“One thing is clear: in the 21st century we’re living longer than ever before. However, I have my doubts that our quality of life will be preserved.” This quote can be found in the opening pages of the book The Challenge Is Not to Grow Old, by nephrologist Borja Quiroga – and it perfectly sums up the reason behind the current hype surrounding longevity.
Deep down, it’s not that we want to live longer, but that we want to live better. In the midst of all this discussion, the expert has turned the spotlight on an organ that’s been somewhat overlooked in this conversation about ageing: the kidneys. He also shares the small, everyday habits that may not just extend lifespan, but will certainly help us live (and age) healthily. “One of the keys to anti-ageing lies in the kidneys: the protein it produces, called klotho. When we lose klotho, we age prematurely. And since it’s found in the kidneys, this happens when we develop chronic kidney disease (15% of the population has it, but only half are aware of it). “Kidney care is one of the least understood health habits and we need to convey its importance to society, politicians and all stakeholders in the healthcare sector,” he explains.
With his help, we break down all these best practices for kidney and overall health:
Watching televsion standing (and other daily activities that burn calories)
A healthy metabolism doesn’t rely solely on physical exercise. And even though gyms are packed and we’ve embraced strength training and cardio, we remain a sedentary society for the remaining 23 hours of the day when we’re not at the gym. “The key to staying metabolically healthy is striking a balance between the calories we take in (what we eat) and the calories we burn (what we expend). We always think of physical exercise as the main source of calorie expenditure. But in our daily lives, we can also burn calories through everyday activities without even realising it. NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) is a term coined to refer to the daily activities that help us burn those calories, such as watching TV while standing, climbing stairs or not sitting on public transportation. This calorie burn can account for up to 30% of our daily total,” reflects Quiroga. Other helpful activities include carrying grocery bags, walking uphill or walking the dog.
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