As you grow older, you will be experiencing major changes in your life. From retiring to parting ways with your children when they move out of the house to losing a parent or a spouse ‒ growing old can take its toll on you. However, even in the midst of all those life-changing moments, you should find a way to age well and stay healthy regardless of what the future brings to you. Here’s what you can do to stay healthy and happy as you age.
Drink plenty of water
According to studies, the more water you drink, the slimmer are the chances you’ll get bladder cancer. Namely, frequent urinating prevents the carcinogens build-up in the bladder, so make sure you stick to a good old H2O instead of sugary carbonated drinks. 8 glasses of water a day are just what your body needs to feel hydrated and stay energized. Sodas will only make the skin cells age faster, and are more likely to cause heart diseases, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
Milk is vital for your health
Remember how milk was essential for your growth as a baby? Well, the same goes for later in life. Just because you’re older, it doesn’t mean you should give up on milk. In fact, a sufficient intake of milk a day will slow down the progression of osteoporosis, giving you all the calcium your bones need. Ensure you have at least seven glasses of milk per week to keep your bones strong and prevent some of the most frequent injuries to the elderly.
Join a residential community for the elderly
Socializing is very important for our mental health, so you should always keep in touch with your friends. If some of them have passed away, and you don’t have anyone to talk to or spend time with, it would be a good idea to join a residential community. The Bellmere residential community, for example, has lovely facilities and offers the elderly all the care they need. It’s a wonderful place for people with dementia as well since it can meet all of their needs. Residential communities are the best places for socializing, staying active, pursuing hobbies, and continuing to play a role in the community.
Get a hobby
Picking up a hobby you used to love is a great way to spend free time in your retirement. What’s more, if you’re not that into an old hobby, you can always try something new and discover some of your hidden talents even in your golden years. Expand your social network by taking a class or joining a club or sports, and improve both your physical and mental health. You can try learning a new language, or see if you would be good at playing a new instrument too. Not only will that add meaning to your life, but it’ll also prevent mental decline.
Stay active
Just because you’re getting old doesn’t mean you should stop being active. Even if you’ve recently recovered from a serious disease, you need to keep moving so your body will function better. Regular workout is the number one contributor to longevity, it helps you maintain your strength and agility, and increases vitality. Moreover, regular exercise will improve sleep, boost your mental health, and even help diminish chronic pain. Therefore, make sure you consult your doctor on what type of exercise you are allowed to do and start breaking a sweat. It will count even if you are just taking a walk every day.
Regular Checkups
As you age your body goes through many changes and can become more susceptible to health issues. For example, as we age we have a reduction in hormones such as testosterone in men and estradiol in women which can lead to health issues like chronic fatigue, hair loss, weight gain, brittle bones, and even muscle loss. These issues show up slowly over time which is why it’s so important that you have regular check-ups so that your doctor has a baseline to work off to compare your recent results to. This helps to monitor any trends happening in your health, meaning your doctor can put preventative actions in place before the issues become a serious problem. However, if you find you are already suffering from the effects of low testosterone, for example, you can find clinics like this TRT Grapevine clinic which specializes in men’s health and treating low testosterone through testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
Just because your body is getting old, it doesn’t mean your spirit should do so as well. Even when you reach your golden years, you should do your best to socialize, stay active, and take care of your health as if you were in your 20s or 30s. Therefore, make sure you age well by sticking to good nutrition, staying active, and socializing as much as possible to keep your mental health in good shape as well.
