5 Secrets To Boosting Longevity And Aging Well
The natural cycle of life entails the inevitable process of getting older. While you can’t turn back the clock on aging, you can surely slow its progression with smart and healthy living choices. The foods you eat and the way you exercise, as well as your friendships and retirement goals, are all factors in how rapidly or slowly your body ages.
Entering your late 50’s or 60’s may seem daunting. Many falling in this age group may experience a lack of energy and deteriorating health and may think it’s too late to work on themselves. However, it is never too late to get started. In fact, this phase of your life is perhaps the ideal time to start working on a new you. To get you started, here are five secrets to boosting longevity so you may age gracefully:
Take Up Healthy Eating Habits
As you age, the process of metabolism and digestion slows down. Therefore, it is important to ensure you add a sufficient amount of fiber to your diet. Loading up on fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains is a good idea as they have a high content of fiber and other essential vitamins your body requires to perform smoothly. Also, try switching to low-fat dairy items.
Quitting or limiting unhealthy eating habits will be even more crucial as you age. Try to limit the use of processed, packaged foods, butter, salt, sugar, and fatty meats. This is because these are usually the underlying causes of diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol.
By limiting the use of problematic ingredients and choosing more healthy and organic eating options, you may witness substantial changes in not only your health but your body and mood as well. Several studies have established that this diet can aid in extending your life and protecting you from heart disease, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s.
Regular Visits To Your Healthcare Provider
It can be easy to put off a check-up if you’re lazy unless there is something radically wrong. However, as you age, regular checkups are critical to ensuring your health is running smoothly and catching any problems before they develop. On average, 75-year-olds have three chronic medical problems, ranging from minor to severe, according to studies. It is therefore imperative that you speak with your health care provider if you have concerns or questions about your health.
Taking Supplements
An ideal situation would be for us to get all of the nutrients we need from our food, but this can sometimes prove challenging as most of us don’t always eat healthily. In the elderly, when these nutrients are more important than ever for sustaining heart health, bone, health, and general health, taking supplements may prove to be a wise choice.
Having reached the age of 50, your body needs more vitamins and minerals from food and supplements. Calcium is essential to ensure bone health. Vitamin D is also important and while most of us get the required amount from sunlight, deficiencies may uncover in seniors as they don’t go out much. There is also evidence that vitamin B-12 is good for the aging brain. It also helps facilitate the immune system function and regulates the proper absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the body. It has also been found that natural senolytics have been known to help with skin elasticity and luminosity that becomes increasingly thin as we age.
You may also turn to more natural ingredients for your supplements. Giloy, for example, is rich in antioxidants and strengthens not only the immune system but also aids in digestion and improved physical performance.
Stay Sociable
Sadly, many people plan their retirement financially, but forget to plan for the social aspect of this phase of life. If you go from an environment where you are socialized throughout the day to one where you are alone, then the shift in socialization can be quite jarring.
Hence, don’t hold back from making plans to meet with friends and relatives on a regular basis. It is even recommended that you join a local club or hobby group to keep you busy.
Keeping in touch with other people keeps you in good morale, manages your emotions, and helps you maintain good habits. According to research, socializing with friends and family can even increase your lifespan.
Go For A Stroll
Aim for 30 minutes every day. It’s okay to break it up into shorter walks if it’s too much. Looking for a companion and a bit of motivation to get moving? A lot of people in their 50s and 60s have found joy in choosing to adopt one of the best dog breeds for seniors, helping them stay social and active. Getting enough exercise, especially that which is brisk enough to leave you breathless delivers huge health benefits. This helps in delivering blood and oxygen to brain cells and in doing so, it helps keep them healthy. According to some research, aerobic exercises could help delay or improve Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.
