Geriatrician reveals the habit the healthiest people over 80 always avoid

What doesn’t kill you just might make you age better.A geriatrician has revealed the one lifelong habit she says her older patients seem to share —  and it’s not a special diet or expensive supplement.According to Dr.Stephanie Rogers, they all sidestep a particularly cozy condition.“The healthiest people that I see in their 80s and 90s as a geriatrician all avoided one thing over and over and over throughout their entire lifetime, and that is comfort,” Rogers said in a TikTok video.

“If you really want to age well, avoid getting comfortable and always try new things.”Her advice is rooted in a scientific concept called hormesis, the idea that exposing the body to small, manageable doses of stress can trigger beneficial adaptations, while higher doses can be harmful.“You want to challenge your body enough to push your body to adapt, but not so strongly that it causes some harm,” Rogers explained.That controlled, mild stress helps build resilience, making the body and brain better equipped to handle future challenges.

Hormesis, however, isn’t necessarily a shortcut to a longer life.Most experimental evidence on hormesis suggests it improves health during aging rather than extending lifespan.

Researchers say the strongest evidence still points to regular exercise, a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight as the best ways to support longevity.Common examples of hormesis include strength training, as it creates tiny muscle tears that signal muscles and the cardiovascular system to rebuild stronger, and eating plant compounds such as resveratrol — found in grapes and berries — and sulforaphane, found in cruciferous vegetables.These mild toxins activate the body’s natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defenses.

For physical health, Rogers recommends constantly challenging your body in new ways.“If you want to age well in your body, you always want to try new movements, new exercises, new ways of moving your body and challenging ...