Health habits to adopt after 40 to preserve well-being

Dietitian Yasmine Zerbo emphasizes that maintaining health after 40 primarily involves a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and a healthy lifestyle. She notes that many people attribute health changes post-40 to age, but it is the accumulation of detrimental behaviors over time that truly deteriorates the body. Conditions like hypertension, diabetes, overweight, and renal or cardiovascular diseases are increasingly affecting adults over 40, often linked to lifestyle choices.

Zerbo explains that vital organs can suffer for years without symptoms; for instance, the brain is affected by chronic sleep deprivation, stress, and prolonged screen exposure before bed. The heart is impacted by diets high in salt and processed foods, and a sedentary lifestyle. Lungs are vulnerable to tobacco and poor ventilation.

The liver is strained by excessive alcohol, sugary drinks, and self-medication. The pancreas suffers from excessive sugar intake, frequent snacking, and lack of sleep. Kidneys are weakened by insufficient hydration, abuse of energy drinks, and excessive salt.

Intestines are disrupted by low-fiber diets, fast eating, and frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods. Bones and joints are affected by lack of physical activity, vitamin D deficiency, and sugary drinks. Zerbo clarifies that persistent fatigue, abdominal weight gain, shortness of breath, joint pain, constipation, sleep disorders, and concentrati