Health is the most important aspect of your life, especially once you get older and cannot afford to remain carefree and negligent of your health. Here are some tips on staying young after fifty:
Eating Healthy
It is true that you are what you eat. What you put in your body determines how well it functioning. A poor, unchecked diet leads to multiple health issues that lower quality of life and lead to numerous diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, high blood pressure, etc., at an early age. A balanced and healthy diet, on the other hand, decreases the chances of chronic illnesses by a margin.
While it is important not to consume foods high in sugars, fats, and calories, it is also important that you do not go overboard in your efforts to stay healthy! Keto or cleansing diets are not good for your body. No matter how hard your friends try to convince you to try them, a human body has a well-functioning regulatory system that will work smoothly if you just focus on the basic food groups and their proportions.
Include healthy fats from seafood or plants sources such as like flaxseed and nuts in your diet. These foods include healthy, polyunsaturated fats that are beneficial for your heart and brain. Your diet should be varied. Fresh vegetables and fruits that have a range of colors are packed with vitamins and minerals. You should also stay away from pre-packed and processed foods. In this fast-paced world where no time is enough, packaged food can seem tempting, but it is poison for your body.
Stay at a Healthy Weight
Consult a doctor and determine what weight is healthy for youas each body is unique. Your goal should be to stay within a suitable BMI while providing yourself with adequate nutrition. Do not compare your weight with other people. This can be misleading and cause you discomfort and distress.
A healthy weight should be achieved through healthy habits. Not only is it important to consume healthy calories, but physical activity should also be the key element in preserving your health. If you focus on only one of the two components, you might lose weight, but your health will not improve.
In the long run, excessive exercise without adequate nutritioncan prove to be disastrous. Similarly, limited physical activity without the optimal amount of fats and proteins will also ruin your health, even if your BMI stays within the desired range.
Take Care of Your Dental Hygiene
Don’t go to bed without brushing your teeth. Don’t be too aggressive when brushing as this will wear away enamel that protects the sensitive parts of the tooth. Be gentle and pay attention to your teeth. Drink milk regularly and visit your dentist twice a year. Flossing is just as important as brushing! Floss twice a week to reduce the chances of getting a cavity. Drinking an adequate amount of water also improves your dental health.
Oral hygiene is not just about teeth, focus on your gums, tongue,and jaws as well. Work out your jaws by eating crunchy food that is high in fiber to keep your gums and teeth strong. Good dental health allows you to stay fit in your fifties by allowing you to maintain a healthy diet.
Stay Happy
Adopt a pet. Stay social. Make effort to actively reduce negative emotions. This has a direct effect on your heart and body.
Keep Exercising (Safely)
Regular exercise can lower your odds of having memory and cognitive problems when you're older by almost half. Get yourheart pumping. Walking, Jogging, biking, and swimming are all aerobic exercises that will help you achieve this goal. Strength training is also a great way to build muscles and keep your tendons flexible.
As you get older, muscles and tendons get tighter. Listen to your body. Do not push yourself beyond your limits or you might end up hurting yourself. With age, you will find your strength depleting. You will be unable to perform as well as you did when you were young. Experts recommend both aerobic and strength-building exercises. Keep it balanced.
Do an activity you enjoy; this will help you remain consistent and motivated. Walk your dog, jog along nature trails, play a sport, swim or cycle.
Try New things
Stimulating your brain by trying new activities throughout your life will create new neural pathways in your brain and improve your cognitive skills.
Take up new and exciting activities every few years. Join a yoga or aerobics class at the gym, learn how to play a sport, or try learning new skills. It is never too late to get a hobby. If you involve your friends and your social circle in these activities too, they will get even more enjoyable.
Challenge your mind. Using your mind and keeping it active can help keep it healthy as you age. Try doing new things to exercise your brain. You can also try to spice up a familiar activity, like cooking. Try a new recipe for a dish you love or cook something you have never tried before.
Keep challenging yourself and stay active. Exercising your brain is just as important as exercising your body. It will help you stay clear of Alzheimer’s or other cognitive illnesses.
Keep yourself in check
Get regular tests done, use gadgets to monitor your body. You should check your blood pressure at least once every two yearsafter you turn twenty. Cholesterol increases the risk for heart disease and stroke considerably. Keep your cholesterol level in check with a simple blood test. Get screened for cancer and other chronic illnesses at least once in two years when you reach your fifties. This will help in the early detection of any abnormal anomalies and help you stay healthy through quick and efficient medical attention.
Focus on getting a good sleep
Insomnia in old age isn’t healthy. Your sleeping habits during your childhood and adolescence determine your sleeping routine as you get older. Get a good night’s rest for seven to nine hours a day.
Lastly, Set Practical Goals and Do better
It’s okay if you didn’t have a healthy lifestyle before. You can always fix your habits and do better now! Don’t be discouraged and don’t think it’s futile. It is never too late.
Your goals should SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-based. Start small, make daily goals instead of thinking 6 months ahead.
Self-love and care is the key to staying healthy after fifty. Take care of yourself. Good luck!
