Maintaining health is extremely important at all ages, considering that many diseases are caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. As people age, their bodies become more vulnerable to numerous diseases requiring increased health practices and fewer risky behaviors in the early golden years. Turning 50 is a milestone worth celebrating and also a time to reevaluate your health.
There are special precautions needed to ease towards the healthy side of your last years. If you want to stay active and feel great, there are ways to make sure a healthy lifestyle. You can safeguard your health by adopting several health practices, including:
- Exercise
Exercising builds muscle mass, keeps you lean and improves immune protection. Being active and exercising regularly are your best options for slowing down the body’s aging process. Adequate physical activity at any age defies the aging process, preparing your body to combat the vulnerabilities related to weakness.
There are certain conditions that have been known to sneak in around the age of 50, even if there were no previous symptoms. Some of these include heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and joint pain. Many illnesses and symptoms result from a sedentary lifestyle meaning you can avoid or reduce their severity through physical activity.
Strength training is particularly important as you become older to replace muscle lost because of the natural aging process. Loss of muscle tissue leads to reduced physical function, which can force you to coop yourself indoors. Exercise regularly to keep your body at its best and avoid the implications of unhealthy choices.
- Improve Diet
Eating healthy helps you live longer, supports muscles, boosts immunity, strengthens bones, helps the digestive system function optimally, amongst many other benefits. Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends the Mediterranean diet consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and fish for longevity. There is evidence that better diets stop dementia which is more common in aging populations.
Foods to avoid include large or frequent portions of meat, sugar, and processed foods. Such food is toxic to the body and can lead to fatal diseases. Eating healthy doesn’t suggest it does not taste good, as you can get creative and enjoy luxurious meals produced from nutritious ingredients. Your lifestyle and diet can be a delicious combination as you improve cellular function and enjoy longevity.
- Challenge the Brain
Like physical health, mental health is just as important. That Alzheimer’s Association states that keeping the brain active increases its vitality. The brain is the body’s main engine, and any slowdown affects how the body functions. Physical and mental exercise is therefore important to keep the brain functioning at its optimum state.
There are many ways to keep your brain alert and active. Actions like regularly teaching yourself something new and not letting your brain stagnate for long keep you sharp. The brain is like a germinating seed—the more you water it, the better it will germinate.
Other brain exercises include puzzles, learning a new language, engaging in a new hobby, reading and meditating. Such seemingly passive activities improve mental health and increase the likelihood of a long and fulfilling life.
- Sleep, Sleep, Sleep
Sleep is the magic potion for living longer. Adults need 7-9 hours of sleep to detoxify the brain of all the toxins that have accumulated throughout the day. It can be tempting to cut back on sleep, particularly with the demands of modernized life that take up more of your time than is available during the day. However, this is counterproductive because the less sleep you get, the less productive you’ll be the next day.
If you miss important hours of sleep regularly, brain function decreases, and permanent damage can occur. People who get sufficient sleep regularly are less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Regular Doctor Visits
Regular doctor visits save lives. It does not matter how healthy you are, as you become older, you are vulnerable to certain health illnesses. Some diseases do not have symptoms that prompt you to go to the hospital, meaning detection only occurs through a health check.
Age increases the risk factors for some diseases, such as aneurysms. This disease is a critical condition caused by weakening of the artery walls. An aneurysm has no symptoms, so the best chance to detect it’s during a medical exam. A number of aneurysm risk factors including older age, family history, smoking, hypertension, amongst others.
You have the opportunity to improve your quality of life in the following years by implementing preventive measures to stop disease. You can detect life-threatening conditions early with tests such as frequent colonoscopies and regular cancer screenings.
Live a Healthy Life After 50
Aging does not need to be a scary experience when you are healthy. A good health and wellness regimen improves your well-being, and you can look forward to aging gracefully with the lifestyle choices you make. The actions you consistently take can have a large impact, and you can look forward to a happy life in your old age.
