Healthy aging: One thing we all have in common no matter what gender, race, sex, or size we are is that we all get older. In the article I am going to talk about learning how to age well.
As we age our body changes:
- Our blood vessels begin to stiffen
- Our arteries begin to stiffen
- Our heart muscles change
- Your bones begin to shrink. This weakens them and makes fractures happen easier
- Your muscles begin to lose strength, endurance, and flexibility
- Your large intestines begin to change which causes more constipation
- Your bladder becomes less elastic which means you have to urinate more
- Your bladder and pelvic muscles get weaker which makes it harder for you to empty your bladder
- Your brain changes which causes memory issues and changes thinking skills.
- Your eyes change
- Your ears change
- Your gums begin to pull back from your teeth
- Your skin begins to thin
- Your metabolism starts to slow down
- Your sexual needs change
All these things seem grim. Truthfully they are if you don’t change your lifestyle practices. There are adjustments you can make to your daily lives to help all of these changes go more smoothly. We all want to be rocking old ladies and old men, but in order for us to keep grooving it, we must consider changing some of the habits we have. I remind myself daily that I want to be one of those one-hundred-year-old ladies that is happy, smart, sassy, and full of life. That is my biggest goal.
Here is how I will accomplish this goal and great suggestions for you to be a kick-butt old person:
- As we age getting enough nutrients is a goal that is very important to consider. Eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish, nuts, and seeds is one way of getting those nutrients in.
- Avoid consuming empty calories like chips, baked goods, candy, soda, and alcohol
- Eat foods that are low in cholesterol and fat
- Drink enough liquids to stay hydrated
- Move your body
- Range of motion exercises help with the joints and keep every balance and flexible
- Strength training helps build your muscles
- Stay at a healthy weight.
- Keep your mind active by reading, learning a new skill or language or by playing games
- Make mental health a priority goal in your life. Meditation, relaxation techniques are wonderful ways of doing this
- Participate in activities that you enjoy. This brings joy in your life which helps your mood and mental health and your immune system
- Play an active role in your health care. Be your own advocate.
- Don’t smoke. If you are a smoker, quit.
- Learn steps and take action in preventing falls. As we get older falls are easier because our balance changes.
- Get enough sleep
- Reinvent yourself at your milestone birthday.
- Cope with the changes that happen with life.
- Stay connected with your family and friends and build new relationships.
Living well and aging well are two of my goals that allow me to keep pressing forward. Aging well encompasses a lot of different aspects of self-care and taking charge of your body now. No matter what age you are, setting attainable goals and intentions, allows you to live well and achieve many other types of plans you have for yourself.
If you are needing help with your wellness plan, Karen G Clemenson is a great coach to help you decide on the goals for physical fitness and meal plans you want that will help you in aging well and living well. The Wellness Works NW Team is happy to assist you in finding what your needs may be and help you achieve them.
Remember we are all valuable and deserve to be vibrant old people.
Here are some links I would like to share with you:
- Aging Well by Help Guide Staff
- Healthy Aging by Mayo Clinic Staff
- Healthy Aging by MedlinePlus Staff
- Healthy Aging by US Department of Health & Human Services Staff
- Healthy aging: Beyond 50 by Mayo Clinic Staff
- Healthy Living Empowering older adults to live healthier by National Council on Aging Staff
- Image Credit: How to Live Your Best Life as You Age by Adrienne Santos-Longhurst and medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN
- What Do We Know About Healthy Aging? by National Institute on Aging Staff
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Jamie Holloway is a co-owner of Wellness Works NW and she is also our Research Manager and writes our Chasing Wellness with Jamie Holloway and Dear Jamie columns. Jamie is also an Independent Wellness Advocate at dōTERRA. She lives in the Portland, Oregon area. Since October 2011 she has been sharing her Journey Toward Health and Wellness with Vasculitis through her blog at JamieChasesButterflies.com. We hope you are as inspired as we are with the raw candor Jamie uses in her writing. If you would like to help support Jamie’s writing efforts please Donate now.
