WHAT IS AGING ANYWAY?
Aging is the process of becoming older. From the moment we are born we start to age. You and I are aging by the second. This may sound gruesome. Nonetheless, aging is normal and even healthy. It's part of the circle of life. However, what shouldn't be considered normal is to think that when we reach a certain a
ge and we start seeing the effects of the years passing by, that is when we should start taking care of our health.
Healthy aging is a lifetime activity, even more so when we reach 65+.
EXERCISING TO AGE BETTER
According to research, people who pursue an active lifestyle by exercising not only live longer but better, leading to a pain-free agedness. For instance, a study conducted by the National Institute of Aging in Baltimore concluded that moderate to vigorous physical activity is strongly associated with muscle function. Meaning that people who exercise daily will more likely be able to prevent muscle decline as they age.
EATING HEALTHY TO AGE BETTER
Moreover, food choices are also a vital part of how we age. If we want to age better, then healthy food choices filled with macronutrients and micronutrients must be what we eat. There are numerous diet types, and it may be confusing to know which one is the right one. However, research suggests that following a diet with minimally processed foods, lots of leafy greens, vegetables, fruit, and foods close to nature is what we should be eating. By following a healthy diet, one may be able to prevent cognitive malfunction, and diseases, and will also contribute to living longer.
SLEEPING TO AGE BETTER
Sleeping is a part of our lives we don't necessarily pay much attention to it. Many of us lead a busy lifestyle, putting sleep at the last of our priority list. However, sleep is of extreme importance to age better. By not sleeping well, we can negatively affect our concentration and memory as we age. Also, we can be more accident-prone. Thus, we suggest proper downtime. This means turning off cell phones and other electronic devices at least one hour before bed and sleeping 7-9 hours.
Aging is part of our everyday lives, and we will all reach agedness at some point. However, it is up to us to control if we want to age vibrantly and healthily or if we want the opposite.
References:
Adelnia, F., Urbanek, J., Osawa, Y., Shardell, M., Brennan, N. A., Fishbein, K. W., ... & Ferrucci, L. (2019). Moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity is associated with higher muscle oxidative capacity in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 67(8), 1695-1699.