Younger than Springtime. Flipping through the April/May issue of AARP Magazine,* I came upon many tips to slow the aging process. I augmented their list with other info I found on the web. Some were common sense, some were surprising.
1. Walk faster. Those of us who walk slowly tend to be at a higher risk for falls and weakness. With my knee and heel issues, I'm doing the best I can.
2. Maintain your balance. Again, the goal here is to reduce falls. My balance has never been good – not even as a child – because of my scoliosis. But my yoga helps.
3. Stay social. Ding! Ding! Ding! I got one! I'm lucky that I make friends easily and with my little job at the card shop, I see people I like as often I as wish to. For me, the challenge is to remind myself that my friends aren't just fun, they are a support system for my physical and mental health. Which leads me to ...
4. Make mental health a priority. Many of us seniors (it's hard to believe I'm in that group but I indisputably am) accept loneliness, isolation and depression as a natural part of our lives. I don't. God did not put me here to be unhappy. While I accept that there is unhappiness in every life, it's not our baseline. I'm glad I'm in therapy.
5. Remember your cognitive health. I worry about this one a lot. My shrink (see above) assures me she's watching my reasoning and word choices to make sure I haven't declined and if she sees that I have, we will take steps.
6. Eat more fiber. This is not only important for gut health, fiber helps regulate blood sugar and reduce the risk of diabetes. As a woman of a certain age, I should consume 22 grams/day. I likely don't. I do take an extra gram each day in 2 fiber capsules each morning. Maybe I should up that.
7. Beans are our friends. Lima beans, navy beans, pinto beans and black beans are all affordable and rich in fiber and nutrients. Unfortunately, I don't like them. I do like cooked peas, though. They're pretty good. Must add them to my meals more often.
8. Watch the processed sugar. Sugar is added to everything from condiments to yogurt. With this in mind, I should eat fewer cookies. I don't. Note to self: pay attention to my snacks.
9. Establish a sleep schedule. Going to bed at approximately the same time every night promotes more restorative sleep. I do this.
10. Mind your dental health. Good oral hygiene reduces risk for infections, inflammation and heart attacks. No one spends more time at the dentist than I do.
11. Keep an eye on your vision. Seniors are at a higher risk of glaucoma and cataracts. Get your eyes checked regularly so these conditions can be diagnosed and dealt with promptly.
12. Wear your sunglasses. Damage from ultraviolet light has been linked to an increased risk of dementia. Most sunglasses come with built in UV protection. I do this one.
13. Wash your hands. It's not just for during a pandemic. Wash your hands several times a day for 20 full seconds. It will help protect your immune system. I need to do this more often.
How many of these do you do? Are you helping your body resist aging?
*Not only was I reading an AARP publication, it was in actual printed form. I am a dinosaur!
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