Embracing Healthy Aging for Seniors
By Ewa Frydel, Owner
For many cultures, aging is a well-respected part of life. For some, it’s looked at with shame. Although getting older, gray hairs, wrinkles, and aches and pains has become accepted, it’s still something most people fight against.
You have a choice to not only accept the aging process, but come to love it.
If you are starting to worry or feel insecure about your own aging, this blog can help shed light on ways to embrace this beautiful and hard-earned chapter of your life. It doesn’t have to be all downhill. You can rise and learn to love every part of getting older.
How to Embrace a Healthy Aging Process for Seniors
Before we begin, it’s important to understand the fundamental part of aging gracefully is to care for your health. This is why aging has been frowned upon… not many people are willing to make the necessary changes to their health for the sake of aging well.
Healthy aging isn’t just about adding years to your life, but about adding life to your years.
Let’s begin…
Stay Active. If pain is a part of your aging process, consider your current physical activity. Many times we feel back pain, knee pain or other inflammatory conditions because we’re not moving our bodies.
Exercising regularly can help stimulate circulation to your muscles and strength activities help build the muscles surrounding your bones. When our muscles get stronger, so do our bones.
Speaking of circulation, movement is important to help keep our bodies cycling and detoxing build up that can cause inflammation. With this comes more flexibility, healthier digestion, more nutrient absorption, and a glowing complexion. Not to mention, our sleep improves which can strengthen our physical recovery from pain and our mental health.
Exercise is less about superficial beauty and more about keeping our bodies feeling healthy and pain-free. Although, tighter glowing skin is a bonus!
Eat a Nutrient-rich Diet. The first two are no-brainers but need constant reminding. To age well, you need to eat nutrient-dense foods. Today, we read a lot about protein, which is important to get each day based on your age, height, and weight. However, consuming unrefined carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables are extremely important. You will also need healthy fats such as olives, avocados, seeds and nuts.
Plants are superfoods that help our cells and organs receive vital nutrients to keep bodies thriving. They are packed with vitamins and minerals, which can also be found in whole grains. Make sure your diet is rich in whole foods and less processed foods. We really are what we eat, and it shows in our complexion, posture, and mood.
Prioritize Mental Health and Social Engagement. Loneliness is a part of aging. As we get older, we tend to lose connections with friends or family members. Why? People get busy and become distant.
It will take some effort, but making sure you are keeping up with visitations and social events is important. You don’t have to say yes to every get together, but try to say it more often if you are lonely. At first you may feel like staying home and watching T.V., but eventually you will crave to get out more and be among loved ones.
The wonders good relationships can have on our mental health is astounding! Try it out! Make that phone call, go for lunch, join your friend’s invitation out of town… try something new.
Get Regular Check-ups. Yes, seeing your doctors… plural… is crucial. Know your numbers like your blood pressure, cholesterol, platelets, and everything else. See Dermatologists to ensure your skin is healthy. Visit your Dentist to keep your gums in tip top shape.
It can be daunting to visit with doctors, but being on top of your health and what’s going on inside is extremely important to aging healthfully. If you know where you’re at, you can maintain healthy habits or find ways to improve upon them. This alone is tremendous in adding years to your life. Be in the know!
Prioritize Sleep. Sleep is essential. Quality sleep is even more important. With a good night’s rest, our aging bodies can rejuvenate and strengthen. Sleep also improves our cognitive function and helps our mental health stay strong and positive. Quality sleep is also helpful at regulating our appetites and making cravings less intense.
If you find yourself having trouble sleeping well, consider altering your environment to induce a relaxing night time routine. Dim the lights, cool the air, put on fresh sheets and pajamas, take a bath, do some reading - whatever suits you best.
Manage Stress. Stress weighs heavily on our aging bodies and the older we get, the more prone to stress we are. Incorporate stress management into your daily life and make it a habit. Find activities that help you stay mindful and help take the focus off of what may be causing stress.
Journaling, cooking, gardening, walking, and hanging out with friends are some great practices that help many people. Find what works for you and make it a priority.
Healthy aging is not impossible.
There are many elderly people who don’t seem to be bothered by their aging at all and in fact, you can see it before they enter the room. They have a certain charisma about them.
Healthy aging is personal and will be based on what you consider is best. For some, it’s about being flexible and active. For others it’s about being surrounded by loved ones. For many, it’s about having healthy skin and sleeping well.
Whatever your idea of healthy aging is, start bringing that mindset in today!
For more information about healthy aging, contact us.
We’re here to help!
Legal Disclaimer
This blog provides general information and discussions about embracing aging in a healthful way and is not intended and should not be construed as medical advice.
