Secrets to Health Ageing
By Dr Esyltt Graham Chiropractor
Does the phrase ‘healthy ageing’ sound like a contradiction to you or do you read ‘healthy ageing’ and say to yourself “Yes, that’s my goal”. Every day in my office I see people who are in their 80’s who are active, happy and full of life. I also see people who are in their 50’s and they’re struggling to do simple household chores, they feel old.
So what is the secret? Is it genetic programming? Is it luck? Perhaps a little bit however the good news is that the answer is more about making healthy choices than luck.
What you eat, how you move and how you think are the 3 keys to feeling vibrant as you age.
Choosing what to eat can be confusing. Clever marketing can convince you something is healthy because it is low in fat, however it may be full of sugar. Ask yourself the question “how close is this food to its natural state?” The closer it is to its natural state the healthier it will be. For example, corn, corn flakes and corn chips all contain the vegetable corn. However the corn, fresh off the cob is the only form in an unprocessed natural state. Also, read the ingredients listed on the label of processed foods, if you don’t recognise the ingredients there is a good chance there is something in there that is less likely to help you age well. Of course eating well also refers to what you choose to drink. 8 glasses of water a day will help you look younger as well as feel more energetic. Green tea is another great option full of antioxidants.
The second key to healthy ageing is movement. Would you rather be out watering your garden or sitting watching television? 150 minutes of activity per week is the recommended minimum. If you don’t like “exercise” then wash the car or take your grandchildren to the park. There are a variety of programmes available in Collie to help you achieve your fitness goals, including programmes such as ‘stay on your feet’ designed especially for seniors. Keep your brain ‘active’ as well by doing Sudoku or crossword puzzles.
Last, but not least, is how you think. Studies show that if you see yourself as being able to participate in activities you enjoy you’re more likely to succeed. Whereas if you see yourself as “old”, fit only for the couch, chances are you’ll end up that way. So set your self a health goal and write it down. This is a proven way to increase the likelihood of you achieving your goal. Remember health is the one commodity you cannot buy.
So starting today, what healthier choice are you going to make? I encourage you to eat well, move well and think well. You’ll soon be skipping.
Next issue: Raising healthy children