If you followed me around for a week, you’d notice some obvious health habits: regular exercise, flossing, and taking vitamins. But you’d also see a number of habits that might surprise you.
Below I share the less obvious, sometimes “weird,” health practices that help keep me well at 67. These are practical, evidence-informed, and suited to long-term wellbeing.
1) I eat between five and ten different vegetables daily.
Variety matters more than volume. Different vegetables feed different microbial communities in your mouth and gut. A two-ingredient green smoothie feeds a few microbes; a salad with eight ingredients feeds a neighborhood of beneficial organisms. Yesterday I had spinach, arugula, radishes, beets, carrots, fennel, parsley, and celery—eight before lunch.
2) I babysit my grandchildren regularly.
Having a strong sense of purpose is linked to longer life and slower cognitive decline. Studies show people with higher life-purpose scores have lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Feeling needed—picking up grandkids from school or hosting them on weekends—gives everyday meaning and measurable health benefits.
3) My wife and I go to bed at the same time every night.
Couples who share a sleep schedule enjoy better sleep quality and lower morning cortisol. We talk about sleep first thing in the morning—“How did you sleep?”—and use our data to adjust bedroom temperature, humidity, light, and evening routines. Sleep is a shared project for us.
4) I keep fresh flowers in the house.
While there’s no longevity study proving flowers extend life, they boost my mood every morning. Creating beauty in our living space matters for wellbeing, even if its benefits are harder to measure.
5) I replace my toothbrush head every four weeks.
Although common advice suggests replacing a brush every three months, worn bristles can become too sharp and wear down enamel, causing gum recession. Replacing the head every four weeks is an inexpensive way to protect teeth and gums from long-term damage.
6) I spend meaningful time outdoors and walk after dinner.
Morning light within an hour of waking helps set circadian rhythm; I notice worse sleep scores when I miss it. A short walk after dinner reduces post-meal glucose spikes and helps the nervous system shift into a restful evening state.
7) I use a mandibular advancement device while sleeping.
This reduced my snoring, made my sleep more continuous, and increased deep sleep on my tracker. Even mild breathing disruption during sleep raises inflammation, lowers growth hormone, and accelerates cardiovascular and cognitive decline. If you snore, evaluating your airway is one of the most impactful health moves you can make.
8) I swish with a CoQ10–MCT oil blend in the morning and avoid mouthwash.
Conventional and “natural” mouthwashes kill oral bacteria indiscriminately, including beneficial commensals that produce nitric oxide and help maintain saliva pH. Frequent mouthwash use has been linked with higher blood pressure in the literature. Instead I oil-pull with a CoQ10 and MCT oil blend before brushing; it feels hydrating and supports oral ecology without wiping out helpful microbes.
9) I scrape my tongue every day.
A stainless steel tongue scraper is inexpensive and lasts a lifetime. Fifteen seconds and one or two passes lift the overnight biofilm off the tongue, reducing morning breath and improving taste. It’s a high-return, low-cost habit.
10) I drink green tea every day and travel with it.
Green tea is well studied for cardiovascular and oral health. Its EGCG inhibits the enzymes Streptococcus mutans uses to build sticky biofilm, which helps reduce tooth decay risk. I bring high-quality single-serve sachets when I travel because most green tea served in restaurants is poorly brewed or low grade.
These are some of the small, consistent habits that add up. What unusual or high-impact routines are on your list for staying healthy?
-Dr. B
