus, 7 foundational health behaviors that are guaranteed to deliver.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/the-cost-of-health-optimization\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Precision Nutrition\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/insidePN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-21T18:00:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-16T20:49:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/iStock-1407792867-1024x683.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"683\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ben Bruno, CFSC, Brian St. Pierre, MS, RD, Alex Picot-Annand, Holistic Nutritionist, PN2-MHC, Cameron DePutter\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@insidePN\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@insidePN\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/the-cost-of-health-optimization\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/the-cost-of-health-optimization\",\"name\":\"Extreme longevity and health optimization: What it really takes\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/the-cost-of-health-optimization#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/the-cost-of-health-optimization#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/iStock-1407792867.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-21T18:00:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-16T20:49:04+00:00\",\"description\":\"Unlock the keys to longevity and understand how to stay healthy and active as you age, with minimal complexity involved.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/the-cost-of-health-optimization#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/the-cost-of-health-optimization\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/the-cost-of-health-optimization#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/iStock-1407792867.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/assets.precisionnutrition.com\/2025\/05\/iStock-1407792867.jpg\",\"width\":1254,\"height\":836,\"caption\":\"Optimizing health and longevity\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/the-cost-of-health-optimization#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The True Cost of \u201cOptimal\u201d Health\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.precisionnutrition.com\/\",\"name\":\"Precision Nutrition\",\"description\":\"Life-changing, research-driven nutrition coaching for everyone. 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