Richard Gomez, Aga Muhlach, and Ian Veneracion. Apart from their stunningly good looks, what else do they have in common? All of them have breached that dreaded 40-year-old mark. Not 40 yet? Continue reading because this is for you too. What you do in your 20’s and 30’s, will be reaped when you get to 40 – good or bad, it’s up to you. If you’re 40’ish, you can still change the course of your health for the better. Here are some tips you can do before and after 40, for a healthier you.

Choose what you eat.

Always go for green, leafy salads over processed food. Watch your rice intake as this is a huge source of sugar (remember, carbs turn into sugar in your body). Go for water instead of powdered juices. And please, skip the unli-rice and unli-iced tea. Prepare your own food if you have time and gravitate towards lean, light colored meat and fish. Eat slow – yes, you’ve read it right. Eating fast skips one step in the digestive process, where you chew your food fine enough before swallowing. Bigger pieces of food reaching your stomach means your body will have a harder time digesting it. This creates inefficiency in digestion, leading to poor nutrient absorption.

Focus on flexibility.

Yes, you’re young, you’re flexible. But 20 – 30 years from now, you won’t be able to touch your toes even with knees bent. It doesn’t matter if you’re 20 or 40, flexibility is something you can’t do without. Just imagine your activities of daily living like putting on your clothes or shoes, taking a bath, reaching overhead. These activities can be like completing a course in American Ninja Warrior if you’re not flexible enough. Focus on a workout routine that puts premium on flexibility. This gives your body a full workout without putting too much stress on your joints. While young, maintain flexible muscles in preparation for your 40’ish adventures.

Quit smoking.

If you’re smoking, quit. Don’t quit, quitting as the saying goes. Countless studies have pointed to smoking as a predisposing factor to deadly diseases like lung cancer, emphysema and other lung conditions. If you’re in your 20’s and reading this, you have more time to quit. If you’re 40 now, then stop and feel the difference. It’s not too late.

Sleep well.

Sleeping well is fast becoming a privilege. With traffic and work taking the bulk of our day, it’s no wonder many Filipinos, are lacking sleep both in number of hours and quality. The sooner you form a healthy sleep pattern, the sooner you’ll be able to achieve quality sleep. Exercise, eating right and kicking that tobacco out of your system, will all help in achieving this goal.

Now you know what to focus on, all you need is an expert to guide you. For any health concerns, call Medgate’s telemedicine center so you can have a consultation with one of their specialist doctors. They will attend to your health concerns any time of the day or night.