If you want to live a longer, healthier life, it often starts with the small choices you make every day. What you eat, how often you move and the way you behave can make a big difference when it comes to healthy aging.
However, social media often pushes a different narrative. From biohacking to unproven supplements, there’s no shortage of extreme and costly longevity fads.
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist and professor of medical ethics at the University of Pennsylvania, previously spoke to TODAY.com about his top science-backed wellness habits to adopt before trying hacks like peptides.
When asked about his favorite activity to promote healthy aging, Emanuel’s answer isn’t one most people expect.
Aging Tip of the Day: Throw a Dinner Party to Boost Longevity and Overall Health
“If you asked me to recommend one thing, I’d say throw a dinner party,” says Emanuel, who authored “Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life.”
“Go have good conversations over a good meal with your friends, neighbors or new acquaintances,” Emanuel emphasizes.
A dinner party is good for your health in a number of ways. First, it facilitates social interaction and connectedness.
Cooking at home often encourages healthier eating. “You’ve got good food, and you’ve made that good food,” says Emanuel.
It also requires some planning. “It’s a little mentally challenging. You have to think about recipes, follow them and stay organized.”
Cleaning up afterward is a form of physical activity. “If you go out for a walk after, you’ve really done it all,” Emanuel adds.
Why It Matters
Social activities like dinner parties tend to get overlooked in the wellness space, Emanuel says. “I think both the medical profession and the public under-appreciate how important social relations are for your biological health.”
“Social interaction is essential to human beings. We’re social animals, and we have big brains for a reason … to communicate and engage,” Emanuel adds.
Sharing a meal and connecting with others may help lower the stress hormone cortisol and boost mood-enhancing oxytocin. It’s an antidote to social isolation, which can increase risk of age-related cognitive decline, TODAY.com reported previously.
How to Get Started
There are no hard and fast rules to hosting a dinner party.
If you don’t want to cook, try having a potluck and ask guests to bring their favorite dish, says Emanuel.
He recommends inviting a mix of friends and making an effort to engage in interesting conversation.
Being present is important — so you may want to put your phone away for a few hours and ask your guests to do the same. And if you need liquid courage, a little wine probably won’t hurt.
TODAY’s Expert Tip of the Day series is all about simple strategies to make life a little easier. Every Monday through Friday, different qualified experts share their best advice on diet, fitness, heart health, mental wellness and more.
