Staying Young in Your Senior Years

Everyone ages. Those of us who may have looked and felt great when we were in our 20′s or 30′s may start feeling the effects of aging as we approach 50′s, 60′s and 70′s. In fact, as metabolism slows down, we may find it harder to keep off the extra weight as the years go by, unwilling to compromise our daily eating habits in order to stay slim or healthy. In this article, we will outline certain tips on how seniors can stay as young as possible during their senior years.

1. Exercise. This probably one of the most useful things you can do as you get older. A healthy amount of exercise – 3+ days a week, will not only make you feel and look better, but it can prolong your life up to 4.5 years. Some additional benefits of exercising include lower stress, in part due to the release of ”feel-good” hormones called Endorphins, and also looking and feeling much better about yourself and your body. A recommended amount of exercise for older adults is 2.5 hours of moderate intensity exercise per week (which can include walking at a moderate pace, or even taking care of your garden), or 1 hour and 15 minutes of rigorous intensity exercise such as swimming in the pool/ocean or taking a jog.

2. Eat Healthy. It should come as no surprise to seniors that eating healthy is an extremely important part of feeling great as we get older. Not only do seniors need to worry about feeling good, but they should also be concerned about eating healthy foods that are good not just for the body but for the brain too. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, so eating food that helps with cognitive function and prevent or slow down dementia and Alzheimer’s is something that’s extremely important. Such foods include a lot of vegetables, fish (high in omega 3 fat) and staying away from white flour foods such as white flour bread and others.

3. Socialize. We all get lonely sometimes. This may be especially true for some seniors such as those who have lost their life’s partner or whose children and grandchildren live far away from them. Despite any hardships we may be experiencing, socializing is an extremely important part of aging, so you should socialize with your peers and have as many friends as possible during your senior years. Some ideas for socializing include country clubs, parks or being part of senior living communities where there are many older adults that surround you and you who you can be friends with.

4. Get enough sleep. Healthy sleeping habits are just as important as healthy eating habits. Getting the recommended amount of sleep is even more important during senior years than it is when we are young. When people are younger they can get away with sleeping less and still feeling fine the next day. But chronic sleep deprivation will not only make you feel sluggish and weak during the day, it will also weaken your immune system which can result in being much more susceptible to various ailments and diseases. Get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night.

In summary, as you get older, do all the things which make sense to you for staying young, healthy and feeling good – get some exercise, eat healthy, socialize with your peers and get enough sleep. Following the aforementioned tips will help you lead a healthier and happier life during your senior years.