For a long life

Stay mentally fit: The “5L” as ingredients

Meeting up with friends or family promotes emotional balance.

(Bild: stock.adobe.com/MandicJovan)

A long, fulfilling life in good physical and mental health - that's what many people want. The "5Ls" are the key to staying mentally fit into old age: Walking, Loving, Laughing, Learning and Living. A neurologist explains what is meant by these terms.

Most people want to live a long, fulfilling life in good physical and mental health. The "5 Ls" can be used to prevent cardiovascular diseases, memory disorders and dementia, among other things.

• Walking stands for any form of exercise - whether it's a brisk walk, a round of Nordic walking or pedaling on the exercise bike. Regular exercise not only gets the circulation going, but also the mind. It also strengthens the immune system, lowers blood sugar levels, reduces excess weight and boosts self-esteem. "Ideally, you should exercise three times a week so that your pulse rate rises to 180 minus your age for 20-30 minutes," advises Dr. Bettina Metschitzer, neurologist at the Wels-Grieskirchen Clinic in Upper Austria.

• Love and laughter: "Family celebrations, meetings with friends or a shared leisure activity - all of these are important for emotional and mental balance." Communication and involvement in the lives of others bring a lot to the brain through the ongoing processing of new information. Withdrawal worsens dementia.

Gute Laune

Lachen – ein Booster für Gesundheit und Wohlbefinden

Lachen hat erstaunlich positive Effekte auf den Körper: Es erhöht die Sauerstoffaufnahme, das Herz schlägt schneller und sauerstoffreiches Blut wird im gesamten Organismus verteilt. Dieser kurze Aktivitätsschub regt den Stoffwechsel an, bevor sich der Körper in einen entspannten Zustand zurückversetzt. Lachen setzt im limbischen System Glückshormone frei und hemmt gleichzeitig die Produktion des Stresshormons Adrenalin. Diese hormonellen Veränderungen können Schmerzen lindern und stärken zudem das Immunsystem, da es zur Neubildung von Antikörpern kommt. Studien zeigen sogar, dass Menschen, die häufig lachen, seltener krank werden.

• Learning: "Those who challenge themselves mentally, for example by reading challenging texts or playing complex board games, keep their brain fit," says the expert. Older people should continue to enjoy their hobbies and actively pursue them.

• By "life" we mean a healthy lifestyle. "A balanced mixed diet, little alcohol and no nicotine - that's the recipe for a long, healthy life," explains Dr. Metschitzer. Mediterranean cuisine, which consists of lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and fish and is low in fat, is particularly recommended.