How to stay fit, healthy and vital as you age

Everyone is the age of their heart. ~Guatemalan Proverb

Nobody enjoys the ageing process, yet it is happening to us all every second of every day.

As the years pass by, many people find that the lifestyle that worked in their  30s and 40s fails to achieve the same results in their 50s and 60s.  It is vital that you pay more attention to your health and learn to look after yourself as you grow older so that you can stay fit, vital and healthy for the rest of your life. The better you take care of yourself every day, the more certain you will be that your health is in tip-top condition. Here is a simple guide that will help every body out there.

Image Source: Leo

Eat for your health

No matter what age you are, you need to think about what you eat. As you age, though, you might find that you need to alter your diet on a daily basis. Sometimes, people develop dietary issues as they age because of a of a loss of stomach acid. You might find that you can no longer eat dairy products without feeling sick, or that bread makes you bloat so ensure that you tailor your diet to suit your needs. Personally I take digestive enzymes to ensure that I can digest and absorb as much nutrition from the food that I eat as I can.

Ditching processed foods makes complete sense too after all, all that salt, sugar and saturated fat is a recipe for heart disease and hypertension, never mind the likelihood of weight gain.

Did you know that taking up a Mediterranean diet and replacing  junk foods with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, salads dressed with olive oil and lemon juice and whole grains, oily fish and organic meat has been proven to  protect against major chronic diseases. Oh and you can enjoy moderate wine consumption too.

Exercise to your heart’s content

It is crucial to your health that you exercise every single day.Sure, some days you might not feel like you have enough energy to workout but the benefits of regular exercise are too many to ignore.

Did you know that when you exercise, you get more energy than you had before you got your boy moving? If you get your blood pumping, your body releases hormones, which make you feel alive and awake. That means that after some cardiovascular work, you will feel more energised  than you did before you started.

We all want to stay independent as we get older..Strength training is a proven way to prevent age-related declines in muscle and bone mass which can lead to frailty and fracture. The great news is that you only need about 90 minutes a week to bring you the bone density you need to prevent osteoporosis.

Have regular medical check-ups

Whatever your approach to how you treat your ailments, you’ll want to make sure that you keep an eye on your general health if you want to stay fit. Many people suffer from an innate fear of doctors but id you avoid going for general check-ups, you may find that you miss the warning signs that something is a bit off.

So many severe health issues can be reversed and prevented once we have the information we need to address them. I am not a great one for taking prescription medication unless there is a dire emergency as experience has shown me that nature offers amazing natural foods and herbal remedies, however I do rely on my doctor to advise me on my state of health and where I need to pay attention and take action.

Ask people when you need help

We have all lead such self-sufficient lives that it can be uncomfortable to think that we might need a helping hand. No one likes to think that they can’t take care of themselves anymore, and no one wants to lose their independence.  So it is understanding that sometimes, people are afraid when it comes to asking for help.

If you are struggling and feel as though you need extra care for a while, it is important that you ask people for it. If you are struggling at home, you could have a carer come and see you and help you out. Alternately, if you have a condition where you need more help than a part time carer can offer you might want to consider moving into a nursing home where you can get round the clock attention.

The first step in getting better is admitting that you need some help. Remember, it is never a sign of weakness to ask others to help you. In fact, doing so is a brave and courageous move

Find things that you enjoy

I was delighted to see an article recently abut The “Awe” Experience and how experiencing new things prevents ageing. It sounds amazing when you think about it, that you can  feel healthy each day simply by doing new things.

Sure, it might be tempting to stay keep yourself to yourself, but there is a big world out there waiting for you to get out enjoy life to the full.

Research shows  that a sense of awe promotes better health, more efficient brain function and an improved cardiovascular system. So make sure that you keep yourself busy and have a great social life because it seems that when you have things to look forward to in the future, you will feel more cheerful, optimistic and lively.

Stretch your mind

The good news is that you can use your brain to change your age. Incredible as it may sound brain workouts really do help reverse the effects of ageing all over your body. Whatever your age, the  more you use it, the stronger, the more adaptive, and the more resilient your brain becomes, and some scientists now believe that your body is only as healthy as you brain.

You’re never too old to learn something new so take up a new hobby or go back to a favourite but neglected pastime and get your neurological cogs moving again.

What do you think?

How do you keep young and vital? Have you  kept up-to-date on technology developments? Do you travel more? Have you changed your routine and found that eating different foods and exercising has had a positive impact on your life? Can you offer any advice on ageing slowly and positivley?

As always, your interaction with our posts creates a reservoir of wisdom for all our readers to benefit from so please share your thoughts, stories and questions in the comments box below and remember to tweet, like and +1 ~ thanks.

 

Additional Resources
The Wrinkle Cleanse: The 14-day Diet to Naturally Reverse the Signs of Ageing
[VIDEO] Harvard Diet Study ‘middle-age spread’ – Smart Health
Learning New Things Helps Your Mind Stay Young