6 Healthy Habits for Energy and Vitality After 50
We can't stop the aging process, but we can control how we age. By making healthy choices, we can age with energy, vitality, and live our best lives.
Genes play an important role in how we age, but some of the most essential factors to aging well are within our control.
Check Your Preconceived Notions At The Door
Our preconceived notions about aging can have a profound impact on our physical and mental health. We are bombarded with messages from the media and society about how we should look, act, and feel as we age. These messages can lead us to believe that aging is a time of decline and loss of vitality.
However, the truth is that aging is a natural process, and it is possible to age with good health, energy, and vitality. When we let go of our preconceived notions about aging, we can open ourselves up to new possibilities and opportunities. We can embrace our age and all that it brings, and we can live our lives to the fullest.
Exercise Brain Aerobics
Physical exercise is great for boosting energy levels, but did you know that mentally stimulating activities can do the same?
Studies have shown that regularly engaging in activities like doing puzzles, prayer/meditation, journaling, and learning a new language can slow and even reverse mental decline. This is because these activities help to keep your brain active and engaged.
So if you're looking for a way to boost your energy levels, vitality, and improve your cognitive function, start exercising your brain today!
Get Your Fix of Folate
Folate and Folic Acid are used interchangeably and are both forms of Vitamin B9. Davide Mischoulon, M.D., Ph.D., assistant psychiatry professor at Harvard Medical School, conducted research that revealed an association between inadequate levels of folic acid and an increased risk of dementia and depression.
To ensure you get enough folate in your diet, load up on foods like leafy green veggies, citrus fruits, dried peas, and beans. Subtle signs of folate deficiency include digestive disorders, headaches, irritability, and forgetfulness. The FDA recommends 400 micrograms of Folate daily.
Balance Training
Most of us don't think about balance training before our mid-sixties, but it's never too early to add it to our daily routines. Balance training is for everyone at any age.
Balance training involves doing exercises that strengthen the muscles that help keep you upright, including your legs and core. These kinds of exercises can improve stability and help prevent injuries and falls. They can also improve your posture, an important factor for better aging.
Practice Perfect Posture
Good posture at any age is important but even more so after 50. Poor posture often stems from our habits of working in front of a computer, slouching on a couch while watching TV, or looking down at a smartphone.
The consequences of poor posture are your center of gravity goes forward, increasing your chances of falling. It can also cause back or neck pain and headaches.
Here's a simple exercise to improve posture. Sit up straight facing sideways in a chair. Clasp your hands behind you, locking your fingers so your palms face you. Lift your hands upward to the point of tightness. Hold 10 seconds and return to the starting position. Repeat two to four times.
Practicing good posture opens up the airways and allows for deeper breathing, which can lead to increased energy levels.
Poor posture restricts your breathing, making it difficult to take in enough oxygen, which can lead to fatigue.
Maintain a Positive Attitude
The single most important factor to better aging is cultivating a positive outlook.
How do you maintain a positive attitude? It's all about outlook. Begin by accepting that nothing in life is permanent, and try to look for the silver lining in every situation.
A great attitude can help you enjoy the aging process with renewed energy and vitality.
