10 Habits That Are Aging You Faster — A Checklist from the Chief Physician of Palace Merano
Why the Way You Live Every Day Matters More Than Any Treatment
Most people think aging is something that happens to them, a slow, inevitable process shaped largely by genetics and time. But according to the medical team at Palace Merano, Italy’s first medical spa hotel, the reality is far more nuanced. And far more hopeful.
The habits you repeat every single day—how you eat, how you sleep, how you move, and how you decompress—are actively determining how fast your body ages. And many of the most damaging ones feel completely normal.
Dr. Massimiliano Mairhofer, Medical Director of Palace Merano, has spent decades observing what accelerates aging in otherwise healthy, high-functioning people. His findings are direct, evidence-based, and remarkably practical.
Here are the 10 mistakes he sees most often, and what to do instead.
The Palace Merano Philosophy: Balance Is Health
Before diving into the checklist, it’s worth understanding the lens through which Palace Merano approaches wellbeing.
Their signature Revital® method—developed over 20 years—combines traditional Chinese medicine, advanced diagnostic technology, and highly individualized wellness programs.
The philosophy is rooted in one core idea: true health is harmony between the mental and the physical.
As Dr. Mairhofer puts it: “We are connected 24 hours a day. Even at night, we think about what’s happening on the other side of the world. This constant connectivity prevents us from achieving the balance that is health.”
That imbalance, he notes, manifests in psychosomatic conditions—psoriasis, acne, allergies, gastritis, colitis—that are often treated symptomatically rather than at the source.
The checklist below addresses the source.
Mistake #1: Eating the Same Foods Every Day
Most of us rotate through a surprisingly small number of foods—five, six, or ten at most. We’ve effectively eliminated variety from our diets without realizing it.
Legumes are a perfect example.
Beans, lentils, and chickpeas have largely disappeared from modern Western plates, often dismissed because they cause bloating. But according to Dr. Mairhofer, that discomfort points to a gut health issue or poor chewing habits—not a problem with the food itself.
Dietary diversity is foundational to longevity.
Think of food as premium fuel: the quality of what goes in directly determines the quality of what comes out.
Mistake #2: Eating on the Run
Ask yourself, what did you eat two hours ago? If you struggle to answer, you’re not alone.
Eating quickly and mindlessly is one of the most overlooked contributors to poor digestion, nutrient deficiency, and weight dysregulation.
The Revital® approach recommends chewing each bite at least 30 times — a practice that feels strange at first and transformative over time.
Mindful eating isn’t a wellness trend. It’s the foundation of proper digestion.
Mistake #3: Not Drinking Enough Water
Hydration is perhaps the simplest lever in longevity—and one of the most consistently neglected.
The rule at Palace Merano is elegantly straightforward: every time you use the restroom, drink water to replenish what you’ve lost.
No apps, no calculations. Just a consistent, embodied habit.
Mistake #4: Chasing Supplements Instead of Moving
The wellness industry has made it easy to believe that the right combination of pills, injections, and powders can compensate for a sedentary lifestyle. They can’t.
Dr. Mairhofer is unequivocal on this point: “No one will ever invent a pill for exercise.”
Screens, he adds, are among the most underestimated health risks of our era — and within a generation, we will begin to see the full consequences of that exposure.
Movement is irreplaceable. Full stop.
Mistake #5: Choosing Foods That Are Too Extreme
The best nutritional strategy, according to Palace Merano’s medical team, is avoiding extremes in both directions—foods that over-acidify the body (salt, red meat, processed deli meats) and foods that spike blood sugar and convert directly to fat (pastries, sweets, refined carbohydrates).
The croissant-and-coffee breakfast so many of us default to?
Dr. Mairhofer calls it the worst possible way to start the day. An occasional indulgence is fine.
A daily ritual, it is not.
Mistake #6: Neglecting Sleep
Sleep is one of what Dr. Mairhofer identifies as the three keys to longevity—alongside nutrition and movement.
Quality sleep requires three things: silence, darkness, and no electronic devices for at least 30 minutes before bed.
Screen light suppresses melatonin and disrupts circadian rhythms in ways that compound quietly over years.
Poor sleep doesn’t just make you tired — it accelerates cellular aging.
Mistake #7: Ignoring What Your Body Is Telling You
Recurring headaches. Persistent fatigue. Disrupted sleep. Unexplained loss of appetite.
These symptoms are routinely attributed to stress and pushed aside. But in Dr. Mairhofer’s view, they are direct communications from a body that needs rest—and ignoring them has real consequences.
Learning to listen to your body is a skill. And like most skills, it can be developed.
Mistake #8: Having No Personal Stress Ritual
Everyone needs a way to decompress that is genuinely their own.
Not a generic recommendation, but something personal — dancing, reading, yoga, music, time in nature.
“Deep down, we know what brings us joy,” says Dr. Mairhofer. “But we rarely give ourselves permission to prioritize it.”
Mindfulness, in the Palace Merano model, isn’t meditation by default. It’s the cultivation of awareness about what restores you—and the discipline to protect that time.
Mistake #9: Believing Your Genes Decide Your Future
Genetic fatalism is one of the most common—and most limiting—beliefs Dr. Mairhofer encounters.
Yes, we inherit predispositions. But the science of epigenetics has shifted the conversation significantly.
Lifestyle choices—what we eat, how we sleep, how we manage stress, how much we move—actively influence how genes express themselves.
The habits described in this checklist don’t just affect how you feel today. They can change your biological trajectory.
Mistake #10: Holding On to Habits You Know Are Harmful
Humans, Dr. Mairhofer notes, are the only animals that knowingly and repeatedly consume things they know are bad for them.
His recommendations are direct: eliminate smoking entirely, limit coffee to one or two cups a day, and avoid processed meats — which contain nitrites and nitrates at concentrations comparable in carcinogenic potential to cigarette smoke.
The distinction he draws is worth holding onto: “Junk food creates empty energy. Real food rebuilds you.”
About Palace Merano
Palace Merano is Italy’s first medical spa hotel, located in the alpine town of Merano in northern Italy. For over 20 years, the hotel has operated beyond the boundaries of conventional wellness — combining regenerative medicine, Chinese medicine traditions, and advanced diagnostics under one roof.
The signature Revital® method remains the cornerstone of the Palace Merano experience, offering guests personalized programs for detox, rejuvenation, and longevity in one of Europe’s most beautiful and restorative settings. The hotel’s 99 rooms and suites — including 14 junior suites and 30 suites — are designed to support deep recovery from arrival to departure.
Guests who have sought care here include heads of state, Olympic athletes, and some of the world’s most recognized public figures.
Plan Your Wellness Journey to Palace Merano
At Travel Club US, we specialize in curating luxury wellness travel for clients who take their health as seriously as they take their work and their lives. Palace Merano is one of a small number of properties worldwide that we recommend without reservation for medically guided longevity and rejuvenation programs.
Whether you’re looking for a full Revital® program, a short reset between commitments, or a comprehensive anti-aging experience in one of Europe’s most beautiful destinations — we can design the journey around you.
✨ Ready to stop aging faster and start living better? We’ll handle every detail — from program selection to travel logistics.
Ready to Travel Well?
