Aging Stinks
Every stage of life comes with some difficulty. However, none is quite so progressive and irreversible as the process of aging. Degenerative diseases affect the function of every part of the body. Living a healthy lifestyle, avoiding stress and avoiding negative environmental factors may slow this complicated process but their is no cure for aging.
As we age, everyday things such as bending over to pick things up or everyday activities like putting groceries in the car can become painful chores. Pain from arthritis and many other effects of aging can really make life difficult. While you are working on diet, supplementation and fitness to alleviate the condition, don't be afraid to ask for help while shopping or doing other everyday chores. You deserve it! Did you know that high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes are risk factors for dementia? These risks become more severe due to smoking, lack of exercise and high cholesterol. As we age, it becomes increasingly important to control these disorders in order to maintain good mental health as aging progresses. Quitting smoking is one of the most important health tips at any age but as you get older, you are going to hear it more and more from doctors and friends. Smoking does not only lead to cancer, but it will also accelerate the aging process of your face. You will develop more lines around the eyes and mouth. You want to remain fit when you get older not only in your body, but also in your mind. One way to do that is to exercise your brain through puzzles and such. These mentally stimulating games will keep your brain focused and active, which could strengthen brain cells and possibly create new ones. Keep up with the latest styles. Although some of today's fashion is a bit off the wall, you are sure to find a piece or two that you will feel comfortable wearing. Just by adding a trendy top to your outfit, you are sure to feel and look good and the younger generations will notice. You know you should eat healthy as you age to keep your body in optimum health. Every once in a while, though, you need to indulge yourself. This way, you do not have to dread the same old same old every day, and can look forward to this treat. This may help you keep to your healthier eating plan if you know you get to have a party occasionally. Take the time to be grateful for the things that you have in your life. Each day before you get out of bed, stop and think about at least five things that you are thankful for. This can be your heath, family, friends or any other little thing that you appreciate in life. Releasing endorphins is going to make you feel great. Let yourself feel emotions. Laugh and cry but be sure to laugh more than you cry. If it takes a funny movie or a funny book to bring out the laughter, take the time to watch or read them. It is the body's natural way to feel good. Get a tea break into your daily routine. Teas have some fabulous benefits when it comes to age prevention. They are chock full of healthy antioxidants and other cancer-battling ingredients. Plus the break itself can be an amazing stress reliever in its own right. Tea breaks are one of the healthiest habits you can form! You must maintain a healthy body weight into your golden years. If you are overweight there are obvious health risks that you face but there are equally dangerous risks involved with being underweight. Talk with your doctor to learn what your ideal weight is and strive to reach that weight. Regular hearing screenings are import as we grow older. Hearing loss is one of the most common health conditions in older people. Have a screening done at age 50 and if there are no problems, have another one done in five more years. If a problem is found, be sure to have the screenings done annually. Want to live a long life and enjoy the aging process? To live longer, stay positive. Studies have demonstrated that those who have a positive attitude also tend to have a longer and healthier life. Look for the humor in life. Laughter can lower that high blood pressure and help drain the stress right out of your body. Numerous studies have shown the positive powers of laughter and how it makes you feel better. Address health conditions. If you know you have diabetes, for instance, make sure to monitor your glucose regularly. If you have high blood pressure, make sure to eat right. Health problems tend to worsen as you get older; you can stop that being diligent about your health problems and keeping them under control. As a body ages bone loss is a great risk. It is a greater risk for women going through menopause. Eat lots of dark leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, molasses and tofu. Adding seaweed to your diet is great, as seaweeds contain a lot of calcium and magnesium. As you age, continue learning. It has never been easier to enroll in a community college or take classes online. You are never too old to take up a new hobby, study a foreign language, understand statistics, learn about quantum physics or learn anything of interest to you. Lifelong learning will keep your mind sharp and give you goals. Take note of how your body now responds to food and make changes in your diet accordingly. As you age your metabolism slows making it necessary to adapt your common food choices. Food impacts many aspects of overall health such as cholesterol and weight, so making proactive changes in your diet can significantly improve your health. Throughout life, the body replaces and repairs itself. As we age, the body's ability to heal itself slows. Many people begin to feel the effects of aging as early as 40 but the generally accepted age when individuals become 'aged' is the age of retirement, 65. Despite this, many elderly individuals remain independent and free of serious disease. |