AGING GRACEFULLY -it’s a choice

Have you ever seen a family member, neighbor, or family friend who never seems to age? This individual just seems to skate through life as though time stood still. Every time you see them, you cannot help but comment on how this person has not changed one bit.

Do you think that aging gracefully is something that you are genetically predisposed to or is it something that is available to just a lucky few?

Well, perhaps this was true many decades ago, but today we know better. There certainly are ways to age gracefully, and the choice is ours.

The Physical Body

It makes sense that if you take care of your physical body now, it will take care of you later. If you eat properly, exercise, and get enough fresh air and sunshine, you will more than likely be healthier as you age. Using sunscreen and staying hydrated at all times are essential to feeling your optimum best as well.

Your physical body is like a building that houses your being. You are responsible for what comes into that building. Eating right is the perfect way to protect yourself from the pitfalls of aging.

Everything from your eyesight to your muscles and joints will respond to the natural course of aging. However, the more positive input such as committing to  clean eating, including organic, proteins,  fresh fruits and vegetables, the better chance you give that physical body of aging gracefully.

The Spiritual Body

Just about every individual has some type of spirituality – not necessarily a religion, but a spiritual point of view. For example, doing the right thing, helping others, being part of a family and a community are all spiritual habits.

Taking part in being a spiritual being is an excellent way to stay in touch with and give back to your community. It provides many health benefits as well. Just because you are aging or have aged, does not mean that you are not still a vital part of a community.

If you continue to reach out to others, especially as you age, you will be the definition of aging gracefully.

The Mental Body

How vital and vibrant your mind is depends on how you treat it as you age. If you fill your head with negative talk or surround yourself with negative situations and individuals, your body and your aging process will show this.

Your attitude makes the biggest impact. If you start to accept all the cliches society feeds us, associated with aging, then we start to become them. Think differently. Defy the stereotype. Believe all things are still possible. Every day is actually a new day to think yourself younger.

The Anti-Aging Benefits of Keeping Active

A sedentary lifestyle is beneficial to no one. Sedentary lifestyles lead to all kinds of health issues such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even abnormal sugar levels. Some of these studies even show that sitting down for long periods during and after eating can have adverse effects.

While everyone knows the importance of exercise for a healthy life, not many individuals are aware that being physical early enough in life means keeping aging and its associated ailments at bay for even longer.

When you take on being physical at an earlier age, you provide yourself with many benefits.

Muscles and Joints

The more you use your muscles and joints appropriately when you are younger, the better those muscles and joints will serve you later in life. Of course, overdoing it by doing too much high impact aerobics will have adverse effects on those body parts; however, low impact aerobics, walking, and light exercise keep the joints and muscles moving and flowing so that later in life they are not as stiff.

Just like a vehicle that is not used or an old bicycle, your joints and muscles need exercising.

Physicality and the Aging Mind

Studies are showing that adults in the middle of their lives who exercise are less likely to suffer from the damaging effects of diseases such as Alzheimer’s later on in life. Being physically fit and keeping your circulation flowing is a benefit to having a healthy, active and alert mind as you age.

Being physical keeps the body working and the mind sound. As an anti-aging solution, being physical works on many levels.

Physicality and Socialization

Being physical also offers the tremendous benefit of being social. More often than not when you are being physical, you are surrounded by other like-minded individuals. This gives you the opportunity to meet new people.

Whether you join a gym or walk along the boardwalk on sunny days, you are more than likely to meet someone new.

Being social and not isolating yourself is one of the greatest benefits of being proactive toward anti-aging.

If you keep your body and mind happy and add being social into the mix, you have a win/win situation all the way around for yourself and your loved ones in using physicality as a benefit to anti-aging.

Choosing how to age, and why it matters.

 
If you are like most people, you are busier than busy. Family, career, responsibilities in your home, and education are all part of your life. Suddenly, you recognize that quite a bit of time has passed you by in your busy-ness. You may start to notice going up and down the stairs hurts your knees a little bit more, and you may notice that your back is not as strong as it used to be when you were younger.

During this time, it is crucial to your health and wellbeing to stop and take notice of what your body is trying to say to you. All your body really wants you to do is to listen. That’s right; these telltale signs are ways of your body asking you to please pay attention, slow down, or do things differently. Perhaps it is also your body’s way of saying, “hey, something is missing here.”

While aging is an inevitable part of the cycle of life, have you ever considered that you get to choose how you age? More and more studies are proving that the way you are in your latter years of life is the result of how you behave in your middle life years – as far as aging goes anyway.

If you take a proactive stance for your health early on, you will have amazing results. You do have a choice about how you age in your future by concentrating on that important aspect now.

Exercise and Fitness

If you have not exercised for years or if you feel that you are simply too busy, then you are almost guaranteed to experience more difficulty in your older years. By exercising now, you give your body two benefits: one for your present health and a gift for your future health.

Studies are showing repeatedly that those who exercise, simply age better. The physical body benefits from exercise in many ways:

* Improved cardiovascular system
* Lower blood pressure
* Well-maintained blood sugar levels
* Strengthened joints and muscles

On a mental note, exercise and fitness improves your mind in so many ways both now and for your future:

* Better mood
* Feeling happier
* Sleeping better
* A feeling of overall wellness
* Less fatigue
* Clarity of mind

You Are What You Eat

Foods to eat now that would benefit you later would include some of the following:

* Organic , Fresh fruits and vegetables
*Organic Grains
*Organic  Nuts and seeds

Have you ever heard the expression that you are what you eat? Well, studies now show the direct benefit of specific foods on aging.

With the knowledge and power available to us from eating food that is readily available, it makes sense to tap into this wellspring of youth in our now, so that our future will be one of graceful aging.

Top Three Ways Eating Right Helps You Age Better

Top Three Ways Eating Right Helps You Age Better
You have all seen the ads to eat your way slim or eat your way to a better body. However, what about eating right now not just for the benefits of having a better body in the moment. What about eating better now so that you can have and be a better you in your future.

 

That is right. What you put into your mouth now can equate to how you age. Scientific studies are showing more and more that what you eat has a positive effect on your body in many ways:

* Your cardiovascular system
* Your muscles and joints
* Your brain (imagine that!)
* Your eyesight and so much more

1. Eating Right and the Impact on Your Brain

You are probably all too familiar with the benefits of eating right. It is on every commercial, every magazine article, and just about every product you purchase at the market. However, did you know that fueling your brain with the right foods could decelerate the aging process?

Certain foods such as healthy fats are excellent sources for optimal brain functioning:

* Olive oil
* Coconut oil
* Fish
* Avocados
* Omega 3 fatty acids (excellent anti-inflammatory properties)

2. Eating Right Aids with Cardiovascular Disease

Millions of individuals over the age of 60 are suffering from cardiovascular disease. Sometimes cardiovascular disease is due to genes and other times it is due to poor lifestyle choices.

Eating a Mediterranean-based diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and olive oil, with no processed foods , along with nuts and grains can decelerate the risk of heart disease.

There are several factors contributing to heart disease:

* High blood pressure
* High cholesterol
* Obesity
* Poor eating habits

It makes sense to eat right while you are younger in order to avoid heart disease as you age.

3. Eating Right and Avoiding Arthritis

If someone told you what and how you eat now will aid you in your aging years, you would probably be more inclined to follow up with this idea. Osteoarthritis is one of the more common types of inflammation from which the aging population suffers.

Recent studies have shown that herbs such as ground ginger may be effective in reducing inflammation.

Eating more fruits and vegetables (especially organic), including spinach, kale, citrus, and even garlic are all said to reduce the implications of arthritis. Reducing sugar and eating raw nuts along with staying hydrated aid in reducing inflammatory processes as well.

So, as you can see eating right most definitely can help you to age gracefully.