As we get older, our bodies need a little extra care and attention to stay fit and healthy. It is never too late – or too early – to implement a health and fitness routine.
Everyone – even the most glamorous and beautiful Hollywood movie stars will show signs of aging – a line here, a wrinkle there, a smattering of grey hair everywhere. It is an inevitable part of life, and while you can’t stop it, there are steps that you can take to reduce it. However, even more important than your appearance is how physically well and fit you are.
Being unfit dramatically increases the chances of heart disease, dementia, and various other conditions, so it is in your best interest to take action as soon as possible. Here, we look at some of the things that you can do.
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Walk to keep your heart healthy
One of the best forms of exercise for everyone, but particularly for those who are of an advanced age, is walking. It is gentle enough not to put too much of a strain on the muscles, bones, and organs, but strenuous enough to make a difference. Try to walk for at least thirty minutes a day, five days a week.
Increase your bone density
According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, osteoporosis-which causes brittle bones-affects about 22 million women and 5.5 million men aged between 50 and 84. Prescription drugs can slow it down but there is no cure. Start taking steps to prevent fractures and strengthen the bones right now: stair-climbing equipment, cross-training equipment, vigorous walking, weightlifting with mild resistance, exercising with resistance bands and even gardening will all help to minimize the rate of natural bone loss. United Healthcare silver sneakers are a great way to find classes and advice to help you with this.
Eat smart
Eating a healthy and balanced diet is encouraged at any age, but with more than nine million cases of dementia in Europe alone, it is vital to protect the brain as we get older. It does not have to be extreme-easy dietary choices like eating plenty of oily fish, olive oil, fruit, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids can help nurture your brain matter and give you plenty of energy to stay healthy as you get older.
Quit the bad habits
Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be a big drinker to damage your liver. Just a couple of alcoholic drinks every day can cause issues. No one is saying that you have to ditch your favorite tipple completely, but keep to the limit and try to have at least three days a week without an alcoholic drink.
It’s important to have a healthy approach to bad habits early in life, because when we hit the point later in life if we need 24 hour in home care or we require the help of others to support us, we could look back on the bad habits as the starting point, and if we kept control of them, we maybe wouldn’t have needed their help sooner.
Smoking is a whole different story – if you can ditch it completely then do it. There are no benefits whatsoever to the habit and plenty of drawbacks, from increasing your chances of cancer, lung disease, heart disease, and strokes, to name but a few.
Staying fit and healthy as you age doesn’t have to be difficult. Taking a few steps as early on as possible can mean that you reap the rewards later on.
Thank you for reading!
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