Loving Your Body Past Age 65

Old people over field background

We are surrounded by resources designed to keep us from aging; but as everyone knows, there is no way to prevent it. Skin will loosen, hair will lose pigmentation, and wrinkles will form. Past the superficial changes one will notice in the mirror, there are internal changes going on as well. Bones become more brittle, muscles lose their mass, and organ function slows. Never fear! There are natural ways to which we can adjust our lifestyles to make the non-cosmetic aging process a graceful one.

It starts with two things: nutrition and physical activity.

Exercise.

It’s the number one way to decrease the effects of aging on both the inside and outside of our bodies. For one, there is a wide variety of activities available to the elderly population. Consult with your doctor before beginning any of them of course, but a few low-impact types of exercise to consider are biking, swimming, thai chi, and walking. Light weight training can strengthen bone density and increase muscle mass, thus helping to straighten your posture. In addition to the physical benefits of exercise, getting up and moving has been proven to greatly influence a positive mental well being. Committing to an active lifestyle can keep you feeling and moving a lot younger. Keep your social life active as well by teaming up with friends to go for a walk, or attend workout classes together.

Nutrition.

There are a multitude of barriers for the elderly to keep their nutrition at the same level it once was. Chewing may become difficult, tastes may change, and overall appetite may be totally suppressed. The rules of healthy eating do not change over ones lifespan. Try eliminating processed sugars, unhealthy fats, and those junk food munchies for an overall healthier life. Combine this general rule with an active lifestyle and watch in awe as your blood pressure and cholesterol levels creep back to normal- and maybe even decrease the need for certain medications! Of course the need for prescriptions are to be addressed only by your healthcare professional, and exactly what you eat varies from person to person.

So go! Spread the wealth! Implement and share your newfound knowledge with the rest of your senior peers and reap the benefits of loving your body at any age.