Let’s face it—it’s easy to be seduced into the quest to recapture our youth, and there’s certainly enough societal pressure to do so. Furthermore, there’s a lot to be said for fighting the good fight. But what are we fighting for?
Surely there’s more to aging gracefully than finding the perfect wrinkle cream. Or squeezing into our tightest pair of designer jeans. Or engaging the world’s best cosmetic surgeon.
To me, aging gracefully is about attaining and sustaining optimum health, and thriving as a human being. It’s about taking all of the lessons we’ve learned, the skills we’ve developed, and the insights we’ve garnered and using them to our best advantage. It’s about having the courage and resilience to aspire towards the best version of ourselves.
““What you are is what you’ve been. What you’ll be is what you do now.””
Aging Well is a Choice
What you think and believe, your dietary choices, and how you nurture your spirit have everything to do with aging well.
If you’ve been reluctant to undertake lifestyle changes because you think you’ll be ravenous 24/7; have to sit in a circle holding hands and sharing energy; or run exhausting marathons, think again.
Did you know that:
Consuming delicious anti-inflammatory foods such as avocados, almonds, and blueberries can boost your immune system and make you less prone to diseases such as diabetes
Resistance training for as little as 30 minutes, three times per week, can:
Reduce the risk of falls and fractures
Boost your metabolism
Enhance your ability to perform everyday tasks
Relieve joint pain
Improve blood sugar
Obtaining adequate sleep of at least seven hours per night makes you less prone to:
Depression
Attention and memory problems
Falling
Blood sugar irregularities caused by hormonal shifts
By getting up, moving around and avoiding sitting down a lot, you can reduce your blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and the build up of toxins in your body
Reducing stress through techniques such as yoga, meditation, or even just retaining a sense of humor can lessen the risk of oxidative stress on your brain, which in turn lowers your risk of developing age-related diseases such as dementia
Strong social ties with friends, family, and community make you significantly less vulnerable to cognitive decline than if you are lonely or isolated
You are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia by engaging in lifetime learning
You can only come to one conclusion after reading the list above: That modest changes in your lifestyle choices will have a significant effect on your overall health, the rate at which you age, and the quality of your life. And that these are all choices that you, and only you, have the power to make.
So what are you waiting for?
““It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams.”
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