Health tips for people over 50

Life is a circle and therefore we need to take ample steps in making our life complete by living in the most healthy manner. Following a rich and healthy diet is not going to make us live longer. Along with a healthy diet, you should take steps for keeping our bodies physically active.

After a certain age say 50, our bodies gradually drop in energy levels. Therefore, at a ripe age, we should learn to do the things which might help us to age healthy. Boldsky, has listed 15 things which you can start doing today in order to age healthy and stay active.

Experts say that there are many people who have passed the age of 50 years and lead a life of complete solace excluding themselves from physical activities. This is not the right step to take if you want to live longer. After you pass a certain age, you should make sure that you follow some form of lifestyle where your always on the move and keeping your body active.

Here are some of the fun ways for healthy ageing after 50. If you are keen on taking a positive move towards healthy ageing, here are some of the health tips you should add to your everyday to do list. Take a look at some of the tips on healthy ageing after 50:

Balanced Diet

If you want to live a healthy life, one of the vital things you need to keep in mind is to follow a healthy and balanced diet. A wholesome diet filled with veggies and grains which will provide you with the best health.

Avoid Stress

One of the main things you should keep in mind is to not overload your self with stress. When your brain undergoes too much of a stress strain, your body becomes weak and restless. You will also face a lot of health problems like heart attacks and mental strain.

Stay away from bad habits

If you want to age healthy, you should give up all your bad habits. Some of the bad habits which make ones life miserable is smoking, addiction to alcohol and drugs.

Be friendly

When you have friends around you, there is no chance of loneliness seeping in. So to age healthy, make new friends and always stay in touch with your old ones.

Exercises

It is mandatory that you practice one form of exercise to stay fit and active. If you want to age healthy, exercise is the only key to keep diseases at bay by passing out all the bad toxins from your body.

Positive attitude

A positive attitude is good for the mind and the body. When you have a positive attitude you are not only living life in a clear cut manner but also not taking on any stress by being negative.

Emotional levels

To age healthy, you should make sure that your mind doesn’t not play with your emotions too often. There are some people whose emotions rule their life and thus this make them fall ill easily. Therefore, keep your emotions in track and let it not rule you.

Mindful eye on fat

Today, our society is filled with people who are obese. If you want to age healthy, you should make it a point to follow a healthy diet which involves food that help to burn excess fat. Foods like cabbage and onions are some which help to burn fat.

Eye care

Your eyes is the only sense organ which helps you to see the beautiful world as it is. Therefore, you need to look after your eyes by consuming healthy foods for eye care and practicing eye exercises.

Too much of sun

Avoid over exposure of the sun rays. The rays of the sun is not good for your skin. It is one of the main reasons as to why there are so many people who develop skin cancer.

Being Spiritual

Leading a spiritual life is good for the soul. To age healthy, you need to see that you are in some way spiritual. Being spiritual will make you have a clear mind and clear heart.

Medical foods

Go on a weekly diet where you add medical herbs and veggies to your plate. Broccoli, bitter gourd are some of the medical natural foods to consume to age healthy.

Yoga

Enroll yourself in a yoga class to obtain peace and quietness in your life. Practicing yoga will also make you live longer. So if you want to age healthy, try yoga.

Omega foods

You should make it a point to eat foods which is high in Omega fats. Foods like salmon, tuna are some of those foods which help you to live healthy and longer.

Check ups

Your doctor is one of those people you should have a monthly date with. On a serious note, you should visit your doctor once in a month after you pass the age of 50. Regular check ups with the doctor will keep you aware of how you are ageing healthy.

SOURCE: medicmagic.net

Fit at 50: Women's health tips to embrace your age

by Michele Borboa, MS

Getting older does not mean you'll soon be stuck in a rocking chair watching all the young people pass you by. Take care of your health and you can lead an active life at any age.

ANTI-AGING TIPS TO TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH

Cardiac nurse practitioner Mary Kathryn Macklin, MSN, author of Women: Fit at Fifty, shares 10 health tips for women to shape up, stay fit, and ward off age-related disease.

Fit at any age

Sure, you may not be as fit or active as you were in your 20s, but that doesn't mean you throw in the towel, become sedentary and end up with a chronic illness. Macklin's book, Women: Fit at Fifty, which delivers practical diet and fitness tips, relatable stories and self-assessment checklists, can help you get and stay motivated to take charge of your health regardless of your age. All that's required is your desire to improve the quality of your life.

"Making a commitment to health doesn't have to be time-consuming," Macklin says. "Small steps taken every day can, over time, make a huge difference – and there's no better time to start than now."

10 Healthy-aging tips for women

1

Exercise the way you
want to exercise

Just because Zumba is all the rage for many women, if you don't like it, don't do it. But don't let that keep you from seeking out activities that are enjoyable for you. "The suggested amount of exercise is at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week," says Macklin. "This can be any type of exercise that is suitable for you." Even walking is excellent as long as you walk briskly.

2

Follow the five-minute rule

If you're new to exercise, don't do too much and get discouraged with yourself. Macklin recommends following the "five-minute rule" outlined in her book. "Basically, just commit to five minutes of exercise every day, then increase from there," she explains. "The most important thing is keep moving, no matter what you do." You can also use this rule when you're craving junk food, feel hungry even though you just ate or have a tendency to eat for emotional reasons -- wait five minutes then assess whether you really need to eat. Many times, the feeling will pass. You can also use that five minutes to take a stroll outside or do another activity that gets your mind off of food.

3

Team up with a
workout buddy

You meet your friends for coffee or lunch, so why not meet them for a brisk walk in the park or a bike ride to coffee? Macklin encourages women to find a fitness friend. "This will help you stay committed and keep you on target," she explains. "Develop a routine schedule with a workout buddy and stick with it."

4

Eat a low-fat diet

No more than 30 percent of your daily calories should come from fat, according to Macklin. "Some experts even recommend keeping that as low as 20 percent," adds the nurse practitioner. "Make small changes to decrease the fat, like choosing fat-free milk, snack foods that are low in fat, and using a healthy oil for cooking, such as olive oil, in moderation."

5

Be snack-ready

Macklin recommends always carrying healthy snacks to avoid grabbing something less healthy. "Try a bag of baby carrots or small bag of pretzels, and always keep fruit handy," she explains.

6

Lose weight

Carrying extra weight puts you at risk for chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. It can also put stress on your joints and cause back pain or even arthritis, as well as increase your chances of injury. Incorporate more physical activity into your day and make healthier eating choices to lose weight. If your progress seems slow, don't give up. Macklin has these words of encouragement: "Exercise even without a substantial amount of weight loss will benefit you significantly."

7

Stay active even when you aren't "exercising"

Doing a 30-minute class at the gym in the morning and then lying on the couch watching TV for the rest of the day isn't going to help you age gracefully. Living a healthy, active lifestyle means being active even when you aren't doing a workout.

Macklin suggests adding little bits of activity to your day, such as:

• Take the stairs rather than the elevator.
• Park at the far end of a parking lot to increase your walking time.
• Avoid drive-up windows; get out of your vehicle and walk in.
• When you can, stand rather than sit because standing burns more calories.

8

Quit smoking -- now

"Quitting smoking is the No. 1 most important thing you can do for your health," stresses Macklin, who has seen her share of the damage smoking can do to the heart and overall health. "If you need assistance with medications to help or are looking for group programs, contact your health care provider."

9

Check your blood pressure

"If your blood pressure is higher than guidelines suggest, you need to treat this either with lifestyle changes or medications," says Macklin. "High blood pressure is the main cause of stroke, as well as other problems like heart disease and kidney damage." You should already be seeing a doctor for regular checkups but don't get your blood pressure checked only once a year -- take advantage of the self-checks available at pharmacies and health clubs. If you get high readings, make an appointment with your health care provider.

10

Keep regular appointments with your doctor

An important key to disease prevention is to have regular checkups with your doctor. Ask for the health screenings appropriate for your age and health history. Proper screening will help with early detection if you happen to have a medical condition, and this will increase the likelihood of successful treatment.

Source: http://www.sheknows.com

Look Great at Any Age

By: John Brant

Tips for Your 50s and Beyond

Recharge Your Brain
Adults who devoted 4 days a week to an hour of moderate aerobic exercise (running, stair climbing, or riding a stationary bike) had more bloodflow in their dentate gyrus, the area of the brain where memories are formed, according to a 2007 Columbia University study. Increased bloodflow may signal the growth of new brain cells, a process known as neurogenesis, says Adam M. Brickman, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist and coauthor of the study. It's also possible, he says, that exercise stimulates the release of a growth factor in the brain tied to neurogenesis. Another study found that people who did resistance training once a week saw a 12.6 percent jump in a performance on memory tests.

Slow Your Cells’ Aging Process
The cells of people with high omega-3 levels age more slowly, according to research from the University of California at San Francisco. Researchers aren't sure why, but it may have to do with the anti-inflammatory properties of omega- 3 fatty acids. "Many of the conditions associated with aging—arthritis, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's—are related to chronic inflammation," says Bowerman. She advises eating cold-water fish (mackerel, salmon) twice a week, and taking 2 grams a day of a fish-oil supplement. Our favorite: Nordic Naturals Omega-3D, which delivers 550 milligrams of EPA and DHA and 1,000 IU of bone-strengthening vitamin D.

Relax Your Arteries
Regular aerobic exercise can delay and may even reverse aging in your arteries, concluded a 2008 review in the Journal of Applied Physiology. Study coauthor Douglas R. Seals, Ph.D., a professor of kinesiology and applied physiology at the University of Colorado at Boulder, explains how: Exercise boosts your heart rate, which increases bloodflow. A better bloodflow creates more friction on the blood vessels' inner lining (a.k.a. the endothelial layer), which, in turn, stimulates the production of nitric oxide. This improves the ability of your arteries to dilate and confers other benefits as well, like reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, protecting your arteries from developing disorders. New research indicates that highintensity aerobic intervals appear to deliver greater endothelial benefits than steady-state aerobic training, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Fight Age with Muscle
After 50, the sedentary man's muscle loss speeds up and he then loses about 10 percent of his muscle mass every decade. This leads directly to osteoporosis. If you've been lifting weights, keep it up. If you haven't, start now—it's not too late. American College of Sports Medicine guidelines cover strength training for people over 65. Your workout should also involve more balance moves to strengthen your feet, ankles, and core and to straighten your posture.


Read more: http://www.menshealth.com/