How to Live a Healthier Life as You Get Older
When you’re getting older, you may know that you need to do different things to keep yourself healthy. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell how to live a healthier life as you get older. With so many pieces of confusing information on the Internet, you may want to run away from your attempt to get healthy. Don’t worry, you don’t have to run away just yet.
Here are a few things that you should try to incorporate into your life to lead a healthier life as you get older.
Get A Physical
No one likes going to the doctor. Sometimes it can seem impossible to schedule your annual physical. Between work, school, kids, and life; an unnecessary trip to the doctor can be a nuisance. Even though, this trip could be the best thing you do for your health.
Life Sciences recommend that women over 40 start to know their numbers. These numbers include blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and body weight. Getting these numbers checked at your annual physical can help you prevent many conditions and even reverse the onset of some preventable diseases. Getting your physical annually is even more important after age 40.
Strength Training
There are two reasons that you need to start weight lifting as you get older. The first reason is a condition known as Sarcopenia. The second is the effects that Sarcopenia has on your metabolism.
Web M.D. highlights how muscle loss and function begin at age 30 in almost everyone. This condition is known as Sarcopenia. The age-related muscle loss can be anywhere from 3 to 5% of your muscle each decade after 30. But it happens really fast around age 75. If you don’t do something to stop the decline of your muscle mass then you are bound to suffer from the symptoms of Sarcopenia.
• Reduction in Nerve Cells Signaling the Brain for Movement
• Lower Concentrations of Hormone Including Growth Hormone, Testosterone, and Insulin
• A decrease in the Ability to Turn Protein into Energy
Secondly, weight training can increase your metabolism. This is because you’re putting on more muscle. Muscle helps you burn calories, and it also helps with things like balance, bone health, and injury prevention.
Don’t Supplement without Speaking to a Doctor
The supplement market is saturated with all kinds of things that make health claims like: “increasing your ability to remember things.” Unfortunately, the FDA does not regulate the supplement industry and these claims aren’t highly scrutinized. If you feel like you need to supplement anything whether it’s vitamin D or omega-3s make sure you talk to your physician.
Your physician will know whether or not these supplements can interfere with your current medications and whether or not you actually need them. Don’t trust the advice on the back of a supplement bottle over your physician. Eat This recommends that you discuss any supplementation, even vitamin supplementation with your doctor.
Get Fishy
No, I’m not talking about your personality. Heart disease is on the rise in older populations; so many women may want to increase their cold water fish servings to at least two servings a week. Cold water fish is very high in omega-3 fatty acids which play an important role in heart health.
If you’re one of the people, who greatly dislike cold water fish, then health.com recommends you try fish oil supplements after discussing this with your doctor.
Practice Yoga
Your risk of falling prices greatly as you age. Because of that, there are certain things you need to do in order to keep yourself safe. After age 40, they recommend that you ditch the treadmill and hit the yoga mat.
Yoga teaches you to be mindful of your body as well as your thoughts. This can help you navigate emotional difficulties. Yoga also teaches you flexibility and stability movements to help you navigate the diminishing returns on your body’s ability to navigate.