How You Can Ensure Better Health as a Senior
One of the main priorities for senior citizens should be their health and well-being, which can begin to deteriorate with age. Fortunately, practicing a healthy lifestyle can make it easier to maintain independence and mobility. If you want to enjoy getting older, there are a few important ways to ensure that you have better health.
Diet and Exercise
Diet and exercise are one of the main components that determine an individual’s health as they get older. Make it a point to cut out sugar to reduce the risk of diabetes or find relief for symptoms that you may be experiencing that are associated with the condition. It’s also necessary to find new exercises to practice throughout the week to remain flexible and mobile. Those who have a sedentary lifestyle are more likely to have limited mobility and can increase their risk of weight gain and other types of health conditions. Consider performing exercises that increase your strength and balance. Developing your core muscles can also make it easy to have more strength in your body when getting around each day.
Social Determinants
In addition to your diet and exercise routine, there are also social determinants of health that influence your well-being. The various factors include where you live, your income, and the family support that you receive from loved ones. 68% of seniors face challenges in at least one social determinant category. You’ll need to find ways to connect with loved ones each week, which may include retiring close to your adult children or scheduling trips to visit relatives throughout the year. Connecting with friends through book clubs or lunch dates each week will also make it easy to remain social.
Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is also crucial to help the body and mind recharge each day, which can increase your lifespan. Experts recommend that senior citizens get an average of eight hours of sleep each night. Make it a point to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day to avoid sleep issues that can develop. Avoid watching television or using a computer in the hours leading up to your bedtime, as the blue light from screens can make it more difficult to fall asleep.
There are several ways to feel more like yourself and boost your health as a senior. By implementing some of these tips, you can enjoy the golden years and increase your vitality over time.
Not sure where to start? We offer professional nutrition counseling to get you going in the right direction. Book an appointment today!
