Health
Martha Stewart shares 7 tips for aging well: ‘Look good, feel good, be good’
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Martha Stewart has emphasized her focus on healthy living, as she remains physically active and engaged in business and creative pursuits well into her 80s.
On a recent episode of the podcast “50 & Unfiltered,” the lifestyle icon, 84, spoke with her longtime friend and colleague, QVC host Shawn Killinger, about a variety of topics, including wellness, resilience and living with a sense of purpose.
During the discussion, Stewart shared some of her top secrets to aging gracefully.
CREATIVE HOBBIES KEEP THE BRAIN YOUNG, STUDY FINDS; HERE ARE THE BEST ONES TO PURSUE
No. 1: Treat aging like a discipline, not a decline
Stewart shared that she believes aging well is the result of consistent self-care, regular maintenance and long-term discipline rather than pursuing drastic fixes.
Martha Stewart has emphasized her focus on healthy living, as she remains physically active and engaged in business and creative pursuits well into her 80s. (Getty Images)
“It doesn’t appeal to me,” she said when asked about her thoughts on plastic surgery. “I have this theory that if one takes care of oneself really well and follows strict but not life-threatening kinds of disciplines, one can look good, feel good and be good for a whole life.”
No. 2: Focus on looking better, not just younger
While Stewart has said that she avoids plastic surgery, she supports other people’s personal choices. On the podcast, she shared a story of her own mother’s experience.
“My mother came to me when she was 85 and asked if I would help her get a facelift,” she said. Stewart then took her to see a well-known New York plastic surgeon.
SCIENTISTS REVEAL THE ONE PRACTICE THAT COULD PREVENT DEMENTIA AS YOU AGE
“He looked at her and said, ‘You’re a beautiful woman. I can’t make you look younger, but I can make you look better,’” she recalled. “So she went for it… and she looked great.”
“One of my mottos is: Learn something new every day.”
Despite her lack of interest in going under the knife, Stewart acknowledged that maintaining her appearance requires ongoing effort.
“I’m 84 years old… and I’m trying so hard to look really good,” she said, sharing that she does have a facial wax every three months.
No. 3: Stay busy, curious and productive
Stewart has credited her busy schedule and strong curiosity as key to staying sharp and engaged well into her 80s.
“I like to work, and I like to learn, and I like to go places, and I like to be busy,” she replied when asked about her numerous commitments. “I like to be productive. One of my mottos is: Learn something new every day.”
Stewart, pictured in May 2025, shared that she believes aging well is the result of consistent self-care, regular maintenance and long-term discipline rather than pursuing drastic fixes. (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Stewart said her parents always encouraged her and her siblings to be “really, really proactively busy and [to] learn stuff.”
When asked if she ever gets tired, Stewart admitted that she does, but said she doesn’t let fatigue slow her down. “I was sick for a week, but I had to keep working,” she said. “I can never take off.”
No. 4: Keep evolving, but don’t ‘reinvent’ yourself
One of Stewart’s most widely known mottos is, “When you’re through changing, you’re through.”
“Everybody says, ‘Oh, you’re reinventing yourself,’” she said. “I’m not reinventing.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Instead, Stewart embraces the idea of gradually, naturally evolving — in everything from appearance to daily habits and career pursuits.
“To reinvent means total change — but you can’t,” she said. “I’m not changing my bodily shape or anything, except to get better, hopefully.”
No. 5: Prioritize toughness and self-acceptance
Persistence and resilience are key to overcoming setbacks and achieving goals, according to Stewart.
“I think I’ve always been tough,” she said. “I’ve lived through it all. You can’t be sensitive.”
At 84, Stewart said she has “pretty much everything she needs,” and expressed a desire to spend more time with her family. (Getty Images)
She also distinguishes between finding happiness and being at peace with yourself.
“I’m happy with myself,” Stewart added.
No. 6: Prioritize family and physical capability
At 84, Stewart said she has “pretty much everything she needs,” and expressed a desire to spend more time with her family.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
She also emphasized the importance of maintaining the physical capability to enjoy demanding activities, like hiding, horseback riding and rafting, all of which she planned to do during an upcoming family trip to Utah.
No. 7: Be practical — and unafraid — about mortality
When the podcast conversation turned to end-of-life plans, Killinger asked Stewart about her thoughts on cremation. “I’m going to be composted,” she replied.
“When you’re through changing, you’re through.”
When asked to elaborate, Stewart said her preference mirrors the burial of her beloved animals over the years.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“When one of my horses dies, we dig a giant hole really deep in one of my fields,” she shared. “We have a pet cemetery, and the horse is wrapped in a thin white linen sheet and is very carefully dropped down into this giant, lovely grave. I want to go there.”
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
When asked whether that’s allowed, Stewart said, “It’s not going to hurt anybody. It’s my property.”
She added that traditional burial procedures, such as coffins and tombstones, don’t appeal to her.
Fox News Digital reached out to Stewart requesting comment.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A simple lifestyle adjustment could potentially slow down the body’s biological aging process, according to new research.
The study, published in the journal Aging, investigated how a diet change and easy exercise regimen affected men between the ages of 50 and 74 over a three-month period.
Researchers designed a clinical trial involving 48 overweight men in Japan. Over a 12-week period, half of the participants followed a strictly structured wellness routine, while the other half maintained their usual habits.
DOCTORS SAY 8 FORGOTTEN HABITS COULD HELP FIGHT STRESS, OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE
For the intervention group, the routine required consuming 100 grams of plain yogurt every day.
This group also received individualized dietary counseling that advised them to curb overeating, avoid excessive snacking and cut out sugary drinks.
A simple lifestyle adjustment could potentially slow down the body’s biological aging process, according to new research. (iStock)
They were also instructed to walk or use a stepper machine for roughly 30 minutes a day, at least three days each week.
To measure the impact of these changes, the scientists collected blood samples from all participants before and after the study, and also analyzed DNA for chemical changes that act as indicators of cellular age.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Specifically, they used a measurement tool called DunedinPACE. Rather than assessing a person’s chronological age in years, this tool calculates the precise rate at which an individual’s body is currently aging.
The men who consumed the probiotic yogurt, adjusted their diets and exercised showed a statistically significant reduction in their pace of aging compared to the control group, the researchers said.
The anti-aging benefits cannot be attributed to any single component on its own due to the variety in the study, the researchers noted. (iStock)
On average, the speed of their biological aging slowed by approximately 2.2%. This reduction is roughly comparable to the slowing of biological aging observed in a previous two-year U.S. study, in which participants reduced their daily calorie intake by 25%.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
This reduction in aging speed happened independently of weight loss , meaning it did not directly correlate with changes in the participants’ body mass index or the exact number of exercise sessions they logged.
The researchers also recorded a noticeable improvement in a specific DNA marker that is linked to kidney function.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Because this study combined three distinct factors — probiotics, diet and exercise — the authors concluded that the anti-aging benefits cannot be attributed to any single component. Instead, the slowed aging rate appears to be the result of a combined effect.
The reduction in aging speed happened independently of weight loss, the study found. (iStock)
The researchers also acknowledged clear limitations of the study, including its small sample size and short duration. Also, the participant pool was restricted to overweight men of a single nationality.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
More research is needed to determine whether these short-term biological shifts can translate into permanent, long-term health benefits, the study stated.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The simple act of noting how fast your heart is beating while you’re at rest may be the key to measuring your overall health.
Resting heart rate is defined by Mayo Clinic as the number of times your heart beats each minute while you’re awake, calm and not moving.
A normal resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute for adults. A slower resting heart rate means the heart does not have the work as heard to pump blood through the body — something typical of someone who is more fit.
LATEST COVID VACCINE MAY HAVE UNEXPECTED HEALTH BENEFIT, STUDY SUGGESTS
Athletes who are very fit may have a resting heart rate closer to 40 beats per minute, according to Mayo Clinic.
Your resting heart rate can vary due to a variety of factors, including age, physical activity levels, sleep health, smoking, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, stress, anxiety, hormones, body type and certain medications.
A normal resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute for adults, according to medical experts. (iStock)
But a resting heart rate that’s often too high or too low may signal a health issue.
WEEKLY WEIGHTLIFTING SWEET SPOT MAY BE LINKED TO LONGER LIFE, STUDY SAYS
A high resting heart rate, even if it’s slight, is usually a sign that something else may be going on in the body, such as anemia, an infection or a thyroid problem, according to Cleveland Clinic.
A high resting heart rate, even if it’s slight, is usually a sign that something else may be going on in the body. (iStock)
If your heart rate is regularly above 100 beats per minute, this is a sign to talk with your heart care provider.
The same advice applies if you are not a trained athlete and your resting heart rate is frequently below 60 beats per minute.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Talk to your doctor if other symptoms such as fainting, dizziness or shortness of breath occur.
How to measure your heart rate
You can check your own heart rate by tracking your pulse on your wrist or neck. The best time of day to measure resting heart rate is first thing in the morning, says Mayo Clinic.
Place your index and middle fingers inside the wrist below the thumb, to feel the radial artery; or, do so on the side of the neck, to feel the carotid artery.
Place your index and middle fingers on the side of the neck, to feel the carotid artery — and count how many beats per minute. (iStock)
Count the number of times your pulse beats in 15 seconds, then multiply this number by four to calculate beats per minute.
Wearable devices can also detect and track resting heart rate, although this may not always be accurate.
How to lower your heart rate
If your resting heart rate is higher than normal, there are a few ways to work toward lowering it.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Vigorous exercise is “the best way” to lower your resting heart rate and increase the heart’s aerobic capacity and max heart rate, according to Harvard.
For those who don’t exercise regularly, it’s important to work your way up in difficulty when following a new workout routine.
Vigorous exercise is “the best way” to lower your resting heart rate, Harvard Health says. But it’s vital to work your way up carefully. (iStock)
Some medications, such as beta blockers, can also lower heart rate. In the same way, managing stress through holistic methods such as meditation or yoga can also help.
Cleveland Clinic also recommends cutting back on harmful substances such as drugs and alcohol, which can dehydrate you and raise your heart rate.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Adequate sleep can also help bring your heart rate down, in addition to maintaining a healthy weight.
Cardiologist Tamanna Singh, M.D., shared with Cleveland Clinic that lowering your heart rate takes time as various lifestyle changes kick in.
Managing stress through holistic methods such as meditation or yoga can help lower your resting heart rate,
“Just like building your biceps and triceps, it takes time for your heart to become stronger,” the doctor said.
Singh recommended focusing on heart rate patterns rather than dialing in on just the number.
Take note of how your heart rate changes after eating certain foods, when you’re dehydrated or after you’ve begun a new exercise or stress management routine.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“If you notice that your heart rate is consistently over 100, mention it to your doctor, especially if you’ve tried making lifestyle changes and they don’t seem to be working,” she said.
“Your resting heart rate isn’t the be-all, end-all of your health, but it’s definitely a marker that you should pay attention to.”
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
-
Georgia7 minutes agoHow Georgia football can make sure they are the defining program of the 2020s
-
Hawaii10 minutes agoFilipino dignitaries embrace RIMPAC hospitality amid outside protests – Hawaii Tribune-Herald
-
Idaho15 minutes agoFollow the clues and find $15,000 in East Idaho's biggest treasure hunt yet
-
Illinois22 minutes agoReal estate sales in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford counties for July 11, 2026
-
Indiana25 minutes ago4-vehicle crash shuts down eastbound I-94 in Michigan City, Indiana
-
Iowa29 minutes ago‘Best friend,’ teen describes her grandma, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds
-
Kentucky40 minutes ago11 Amazing Kentucky Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive In 2026
-
Louisiana45 minutes agoLouisiana judge admits to misconduct; is suspended without pay for rest of term
