by John Fleming

It doesn't look likely that scientists will ever come up with a magic pill that will reverse the aging process and put the spring back in your step and the color back in your hair. Aging is just too complicated a process to deal with that way. That doesn't mean that there's nothing you can do. We know of many lifestyle choices you can make right now that will ease your way into your golden years.

Here's 10 habits that will ensure that you have a long and healthy life:

1. Your body isn't much different from your car when it comes to diet. Garbage in means garbage out. Your car runs poorly with bad gas and your body feels bad in a variety of ways when you're not eating right. Variety is the key and getting vegetables, fruit and whole grains into your diet is essential to getting the nutrition you need to keep your body young.

2. Exercise every day. Exercise improves appetite, builds healthy bones, gives you a happier emotional outlook and improves digestion and circulation. Exercise makes you stronger and helps you lose weight.

3. Your doctor is right when he says to come in for regular checkups. There are many problems that are easily preventable if you find out about them before they get out of hand. If you're over 50, go have a colonoscopy. Colon cancer can kill you if you don't detect it early and detecting it is easy and painless.

4. Use sunscreen. There are over 1,000,000 new cases of skin cancer reported every year and sun damage is a major contributor. Use sunscreen every day and you can avoid the blotchy, wrinkled skin we all associate with old age.

5. Stop smoking. This is a no-brainer but also a tough one. Giving up cigarettes can be very difficult but the benefits are so great that no effort is too small. Besides the risk of cancer and heart disease, your skin will look so much better. By the way, you'll smell better too.

6. Manage stress. Stress is a part of everyday life. Develop ways to help you cope and adjust to situations in your life that may cause you stress. The situation isn't the problem - it's how you react to it.

7. Try to find ways to get your enthusiasm back. Remember when you were younger and everything was new and exciting? Time to try some different experiences to get that old excitement back. Stretch yourself and attempt something that sounds over your head. Even if you fail, you'll get a rush doing it and you'll find out about more new and exciting stuff along the way.

8. Keep your friends close. Your family and your friends are critically important to your health and happiness.

9. You're always going to have fears and worries, that's a part of life. Don't let them take over and dominate you. Energy and zest for life go out the window when you're worrying.

10. Keep cells youthful with antioxidants. Antioxidants are found in a full-range of fruits and vegetables, as well as in some meats and fish. Although, our bodies produce its own antioxidants, the level of production declines over time because of environmental factors and the aging process.

It's simple: treat your body right and you'll age slower. If you have any questions about products that claim to slow or reverse aging ask your doctor. He or she can help you sort through the information and get the facts. - 39969