subject: Good Health And Aging [print this page] For many people, getting older means losing the health that they worked hard for as they grew up. However, just because you grow older, does not mean that you cannot enjoy a quality of life similar to that which you knew in your youth. Provided you have taken care of your body over the years, it is completely possible to stay healthy well into your old age.
You've worked hard to stay healthy in order to be able to spend time with family and friends now that you're retired. Keep it up and stay focused on remaining healthy so that you have many more years to enjoy them.
Here are just a few tips on growing older and staying healthy:
Eat a balanced diet and pay attention for signs that you need more vitamins or minerals. For women, it may not hurt to take a calcium supplement in order to assure that you stay healthy.
If you feel markedly tired or don't have the stamina that is normal for you, make it a point to see your doctor and have a checkup in order to determine whether you need a nutritional supplement or not.
Get out and get active. Even if you've never actively walked or jogged before, it is never too late to take positive steps to get healthier as you get older. Just because you didn't do it while you were younger, doesn't mean that you cannot do it now. Visit with your doctor to find out if there is any reason why you should not be walking a short distance every day in order to exercise, to maintain a good healthy weight, and to keep your cardiovascular system healthy.
Lower your calorie intake slightly if you find that you are using less calories and beginning to gain weight. Often, after retirement, we lead a less active lifestyle even when we are outdoors, playing golf, or swimming. This is particularly true if you held a more strenuous job and are no longer working at it these days. Keeping your weight within normal limits for your age and height is a good way to assure reasonably good health. It can also help to prevent things such as heart attack, stroke, adult onset diabetes and certain types of cancer.
Even though you are no longer as young as you used to be, there is nothing wrong with trying new activities and getting more active as you grow older. So long as you feel well enough to do what you are doing, it is never too late to get into shape. As with anything else, common sense will go a long way towards helping you safely achieve your health goals. Starting a very strenuous exercise regimen and a diet when you have not exercised for a very long time probably isn't in your best interests. Start slowly and work your way up to it. However, if you already enjoy good health, don' t let anyone tell you that you can't lead an active and healthier lifestyle as you age.
Do some type of aerobic activity for at least ten minutes once or twice per week. Walking or biking is a very good way to assure that you get enough exercise to prevent rapid weight gain and to keep you healthy.
Staying healthy means attending to, not just your body, but also your mind. Mental exercise is the key to being able to think faster and not losing the mental acuity that you've always enjoyed. Spend some time on games like Sudoku or even online checkers.
Taking care of yourself and protecting both body and mind will help keep you fit and healthy and able to enjoy your life as you grow older.
