Like a Fine Wine
They say that like a fine wine, we all get better with age; while the saying is fun, it’s not always true. If you don’t take care of your body, it most likely won’t return the favor. However, if you want your best shot at aging gracefully, check out the simple easy everyday habits below that you should be adopting to help you age like the beauty you are.
There’s no way around it; you can’t age well if you are
stressing about your at home safety. First off, chronic stress is linked to the
six leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents,
cirrhosis of the liver and suicide[1].
Secondly, stressing about your safety
can Stress from living in fear of having a health
crisis and not being able to get help can actually result in a health crisis
that you’re trying to avoid.
have an outward effect on your body too. It can take a toll on your hair,
skin and nails! Lastly, and more importantly, a major fall or emergency can
create a great deal of stress on your body and psyche.
So, if you’re looking for a way to combat stress and help
your body to age gracefully, it’s time to consider getting Life Alert. While
wearing their lightweight, waterproof emergency pendant, you can summon an
emergency medical response fast with just one touch of a button. No matter what
life threatening emergency you may face, Life Alert’s dispatch team is
available 24/7 to send you the proper authorities fast. Moreover, permanent damage or disability can
be minimized, and even death may be prevented the sooner help arrives. So don’t
just grow older; grow more confident and more beautiful due to a stress-free
life with Life Alert by your side!
Now that Life Alert has eliminated the stress of having
personal protection, want to get a handle on all the pesky things that come
with age? Real Simple[2]
wants to help! Check out their simple daily habits that can help you age like a
fine wine.
Maintain a
positive attitude: You are what you think you are when it comes to
aging. Seniors who think of age as a means to wisdom and overall satisfaction
are more than 40 percent more likely to recover from a disability than those
who see aging as synonymous with helplessness or uselessness, according to The
Journal of the American Medical Association.
Watch what you
eat: Nutrition plays a major role in how your body ages. “The latest
research shows that a low-glycemic diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables,
whole grains, and lean protein is healthiest,” says Dr. Jeffrey Benabio, Physician
Director of Healthcare. One great example is the Mediterranean diet, rich in
plant-based foods, whole grains, nuts, and red wine (in moderation!). It also
involves eating fish twice each week and cutting back on salt. Research shows
that this type of diet may help you age better by warding off heart attacks,
strokes, and premature death, according to Harvard Medical School. An added
bonus: Benabio says that foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as walnuts,
salmon, and flaxseed, help your skin manufacture the essential oils it needs to
protect itself and can help skin look younger. In contrast, sugary,
carbohydrate-heavy, and fatty foods—think, chips, soda, and white bread—can
speed up the aging process, says Benabio. “So, when shopping or dining out, opt
for whole grains and natural sweeteners,” he says.
…and how much you
eat: Overeating may lead to a shorter life span, cardiovascular
disease, and type 2 diabetes, according to the NIH. To age well and live
longer, it’s best to stick to a balanced diet that consists of about 2.5 cups
of vegetables, 1.5 to two cups of fruit, six ounces of grains, three cups of
dairy, and five ounces of protein each day.
Exercise
regularly: Staying active is a vital part of aging well. The average
woman can lose 23 percent of her muscle mass between ages of 30 and 70, says
Fabio Comana, a faculty instructor at the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
You lose muscle more rapidly as you age, but exercise—resistance workouts in
particular—can increase mass and strength, even well into your 90s, says
Comana. Staying fit may also reduce age-related memory loss, according to a
study published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. Plus,
Alzheimer’s disease accounts for approximately 60 to 70 percent of all dementia
cases, says Comana, adding that increasing physical activity can decrease this
statistic by 25 percent. That’s because exercise strengthens the hippocampus,
the region of the brain associated with learning.
Stay social:
Friends and relatives can help you live longer. Those of us with strong social
ties were shown to have a 50 percent higher chance of living longer than those
with poor or insufficient relationships, according to a study published in the
journal PLoS Medicine.
Protect your skin
from the sun: Too much time in the sun can cause wrinkles, not to
mention cancer. But wearing sunscreen can help prevent your skin’s aging. And
while the sun’s UV rays do trigger vitamin D production, which is essential for
bone health, that’s hardly a good reason to expose yourself. “Here are the
facts,” Benabio says. “After a few minutes of sun, your skin stops making
vitamin D…and starts making skin cancer.” Most people get plenty of Vitamin D,
but if you think you’re not, try eating more salmon or even eggs (don’t skip
the yolk).
Get plenty of
sleep: You probably know that you should snooze for seven to nine hours
each night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. But did you know that
not sleeping enough may mean a higher risk of obesity, heart disease, and
diabetes. Plus, naps can improve memory and even help make up for missing
nightly Zzs. And it turns out that “beauty sleep” isn’t a myth. During sleep,
your body releases a growth hormone that helps restore collagen and elastin,
the essential building blocks of young, healthy skin, says Benabio. Recent studies have also shown a connection
between insomnia and accelerated aging of the brain, Benabio says. In other
words, chronic lack of sleep adversely affects your brain’s function and speeds
up the aging process. “Too many of us treat sleep as a luxury instead of a
need,” says Benabio. “If I could encourage people do make one healthy change
this year, it would be to sleep more.”
Take the few simple tips above and show aging what you’re
made of! And while you’re at it, add Life Alert Protection to your daily
routine by simply slipping on their lightweight and waterproof emergency button
around your neck or wrist. No matter if you encounter a home invasion, a heart
attack or even a serious fall, Life Alert’s dispatch team can be reached with a
simple touch of a button. Simply press the button on your pendant and summon help
fast, 24/7. How much easier can your personal protection plan get? Your age
shouldn’t define your state of independence; let Life Alert help you to stay
true to the safety you need for the independence you crave, gracefully. For a
free Life Alert brochure call 1-800-513-2934.
Works Cited:
1.
Hartz-Seeley, Deborah S. “Chronic stress is
linked to the six leading causes of death.” Miami Herald. 21 March 2014.< https://www.miamiherald.com/living/article1961770.html>.
2.
Wise, Abigail. “7 Habits of People Who Age
Well.” Real Simple. <https://www.realsimple.com/health/preventative-health/habits-of-people-who-age-well
>.
