N. Raghuraman's column: The impact of things that happen in midlife is not limited to that

How you treat your body and mind in the midlife years (roughly 36-60 years) can have a huge impact on how you age in the coming decades. In short, midlife health is a glimpse into your future. The seeds you plant in middle age, such as exercise, healthy eating, and a good sleeping pattern, play an important role in your longevity. Your perceptions of aging are not just psychological, they also look physical in the body. Yes, there is growing scientific evidence that health markers in midlife are actually very effective for predicting the health of the next life, rather than measuring these markers when you are older. Moreover, our middle-aged health indicators, lifestyle and mindset act as an important foundation that directly affects our health, cognition and longevity later in life. The key midlife indicators that largely predict your future physical and cognitive functioning include blood pressure and cholesterol levels, lung function and physical fitness, glucose levels and weight and sleep quality. Why is this all the more important for us Indians? Because India's population is still relatively young and the average age is around 29.2 years. The vast majority of the country's population — more than 65% — is under the age of 40. Who says that? In her recent book 'Primetime: A New Vision for Midlife', Dr. Margie Lachman, based on 30 years of research on middle-age population, explains why midlife is the most important turning point for the rest of your life. What does she say? Dr. Lachman's research shows that people who maintain a strong sense of control and a positive attitude about aging in their midlife, their cognitive functioning and physical health are better with age. From maintaining blood pressure and cholesterol levels to maintaining lung function, maintaining good lung function, glucose level, sleep quality and weight control, maintaining physical fitness is the most important. This research also talks about 'midterm' opportunities to improve health. Dr. Lachman says that 'midlife is the best time to make changes. This will benefit you not only in the present, but also in the future. To explain this, she gives the example of studies. According to her, midlife is like the midterm of college. This is the turning point, where you can assess what is working and what is not. Since you still have 'half a semester' i.e. several decades of life in hand, the lifestyle and behavioral interventions started in midlife give you the necessary foundation to improve your health much in the future. Midlife is not the slope of life or the unavoidable 'crisis' of life, but the 'prime time' – that is, the best time to make a thoughtful decision to protect the future. What are the small good habits of midlife? Experts have pointed out a lot of habits, here are some of that long list. Deal with everyday tasks with a friend: Often people do not consider social interaction as a wellness intervention. The reality of midlife is that it is difficult to find time for yourself, let alone do any work with a busy friend. Join a friend for a walk or workout or go grocery shopping with him. Eat fermented food: Do not forget that trillions of microorganisms, that is, microbiomes, live in your body. The health of these microbiomes is related to your healthy aging. It is deeply related to the immune system and helps in controlling inflammation in the body. Experts say that to take care of those organisms, feed them fermented food. Experts say that from climbing stairs to adding some protein to your daily diet, to sleeping at the same time every night to being aware of the family history of serious illnesses and working on their prevention, adopt habits that will improve your age ahead. The trick is that how you take care of yourself in middle age matters a lot for your later age. Even a few small but good habits can make a big difference when you reach retirement age.