Top Ways to Stay Healthy at Any Age

Whether you are getting your body ready for a trip to the beach, or want to improve your health, it’s never too late to add new ways to get fit and stay in shape into your daily routine.

The two best ways to stay healthy involve taking a look at what you’re eating and how much you’re moving. Diet and exercise are the two most important ingredients in a healthy lifestyle, with multiple studies showing diet being a far greater influence on weight loss than exercise.

Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is ideal for everyone – especially for seniors. Many age-related conditions, like osteoporosis, arthritis, dementia, and heart disease, as well as others, like hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol, can be treated and even improved or reduced by making improvements to your diet or exercise regimen.

Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle

Positive changes in diet and lifestyle have led many Americans to a longer, healthier life expectancy. A Harvard University study showed that in 1992, the average 65-year-old could expect to live 17.5 more years, with almost nine of them being free of disabilities. Sixteen years later, in 2008, researchers found that the average 65-year-old could look forward to living 18.8 more years, with 10.7 of them being disability-free.

The study also showed that there has been a decline in the number of deaths and disabilities from heart failure and disease, improved vision, and an overall sense of being able to live life, rather than just manage medications.

Wellness is becoming the standard of life that most seniors have come to expect, with a greater understanding of how the body, mind, and spirit work together for a better outlook on life and overall well-being. That’s why Sunshine Retirement Living feels so strongly about offering a comprehensive wellness program that really embodies each of those three components. We appreciate Virgil’s take on life: “The greatest wealth is health.”

Bon Appetit: Eating Well When You’re on a Diet

Gone are the days of bland rice cakes and tiny portions of flavorless foods. New recipes and diets have inspired hundreds of authors to create balanced meals that are filled with fresh ingredients, delicious flavors, and plenty of health benefits.

A healthy diet can do more than help you drop a few pounds, increase your energy levels and improve your mental clarity. Cleaning up your nutrition can give your immune system a boost by combating toxins, reducing the risk of serious health conditions, helping to improve your focus, lowering the odds of Alzheimer’s disease, and giving your entire life a positive change.

In a 2,000-calorie diet, the average person should eat:

Two-and-a-half-cups of vegetables. These should be a variety of colors and types, from leafy greens, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes to green peas, bell peppers, and broccoli.
Two cups of fruit. Berries of any type are an amazing, low-sugar source of antioxidants and other important vitamins and minerals. Fresh and frozen fruits are better choices than dried fruits.
Six ounces of grain foods. Whole grain breads, pastas, cereals, and brown rice are some of the most popular choices.
Three cups of low-fat or fat-free milk, or the equivalent, like cheese or yogurt.
Five-and-a-half ounces of protein, which can come from animal sources, eggs, and seafood, beans, tofu, and nuts.
Six teaspoons of healthy fats, like olive or coconut oils.

The Sunshine Retirement Living chefs prepare well-balanced, delicious meals for the community, with meals planned in advance to help you make the healthiest choices possible. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner bring creative food ideas.

Get Going: The Importance of Exercise at Any Age

Taking up a new sport, game, or physical activity is a fun step toward fewer disabilities and critical conditions, increased mental acuity, and a better quality of life.

Physical activities, like Tai Chi, yoga, strength training, and cardiovascular exercises, which are available at Sunset Retirement Living communities, are available at a variety of fitness levels. Whether you’ve lifted your entire life, or are just taking your first steps toward jogging, you’ll have the support and experience you need to succeed in your life.

Physical, cardiovascular exercise like jogging, walking, swimming, and biking, is valuable for keeping your breathing and heart rates in check. Yoga and tai chi, which both focus on balance, can help to prevent falls. Flexibility exercises, like Pilates and stretching, help your body stay limber. Strength training with weights and body resistance is valuable when it comes to proper form and better muscle strength, which translates to better movement.

To speak with one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff members, click here today.

*This blog was first published here: Sunshine Retirement Living

Top Ways to Stay Healthy at Any Age