Wouldn’t we all love to drink from a real fountain of youth? While there isn’t really a magic elixir for staying young, we can all take steps for healthy happy aging that make us feel young again. Living a holistic lifestyle, as well as being intentional about your everyday choices, can help anyone stay healthier and happier in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond. Here is some great advice from Seniors Helping Seniors Chicago Metro that will empower you to do just that.
Keep Moving
You can meet seniors at just about every level of fitness, from folks who are starting their very first fitness program to marathoners who are at peak performance. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, all seniors should be aware of how essential exercise is to healthy happy aging, as well as how certain types of exercise can maximize that impact.
Mix It Up
There’s nothing wrong with having a favorite exercise — in fact, the best exercise is the one you’ll actually do on a regular basis! However, you get the greatest overall health benefits from exercise when you mix things up. For example, aerobic exercise is essential for heart and lung health, while strength training and balance exercises help ensure you maintain a wider range of motion as you age while also reducing your risk of falling.
Take Good Care of Your Teeth
Did you know that your oral health is directly linked with your overall health? Chronic issues like heart disease, diabetes, and dementia are often reflected in your mouth, and they tend to degrade together. Taking care of your teeth and gums is felt to help ward off these chronic health concerns, so make every effort to optimize your oral health.
If something is holding you back, like stained teeth or an alignment issue, there are any number of ways to address those concerns. You can look into home care products to whiten your teeth, have laser treatment or other whitening services performed. Similarly, there are in-home therapies for correcting alignment problems like overbites. Overbites are a very common issue and cases are often mild, but if you experience jaw pain, trouble with speaking, or discomfort when you eat or drink, it’s important you work with your dentist to treat it. With the right solutions, you can feel better about your teeth, and you’ll look forward to taking the best possible care of them.
Overcome Dietary Challenges
It’s common for seniors to have dietary challenges, whether that’s a need to reduce sodium due to hypertension or reduce carbs due to diabetes or prediabetes. If you have any of these concerns, in addition to a gluten allergy or sensitivity, you may have a hard time getting all the nutrients you need. Don’t worry — you aren’t alone! Over 40 percent of American adults don’t get the nutrients they need every day. One easy way to correct this is by taking a daily multivitamin.
Of course, eating a balanced diet is an essential part of the equation, even with the addition of a multivitamin. If you aren’t sure whether you’re getting the right nutrients, an easy way to find out is by tracking your dietary intake with a tool like ChooseMyPlate.gov. Using a tracking tool shows you what may be lacking so you know where to focus to get your diet back in balance.
Eat Meals and Snacks That Pack a (Nutrient) Punch
Frankly, it’s easy for any of us to get stuck in a rut with our meals. Sometimes, you just need to seek new sources of inspiration for meals that deliver a wide variety of nutrients. For example, we love these ideas from Medical News Today because they’re broken down by type of meal; plus, they focus on which nutrients you’re getting the most with each recipe. Another resource we love is Eating Well’s gluten-free recipes, especially the appetizers and snacks. Snacks shouldn’t be your primary source of nutrition, but it’s so easy to get off track by grabbing ones that are unhealthy. Instead of reaching for whatever snack is the most convenient, look at snack time as an opportunity to sneak extra nutrients into your day.
So many people feel like aging is out of their control. You can’t turn back time, but you have more control over how you age than you may think. The magic formula is simple: Start swapping unhealthy habits for these simple actions — and then watch as they do wonders for your health.
An in-home care specialist can help you with all of these health goals — and more! If you’re looking for help with living your best life during your golden years, contact Seniors Helping Seniors Chicago Metro by calling (312) 526-3666 or by using this online form.
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Article contributed by Mary Shannon at SeniorsMeet.org