What Seniors Can Do to Stay Healthy

While staying healthy as you age can seem challenging, there are steps you can take to make things easier. By maintaining a healthy diet, staying social, and getting involved in a wellness program, you will enjoy the many benefits of improved health and well-being. But even if you acknowledge the importance of these things, you may be uncertain about how to get started. Follow our simple tips below and you will be one step closer to putting the right healthy habits in place.

Diet

As you know, your body is only as healthy as the food you put into it. If your nutritional choices aren’t ideal, you may notice you do not function at your best. Therefore, the quickest way to notice positive results is by changing your diet. With the abundance of specialty diets available to people today, eating right can be confusing.

As a general starting point, you should stick to some key staples of healthy eating. Because nutrients are so important to your health, you want to make sure that you are eating plenty of whole foods that contain high-quality nutrients and vitamins. This means fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains.

If you are unsure about what foods offer the most nutrients, then it may be helpful to learn about superfoods. Simply put, superfoods contain large amounts of nutrients that create numerous health benefits. Some popular superfoods are apples, avocados, kiwi, swiss chard, and lentils. Mixing and matching different superfoods is a great way to stay healthy while also exploring new and exciting flavors of all kinds.

Exercise and Wellness Programs

Of course, changing your diet is not the only thing you can do to improve your health. A regular exercise program is crucial to your overall well-being. Finding an activity you enjoy makes exercising much easier. Whether it’s biking, walking, or swimming the health benefits of exercise are undeniable.

If you are interested in starting an exercise routine, then a senior-focused wellness program is a great choice, plus these programs are an excellent addition to your nutrition plan. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, find out if you are eligible to enroll in a wellness program. If your coverage is specific to Original Medicare, consider looking for an alternative plan to get the most out of your healthcare. Most Medicare Advantage plans, like those offered through Humana, provide access to wellness programs like Silver Sneakers, in addition to expanded coverage for dental, vision, hearing, and prescriptions. With the fall enrollment period running until December 7th, now is the time to look into making any changes. 

Yoga

In many ways, yoga is an ideal form of exercise for older adults. It’s easier on your body than more intense fitness programs, such as running or weightlifting. At the same time, there are several key health benefits of yoga. Participating in a regular yoga program can increase energy levels, improve strength and flexibility, and improve posture. Routinely practicing yoga can counteract many of the concerns seniors experience, such as slowing the loss of bone density, improving balance, enhancing mobility, and alleviating joint pain. Some studies indicate that, when older adults participate regularly in yoga, they enjoy significant weight loss, staying about 20 pounds lighter than their non-practicing peers. You can even slow the aging process and extend your lifespan.

Nutrition and supplements

Finally, if you discover that you are deficient when it comes to certain nutrients, then you may need to include daily supplements and vitamins. It’s not unusual to lack certain nutrients as we age, especially if one has a particular condition or body type. In this case, taking vitamins or supplements is a great way to ensure that you are getting everything your body needs to function well.

Some of the most popular recommendations for vitamins and supplements include fish oil, Vitamin D, and Vitamin B. You may find that tweaking your diet first can give you the nutrients that you need. But if you think that you may be lacking a certain vitamin, then taking supplements is an excellent option. Just be sure to speak with your doctor first to avoid any medication interactions. 

It is important to remember that taking care of your health is a choice you make. When you choose to eat right and exercise, you will enjoy the positive benefits of improved mood, higher energy levels, and less stress. By putting the right habits in place, you can continue to enjoy a happy healthy life as you age.

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About the author

Jennifer McGregor is a pre-med student, who loves providing reliable health and medical resources for PublicHealthLibrary.org users. She knows how difficult it can be to sift through the mountains of health-related information on the web. She co-created the site with a friend as a way to push reputable information on health topics to the forefront, making them easier and quicker to find.

 

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