Good health is essential for seniors to enjoy and maintain a good quality of life. It is also never too late to begin adopting habits that lay the foundation for healthier living. But you might be lost in the information overload that’s available, leaving you famished. So, we take the guesswork out of it all for you, so you don’t need to research the important healthy habits. Here we take a look at five essential healthy habits for seniors to adopt!
Stay Active
Engaging in exercise often is highly essential for seniors. A frequent workout is beneficial for everyone. So, no matter what their age, but for seniors, it is especially crucial. Regular activity reduces mortality since it helps the body to build stronger bones. With a stronger skeletal structure, you enjoy a quicker recovery should you become injured. There is also a lesser chance of severe injury, better posture, and it will be easier to perform movements with your body. This is good for daily activities like taking out the trash, reaching for items in cupboards, or even picking up items from the floor. Aim to get a combination of resistance training and cardiovascular exercise every week.
Diet
Any senior looking to improve their quality of life cannot do so without looking at improving their diet. Every person’s specific type of food will vary, depending on what ailments, allergies, or nutritional needs they have. However, if you are looking to choose a particular diet to follow, health professionals recommend a Mediterranean diet.
This is an eating plan that involves vegetables and fruits, lean protein and whole grains, and healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, and nuts. Reducing intake of sugar, sodium, and processed foods go without saying if you want to amend your existing diet!
No Skipping Screenings
It makes perfect sense that if you catch a developing disease in its early stages, you have a far better chance of beating it, or at least significantly reducing or minimizing its impact on your health and your body. It is such a pity that so many seniors have the facilities and means to take advantage of services that are available for them to get free medical examinations, but they don’t use them! Depending on your health plan, you may be eligible for an assortment of preventative care and screening services. Make a habit of regular visits to the specialists or doctors to perform screenings and also to the dentist to maintain dental health.
Turn to Nature
Complaints of various aches and pains during old age are common and practically inevitable. It can be very tempting to rely on the help of ibuprofen, paracetamol or aspirin and other over-the-counter drugs to alleviate such pain. However, frequent use of such medications can cause harm to health. For example, NSAIDs have proven to be linked to gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, dizziness, increased blood pressure, and even abnormal liver function. Avoiding these effects means using natural pain relief in place of drugs. There are many herbal ointments available on the shelves that can bring relief without all the terrible side effects of synthetic medications.
Mental Health
As a senior, you need to prioritize not only your physical health but also your emotional and mental health as well. Ensure that you obtain the right amount of sleep for your brain to function optimally. Depression and anxiety and related issues tend to crop up when seniors don’t sleep well and long enough.
Being sociable and spending time with others, whether it is family or friends, is also immensely important. Ensure that you engage with people at least once a week, which is in person and not over Skype or video calls, Whatsapp, or the like.
Seniors often have a mindset that they are old and frail, and there’s nothing to do about it but wait for death. While this is a harsh way of putting it, it is important for people to realize that it is never too late to start a healthier life. The smallest of changes in your health can have dramatic consequences. So adopt good habits and reap the benefits of living a better life in your old age. A life without illness is what will help you celebrate old age!