You’re getting older, but that doesn’t mean you should slow down. You still have a lot of life in you, and there’s a lot you can do to stay healthy. While many people “give up†when they hit 50 – believing they are “over the hill,†– this is a time to rejoice. You have the wisdom earned by your younger years and enough vitality to make it to 80. Here’s how.
Lift Weights
Most people avoid lifting weights for their entire life. But, lifting is one of the best ways to build and preserve muscle at any age. No, you won’t be the hulk that you could be in your 20s. But, you can still build and preserve muscle – muscle that you’ll desperately need in your advanced age.
You see, building muscle isn’t just something to think about. It’s something you need to do. Many senior citizens meet an untimely and early end because of a hip fracture or loss of balance – both of which can be attributed in part to weakened muscles. Additionally, weight lifting is proven to increase mitochondria in your cells – the powerhouses that provide those cells with energy. By building muscle, you will be helping to prolong your life.
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Reduce Alcohol Consumption
There are various methods to decrease alcohol consumption when you’re older – especially if you’re used to drinking several times a week. Why bother decreasing alcohol consumption? While some studies show that a glass of wine a day can be beneficial, it’s also true that alcohol produces a toxic substance in the body – called acetaldehyde – that needs to neutralized by enzymes in the liver, specifically the P450 family of enzymes, aldehyde dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and catalase.
All of this sucks up important resources that could be used for other purposes that will improve your quality of life.
Work On Mobility
As we get older, we sometimes become less mobile. Mobility training is one way to improve your mobility as you get older. Forget stretching – most of what you hear about it is wrong. Instead, work on improving your range of motion through exercise, like walking, unloaded and loaded barbell training, and mobility-specific work that includes trigger points and possibly active massage.
Eat Healthier
Everyone needs to eat healthier, but what does that mean? There are so many ideas out there right now about what to eat and what not to eat. One of the best sources for information about a customized diet is Chris Kresser.
Oh, and forget about switching to fad diets like vegetarianism, veganism, juicing, or popping a handful of supplements. Those don’t work.
What should you opt for? Preferably, a customized diet that takes into account known food allergies and non-IgE food sensitivities. If you can’t afford the necessary medical testing to figure this out, opt for a non-inflammatory diet consisting of lots of veggies, some fruit (non-sweet, like berries), some nuts, unprocessed meats of all kinds including fish and organ meats, and some natural animal fats like pastured lard and butter which have a healthy balance of saturated and monounsaturated fats, and limited plant-based fats like coconut and olive oil.
GUEST BLOGGER: Steve Tucker’s passion for holistic medicine grows from his penchant for research and healthy living. When not working with patients of all ages, he often blogs about natural ways to stay healthy. Follow Steve on Twitter.
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