Healthy Aging – 7 Secrets for a Longer, Healthier Life

2026 January 06

Scientists estimate that, under optimal conditions, we could live to be 120 years old. In fact, there are a number of ways in which we can live longer whilst maintaining our health, so that we can lead active lives with a sharp mind in our later years. The American preventive medicine specialist and scientist Dr Robert Schneider, MD, has been researching healthy ageing for decades.

As early as 1984, Dr Schneider was one of the first doctors in the USA to practise, teach and conduct scientific research into Maharishi AyurVeda. His clinical research into mind-body medicine, the ageing process and cardiovascular diseases received more than 25 million USD in funding from the US government. The findings of these studies were reported in 150 renowned specialist journals, as well as in more than 1,000 articles in the press, on the radio and on television.

Dr Schneider has served as an adviser to the National Institutes of Health, numerous healthcare organisations, commissions and the US Congress. He lectures on four continents at many academic teaching hospitals, professional societies and public forums. He is a professor and director at the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention and dean of the College of Integrative Medicine at Maharishi University of Management, USA. In addition, Dr Schneider serves as medical director of the award-winning ‘Raj Ayurveda’ health spa in Fairfield, Iowa.

It’s up to us

For a long time, it was assumed that life expectancy was primarily a matter of genetic predisposition. Thanks to modern epigenetics, we now know that our genes are more like a basic blueprint. Which genes are actually expressed, however, depends largely on environmental factors – and thus on our lifestyle. This means: The way we live can have a significant impact on the way we age and keep us young and healthy for as long as possible.

Why Ayurveda?

Ayurveda – the knowledge of life – has a tradition of healthcare stretching back thousands of years. ‘Vaya Sthapan’ describes the path to halting the ageing process and thus corresponds to what we understand today as anti-ageing. What makes Ayurveda unique is its holistic approach, which draws on the wisdom of our own bodily intelligence and nurtures both mind and body from deep within. For if we succeed in harnessing the By ‘restoring memory’ – for example, by reminding the body’s cells, tissues and organs, which are extremely vital and healthy in our younger years, to return to their original functioning as we age, and by harmonising our doshas – we lay an important foundation for long-term wellbeing and ‘healthy ageing’. The great advantage of Ayurveda is that, that individual dosha types can be taken into account, thereby enabling the development of bespoke approaches. This is because Ayurveda recognises that each dosha type ages in its own unique way. Furthermore, Ayurveda offers us three starting points:

Body
Spirit
Environment

The Ageing IQ

By analogy with the well-known IQ score as a measure of intellectual intelligence, Dr Schneider likes to refer to ‘ageing IQ’, which depends on four factors:

Our dosha type
Unserer geistigen Verfassung und Stressbelastung
Digestion and excretion
Quality of sleep

Ganzheitliche Gesundheit Whether we are a restless Vata type, a fiery Pitta type with a sharp mind, or a steadfast, patient Kapha type: our dosha type shapes our body and mind. If you’d like to find out which dosha type you are, click here To our Dosha test. Recognised in Ayurveda for thousands of years, modern science confirms that stress accelerates the ageing process and highlights the importance of looking after one’s mind, digestion, elimination and sleep:

By reducing stress, we can not only halt its negative effects, but in some cases even reverse them.
Our digestion is closely linked to our health.
Our digestion is closely linked to our health

According to Dr Schneider, if we strike a balance in these areas, we increase our personal ‘ageing IQ’ and thereby hold the key to a longer life in our own hands.

Learning from the long-lived: 7 secrets to a long life

In some regions, people live noticeably longer. Not only do they remain physically and mentally fit for longer, they also feel better and are more socially engaged. Seven factors appear to be key to a long, healthy life. These largely confirm traditional Ayurvedic wisdom:

Our article provides daily inspiration Ayurveda and Sport.

Eat in moderation. Ayurveda recommends not overfilling the stomach when eating a meal and specifies that 50 per cent should be solid food, 25 per cent liquids and 25 per cent should be left empty. This ensures there is space in the stomach and helps prevent digestive problems. Here you will find further Ayurvedic Nutritional wisdom.
Opt for a plant-based diet. Ideally, this should include plenty of fruit and fresh (organic) vegetables, pulses as a source of plant-based protein, wholemeal products and healthy oils. There’s even more to discover here Tips on Ayurvedic nutrition.

Reducing stress and anxiety: Maharishi Ayurveda^® Recommends practising Transcendental Meditation twice a day^® (TM). This approach has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by almost half, and noticeably lower biological age – by an average of twelve years after just five years of practising it! What’s more, the way we react to stress is far more important than the stressor itself. You can find out more here Tips for coping with stress from the perspective of Maharishi Ayurveda^®. Anxiety affects not only the immune system, but also the endocrine and digestive systems. This can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and other psychological conditions. More than 600 studies, carried out at over 250 universities and research institutes in 35 countries worldwide, confirm the positive effects of the profound TM meditation practice in many areas of life.
Discover your purpose in life. What would you like to achieve in your life? What are your core values? Tailor your goals accordingly and live by them!
Maintain social contacts, offer help and accept help yourself. Make time for family, friends and others. Strong social relationships make a noticeable contribution to health and longevity.
Finding meaning: Explore universal knowledge, the wisdom and scriptures of your religion or spiritual tradition; spending time with others is good for you.

Behavioural rasayanas as a source of youth

According to Ayurvedic teachings, the ageing process begins in our mind, which in turn influences the body and our emotions. Ayurvedic texts offer a wealth of advice on achieving greater balance and boosting vital energy; they even include behavioural tips described as rasayanas for a long, happy and healthy life:

Don’t put yourself under pressure. There should always be a balance between activity and rest. Don’t overexert yourself – make sure you set aside specific time for rest, leisure, play, fun and enjoyment. Don’t overwork yourself.
Keep hope alive. Optimism has a positive effect on longevity.
Stay calm. View problems as opportunities for development and personal growth. Reflect on the situation and look at it holistically and with empathy.
Respect for others, honesty, humility, non-violence, altruism, compassion, charity, and social and voluntary work. It has been proven that those who do good for others benefit from it themselves.
Regular eating and sleeping patterns promote sleep and aid digestion.
A fresh, balanced and healthy diet: Maharishi Ayurveda^® Recommends preparing fresh, organically grown food that is free from genetic modification. Meat, processed foods, caffeine and alcohol should be avoided where possible or consumed only in moderation.

Dietary supplements. To complement a healthy diet, you can use herbal blends made according to traditional Ayurvedic recipes as dietary supplements. Furthermore, Maharishi Ayurveda recognises^® A whole range of rasayanas specifically tailored to particular groups, such as rasayanas for children, Students, Women and Men. However, Dr Schneider’s absolute favourite rasayana for all dosha types is Amrit Kalash.

We hope you find great joy and fulfilment in putting these Ayurvedic recommendations into practice. May they help you to stay fit and healthy for many years to come! Your team at Maharishi Ayurveda References: Schneider, Robert H.: Total Heart Health