Making New Year’s resolutions to eat better, exercise, watch your weight, see your healthcare provider regularly, or quit smoking once and for all, can help you get healthier and feel better for many more years to come. With advancing age, the human body goes through a lot of changes, this makes prioritizing your health becomes increasingly important year-after-year.
A new year is just around the corner and this presents an opportunity to consider ways we can improve our well-being through adopting healthy New Year’s resolutions. If you don’t know where to begin, start by considering the following age-appropriate lifestyle choices that focus on making this new year the year of self-improvement.
Adopt Proper Nutrition
Healthy and balanced nutrition is crucial for a healthy lifestyle. Although throughout many decades you have lived, nutrition should have been a primary focus, now more than ever you need to eat healthier. If you want to live a fruitful life, you must eat healthily.
Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and hypertension are a few conditions that can be avoided with better nutrition. Targeting nutrient-dense foods is essential for older adults, and avoidance of high-calorie foods that lack vital nutrients is crucial. Beneficial foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, seafood, poultry, eggs, legumes, and low-fat dairy. Portion control may also be necessary — for older adults especially — as people may eat more food than they need. Also, fruits and dark chocolate make excellent natural alternatives if you need to satisfy a sweet craving.
Spend time with loved ones
Loved ones can be anyone from family, friends, dog, cats, neighbors, anyone that you care for! Interactions will help you feel fulfilled, happier, and can help avoid depression.
There are recent studies that show women who spend time caring for their grandchildren have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease! Activities like walking at the park, sitting out on the patio, or simply sitting and talking with a loved one can make an impact on your brain. The brain is a mysterious organ that is yet to be fully understood however, we know these small interactions can help avoid a mental decline and can even help promote the growth of healthy brain cells.
Make exercise a routine
Exercise is something probably many of us have been neglecting since a young age. Your doctor is not lying when he tells you it is important to get at least 30 minutes of exercise regularly.
Just like a balanced diet, regular exercise is paramount to a healthy life. Make it a new year resolution to start exercising if you have not started yet! It is recommended to exercise 3-4 times a week for about 30 minutes a day. If you are only getting started, try 1-2 times a week for 15 minutes and increase it once you are feeling ready.
You can try going for walks, dancing, swimming, gardening, or even yoga! It is important to stay moving to keep the mind and body healthy.
As we go into 2022, make it a point to adopt healthier habits and routines. Even the slightest of changes will go a long way to impact your life long-term. Better habits will keep your body and mind in better shape.
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