Everyone knows that people get older. But how quickly your body and mind show their age is partly up to you. Living longer and avoiding age-related problems isn’t impossible. You just have to know what you’re doing. Using the advice in this article will help you find more happy years.
Aging can be a state of mind as well as body. To reduce the feeling that age is creeping up on you, take action and fight back! A healthy diet, exercise and a good attitude about life can keep you not only feeling younger, but looking younger too!
One of the easiest ways to achieve slow aging is by eating the right types of food. This can be done by eating vegetables that are high in antioxidants, which protect our body from oxidative stress. This results in having a body that has clearer skin and ages slower than normal.
To help your mindset while aging, toss out any numbers that aren’t really important, specifically your weight, your height and most importantly your age. These numbers may be important for your doctor (and they should be), but for daily living they are just barriers to the many, many things that are possible for you to do.
Keep up with the latest styles. Although some of today’s fashion is a bit off the wall, you are sure to find a piece or two that you will feel comfortable wearing. Just by adding a trendy top to your outfit, you are sure to feel and look good and the younger generations will notice.
While it is probably something one would rather not think about as one ages, it can be beneficial to be aware of one’s mortality. In what sense? The purpose of this is not to dwell on the “end”, but rather to make us realize that every day is important, and that life is a gift we should take advantage of in every capacity.
Everyone suffers from a certain amount of stress in their life, but in order to keep the aging process slow and graceful, it’s important to keep stress at bay. A great way to do this is by practicing relaxation techniques. There are a wide variety of techniques available including meditation, yoga and tai chi. Pick the method that you are most comfortable with and be sure to practice it several times a week to slow down the aging process.
Reflect on life. As you start to get on in years, it is a good idea to reflect on your life and what has worked and not gone so well for you. Take this time to forgive those who have wronged you and to make amends to people you have wronged.
There are 19 foods that are considered to be must have items in your refrigerator and pantry, and they will work wonders for your health and vitality as you age. Write these down and post it somewhere in your home to keep yourself reminded to stay stocked: seafood, dairy, spinach, nuts, olive oil, broccoli, oatmeal, flax seed meal, avocados, pomegranate juice, tomatoes, tofu, yogurt, red onions, garlic, beans and lentils! It may seem like a lot but it is the least you can do for yourself and the best results you can yield from your meal planning efforts!
As people age, muscle tone is compromised naturally. If you have jiggly skin between your elbows to armpits you will want to try to tone that area before it is too late to do anything about it. Getting rid of this type of flab can be done using very light weights and modified push ups.
The skin naturally looses its elasticity as people age. Sometimes aging people notice baggy knees as a part of this process. Baggy knees can be combated with simple shallow squats to help strengthen the quadriceps. Do not overdo it and begin slowly with two sets. As you become more skilled, add another set. Do the squats daily.
Stay flexible. Muscle and skeletal problems are linked to lack of flexibility, so make sure to do some stretching at least three days a week. Breathe normal throughout each stretch and hold it for 10-30 seconds. Stretching will help your body stay loose and supple so that it doesn’t feel tight and stiff.
One simple tip to take care of your eyes as they age is to apply a compress for five minutes, made of a washcloth wrung out in hot water. The compress will clear your eyes of “sleep” and other bacterial material that can contribute to eye infections and diseases as you age.
Your eyes need special care as you become older. It’s critical that you take care of them by seeing an eye professional regularly. Most important, be sure to seek professional care whenever you experience pain in either eye, persistent redness, swelling, disturbances or “spots” in your vision, or if you think your eyesight is changing.
Gaining weight over the years happens to a lot of people. As you most likely know, there is a long list of diseases that are caused by excess weight. Between a healthy diet and a proper exercise routine, you can stabilize your weight.
Try to maximize the amount of sleep that you get at night. When you sleep, your body can recharge and restore the nutrients that you lost during the course of the day. In addition, you will feel more energized and can prevent stress by getting at least 6-8 hours of sleep per night.
Keep an active social circle. Many older people find that they drift apart from family members, as those family members develop lives of their own. You may lose friends to illness, disability, and even death. Keep making new friends and stay in contact with family. You’ll be happier and healthier for it.
Aging is not all bad. There is no reason why you cannot enjoy many more years of joy with a healthy body and mind. Try to fold these ideas into your life. Your advancing years can be the most rewarding of your life.