For too long, many people have subscribed to the culture of ‘fearing the aging process’, but aging is only natural and it’s a journey everyone must take. Most people covet the celebrity-social-media life of individuals who flaunt their seemingly flawless skin, looking younger than they actually are, and then believe that getting older is something to be avoided at all costs. It is not!
Getting older should rather be appreciated than avoided. It is understandable to miss those youthful years when you were young, beautiful and so full of energy, but it is important to acknowledge the natural passage of time.
Implementing these 5 Healthy Aging tips at whatever age you are now not only increases your chance of living a long life but also gives you the greatest opportunity for the best quality of life throughout your golden years.
- Eat a Healthy Diet
As we age, an important factor that needs to be considered is our dietary change. A healthy diet contributes to maintaining a healthy weight and ensures your muscles, bones, organs and other areas of your body stay strong throughout your life.
Making healthy choices by eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet that includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, low-fat dairy, nuts, and drinking enough water is just as important as ever.
Staying away from processed foods, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats can prevent foodborne illness. Minimizing your salt intake is equally important because it can help keep your blood pressure down.
- Stay Physically Active
Exercise and physical activity can help you stay fit and strong. Not only can it help you maintain a healthy weight, but can also postpone disability, preserve bone and muscle mass, ward off some chronic conditions, help prevent falls, and reduce symptoms of depression.
Staying physically active is not limited to structured exercise routines alone, but includes fun activities like walking, dancing, gardening, swimming, biking, and yoga, which can give you a greater sense of well-being and improve your agility, your mental health, and your ability to sleep well.
- Manage Your Health
One of the most important things that can be done to help you enjoy the aging process, is to make sure your healthcare is proactively managed. It is essential that you work with your healthcare provider to manage health conditions that might arise from the inevitable consequences of aging such as hearing or vision loss, cognitive impairment, disability and any serious illness.
The best way to recognize health problems is through ‘Health Screenings’. Through regular screenings, you have the opportunity to tackle emerging health problems head-on before they can progress to an advanced stage.
- Get Enough Sleep
It’s the simplest thing that you can do for healthy aging. Getting yourself a good sleep isn’t only beneficial to your physical health, but also your mental health. Sleeping regularly will help promote mental alertness and help keep your stress levels in check.
Not only does sleep heal and repair the body, it can also reduce inflammation, improve focus and concentration, and lower the risk of obesity, heart disease and stroke.
However, getting the required sleep is relative to your age. Adults should get up to 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night.
- Keep The Mind Active
Keeping your mind engaged plays an important role in maintaining good brain health. Studies indicate that people who actively engage their minds are happier, experience less depression, and live longer.
Social isolation is bad for brain health. Loneliness has been linked to higher risk for dementia and less social activity to poorer cognitive function.
There are several ways you can keep your mind engaged. By doing things like reading, spending time with your family and friends, learning new hobbies and going out for a walk can keep your mind active.
Conclusion
Healthy Aging isn’t about trying to look young. It’s about appreciating the changes that come with your age by living your best life and having the physical and mental health to enjoy it.
Implementing the above tips would prove beneficial in optimizing your health, thereby ensuring your chance of having a long, quality life.
It’s natural to worry about the challenges of aging, but to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it would be wise to make the most of the years ahead!
