Good Health Past 50
There was a record number of births in the early to late 1950′s in the U.S. resulting in a demographically large percent of the population reaching age 50 and beyond in the last few years. In our society, the attitudes towards the process of aging are bleak.
There are many preconceived notions and misconceptions that there has to be many areas of decline beginning at age 50 and persisting beyond that. If you are determined to maintain and enjoy good health past age 50, there are proactive steps you can take to curb some of these attitudes about instant decline.
One of the biggest and scariest perceptions about aging is the thought that you’re going to lose your mental faculties. While it is true that Alzheimers is extremely common in Americans over the age of 85, you can do some important things to decrease your chances of losing mental acuity. You can start by decreasing your consumption of foods high in saturated fats and cholesterol.
It has been well documented that individuals that have a high fat diet have twice the risk of developing Alzheimers disease. Switch to eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains that are high in anti-oxidants to keep your arteries unclogged and increase blood flow to your brain. I love taking this supplement for focus. It helps me maintain a clear head and really adds oomph to my levels of concentration.
There is a misconception that, as you age, you don’t need as much sleep. This is not true as you still need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night when you’re over the age of 50. Research shows that older adults have more trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep. Try to stick to a regular schedule including bedtime. If you still have sleeping difficulties, consult with your doctor.
Another misconception about aging is that you have to give up running or jogging because it is too rough on your joints. You can still go on running unless you have a pre-existing injury. Just use common sense and if you develop an ache or pain, listen to your body and modify your exercise routine accordingly.
Make sure you take a good omega 3 supplement every day also. Omega 3′s really help to complement calcium intake and they also help maintain healthy joint, muscle and heart tissues. They are sort of an internal “oiling” mechanism that keeps everything well oiled and moving along better.