Discover Why Women Over 40 Should Stay In Shape

The decade between the ages of 40 and 50 is a time in your life when you will notice

considerable changes in your body as you head towards the half century.

Generally for a number of women this decade marks the onset of the menopause and a general decline in fertility. You will also find that your joints are not as flexible as they use to be.

However, there are number of ways were you can delay the onset of aging.

Start by having regular checkups with your doctor even if you are feeling fine. Ask your doctor for a cardio risk assessment. This test calculates your risk of getting heart disease later in life. The assessment involves measuring your blood pressure, your cholesterol levels and your weight. The doctor will also look at your family medical history to determine if there are any hereditary links to heart disease. In this way, your doctor can make an assessment of the likely risk of you getting heart disease or stroke and devise a lifestyle plan for you to follow to reduce the risk.

It is very important to look after your vision as you get older. Therefore, have your eyes tested at least once every 2 years. As we get older the eyes are prone to getting eye conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts. Also, testing the eyes can reveal the early signs of diabetes, hypertension or liver problems.

As you get older your diet is very important. As the body ages it is not as effective at burning the calories as it was when you were in your 20's and 30's. Therefore, it is important that you eat a healthier diet and cut down on the calories. As your metabolic rate slows down it is wise to reduce about 200 to 250 calories from your diet as enter your 40's. This does not mean a huge change. You can make small changes such as using semi skimmed milk instead of full fat.

As well as cutting down on the calories begin to introduce healthier and wholesome food into your diet that can help you deal with symptoms of the menopause. For example, foods like, pumpkin and sesame seeds, natural yoghurts, tofu are great sources of phyto-oestrogen.

Finally, getting older does not mean that you get less active. Actually it means the opposite. It is important that you take regular exercise. For women it is important to target the pelvic area as the onset of the menopause can weaken the pelvic muscles. Therefore, do regular pelvic floor exercises as well. As always get clearance from your doctor before changing your diet or exercise regime.

Discover Why Women Over 40 Should Stay In Shape

By: Hazel Blackthorne

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