Sensational Seniors: Tips on Staying Healthy and Active at Any Age
Submitted by Lydia Chan
No matter your age, your health and wellbeing should be priority #1. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of the best tips on maintaining and improving your current physical and mental health.
Protect your skin with a sunscreen of at least SPF 30. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that sunscreen is a great first line of defense against skin cancer. And it’s never too late to begin protecting your skin, which is thinner and less able to fend for itself with each passing year. Not only will your skin look and feel better but you’ll lower your risk of developing melanoma (skin cancer).
Stay hydrated. Water is the building block of your body’s building blocks, its cells. Keep them hydrated and they’ll be better able to function. Drinking enough water – approximately 64 ounces each day – will also help your heart, lungs, and brain stay healthy.
Stay in touch with friends or make new ones that share your interests. 35 percent of older adults are lonely, according to the AARP. Loneliness increases you risk of depression, heart conditions, and premature death.
Get at least six hours of sleep each night. Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night in order to maintain cognitive function. This need for ZZZs lessens with age but you still need at least six hours. Plexus says it best here: “Being sleep deprived isn’t a badge of honor.” If mental alertness isn’t a high enough stake, inadequate sleep has also been linked to weight gain.
Walk just for fun. Stay active and you’ll see an improvement in your respiration and joint flexibility. Take a walk, go swimming, ride a bike…whatever you do, grab a friend and cheer each other on with each step. Harvard University recently released a report that concluded that seniors who stay active are 28 percent less likely to become disabled than their non-active peers.
Wake up to a healthy breakfast. Eggs, bacon, and black coffee might sound like the ideal way to start your day but you need more than protein and caffeine to fuel your body. Breakfast is arguably the most important meal of the day. What you eat in the AM regulates hunger the rest of the day and gives you the energy to enjoy the time between sunrise and sunset. Washington University insists that a healthy breakfast plate contains one out of each food group: dairy, fruits/vegetables, whole grains, and protein. A bowl of Greek yogurt with fresh berries and whole wheat toast is a great option.
Stop smoking and limit alcohol intake. It’s never too late to quit smoking and each breath you take without inhaling the hundreds of dangerous toxins in cigarette smoke is a breath that helps cleanse the body and give your lungs a fighting chance. If you’re a drinker, limit alcohol intake to no more than one drink each day or reserve your wine and whisky consumption for social situations.
Visit your healthcare provider regularly and report changes in your health. Your doctor wants what’s best for you and he or she is your greatest ally in the fight against age-related health concerns. Visit them regularly for checkups, take whatever medications you are prescribed, and alert them any time you feel like your mobility, vision, hearing, or overall health has changed.
Read every day. Words are like food for the soul but they can also keep your mind healthy and, as the Huffington Post reports, may stave off Alzheimer’s disease.
It’s easy to forgo self-care after a lifetime of caring for others. But if you haven’t already been taking care of yourself, it’s time to start. You’ll feel better and will be better able to enjoy your Golden Years while holding onto a healthy body and mind.
