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Healthy Aging
September is Healthy Aging Month
A misconception with aging is you don’t need to worry about your health until you’re older. In reality, maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout your entire lifespan helps you thrive as you age. Let’s look at the basics of a healthy lifestyle.
First, it’s important to have a balanced diet. Focus on hitting your targets for protein, fruits, vegetables, carbs, dairy, and healthy fats. Each of us has varying needs when it comes to nutrition based on our age, lifestyle, health conditions, and medication. If you have questions on your diet, reach out to your Providers. They can help you figure out what’s best for you and possibly refer you to speak with a dietician.
We also want to make sure you’re getting regular exercise. On average, aim for about thirty minutes a day of moderate exercise. As you age, certain exercises may get harder to complete but you can adapt as needed or switch to lower impact exercise like walking or aerobics. Even yoga and stretching can make a big difference. If you're interested in getting out of the house for exercise, check out the Steve Cohrs Wellness Center
Getting proper sleep is highly important even if you don’t think it will make a dramatic difference in your life. Keep a consistent bedtime and try to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. In today’s world of cell phones, televisions, and computers, it’s also important to shut off all devices about an hour prior to bed. The blue light can affect your quality of sleep as it stimulates your brain and can affect your internal clock.
We all struggle with stress at different points in our lives. No matter the situation, it’s important to manage or cope with stress. By adopting breathing exercises, meditation, and/or journaling into your daily life, you can reduce your stress. There are times when you might need additional help and reaching out to your provider or talking with a therapist is an amazing resource.
Stay social. Connecting with your family and friends can help promote longevity. This can be something as simple as meeting up for coffee or going on a walk around the neighborhood. It might sound minimal, but it can reduce stress, increase your sense of purpose, provide better health, and reduce the risk of depression.
One last thing that might not be at the top of your to do list is to get your routine check-ups. These include yearly physicals, updating vaccinations, routine testing, and even having a regular eye exam completed.
By maintaining a healthy lifestyle throughout your life, you’re giving your body the fuel and nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
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Briana Solheim