ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Exercising and eating right are key factors in staying healthy. But the American Heart Association says it doesn’t stop there. It says following certain lifestyle habits can not only improve your overall health, but also slow your body’s aging by years.

Tom LaRocca, PhD, Integrative Physiologist at University of Colorado Boulder says, “People are certainly interested in anything that can help you age more successfully.”

As people get older, some worry about how their outward appearance is changing. But doctors say thinking about what’s happening on the inside is crucial.

LaRocca, PhD, says “Most of your physiological functions, the things that your body does, start to decline around age 30 or so.”

A study by the American Heart Association identified eight essential lifestyle habits people should follow to maintain good health. First on the list:

Daniel H. Craighead, PhD, Integrative Physiologist at University of Colorado Boulder says, “Eating a generally healthy diet. So, lots of fruits and vegetables.”

Next, getting enough exercise and staying active.

Craighead, PhD says, “You don’t have to be some sort of super athlete. Getting out and moving every day. A 30-minute walk has pretty tremendous health benefits.”

Rounding out the essential eight list: get a healthy amount of sleep, which is seven to nine hours for adults, don’t smoke, maintain a healthy weight, control cholesterol, manage blood sugar, and keep your blood pressure within a healthy range. The American Heart Association says people who follow all eight have higher cardiovascular health. And that, in turn, decreases a person’s biological age by up to six years. Meaning, their body is aging slower than their actual age.

Craighead, PhD says “So, the best thing is if you’re not physically active, to start. And if you are physically active, never stop.”

The American Heart Association says on the flip side, people with low cardiovascular health tend to have a higher biological age.