The process of aging can be very difficult for the one going through it, and even for the ones surrounding them. It is hard to cope with the new reality of facing a less-competent and able you. But it happens to all of us and fortunately there are centuries upon centuries of good advice when it comes to aging. Here are a few tips.
Keep your body hydrated to reduce the affects of aging on your skin. Our skin is one of the first things to show the signs of dehydration with sunken eyes and leathery skin. Keep up your water intake and make sure to eat foods that are high in water content like cucumbers and oranges.
Did you know that high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes are risk factors for dementia? These risks become more severe due to smoking, lack of exercise and high cholesterol. As we age, it becomes increasingly important to control these disorders in order to maintain good mental health as aging progresses.
All women over 65 should be tested for bone density since this is the only way to diagnose osteoporosis. Some doctors recommend baseline bone density scans at menopause and at regular intervals after. Predicting fracture risk and determining rate of bone loss can help in the monitoring and prevention of osteoporosis.
Just because you aren’t as young as you used to be, you can still create goals and work to get them done. Life is an ever-changing journey and shouldn’t become boring. Setting goals for yourself will keep you motivated and active to see they are accomplished. The pride you feel when you have attained these goals will be insurmountable.
Stop multitasking! Your mind cannot function the way that it once did. You will find it easier and far less stressful if you do not try to accomplish as many things at once. Avoiding stress is important as you get older to avoid doing damage to your heart and your body.
Take additional calcium supplements with your vitamins. Calcium gets more important to your body the older that you get. Most adults need about 1,200 mg of calcium each day. If you do not get the amount that your body needs, your bones are going to get brittle and weak.
Aging well depends on knowing the right time to step back from some things. You have always cleaned the chimney yourself. Now perhaps, it is time to let a professional do it. It may make you feel incompetent, but you must get over that. You don’t want to risk a fall and be laid up for weeks or months, trying to heal. There is wisdom in doing as much as you can do and knowing your limitations.
We are an optimistic people, always looking to the future. But in old age a backward look, even regret, can be a good thing. Assessing what is good or bad, what worked well or did not, is part of our job as human beings; part of what we pass on to the next generation.
Looking younger depends on not wearing powder makeup and foundation. Although makeup is supposed to help people look better, it makes the skin less elastic and contributes to the skin losing hydration. It is okay to wear it every now and then, but for the most part try to just use mascara and lip gloss and avoid putting makeup directly on the skin.
There is no magic pill to reverse aging. There is no snake water magic potion for a youthful appearance. Making healthy changes to your lifestyle and diet can give you a zestful approach to living. Remember that issues due to aging takes a lifetime to develop so it will not be reversed overnight when you start giving your body what it needs.
As you age, start increasing your intake of raw fruits, seeds, grains, nuts and vegetables. Eat a well balanced diet and be sure to include raw broccoli, cauliflower, soybeans (edamame) and cabbage in your diet. Limit your red meat consumption and try to eat more fish. Raw foods will help your digestion and nutrient absorption.
Identify something you have always wanted to learn and take lessons or read about it. Whether it is playing a musical instrument or just learning more about a particular subject, continuing your education either formally or informally is a great way to keep your mind and body active and engaged.
Make sure that you visit your doctor regularly for a check-up as you get older. Issues like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and mobility issues need to be monitored more frequently because your body will take longer to recover from health problems. Your doctor can advise you if you need to change any routines to keep your body healthy.
Appoint someone to handle your affairs in case you become incapacitated. If something happens and you are unable to care for your own health, decide who will take charge of those decisions for you. Talk to them about what kinds of things you want done. You can’t know if you will need a health care proxy, but have one in place just in case. It’s hard to think about things like this, but it is sensible to plan for this kind of eventuality, whether young or old.
A wonderful gift adult children can give is caring for aging parents! To do so, there are many things to consider. In the area of finance, it is essential to create a budget specifically for care giving. Make a list of what funds you have to work with, and the needs of you parents. This will help you see if funds are being utilized to their fullest potential!
By way of conclusion, don’t let the inherent and obvious difficulties of aging get you down. Because everyone ages it has been studied to a great extent, and as such many people have so much knowledge to help you in regards to aging. Take some of the advice from this article, and you will start to feel better about it.
