5 Tips to Keep Healthy as You Age

As you age, you deserve to feel alive. You deserve to have the energy you desire to accomplish all of your daily tasks and favorite hobbies. However, if you want to have this energy, you must keep both your mind and body healthy. You must take care of yourself. No matter if you live in an assisted living community or on your own, here are five things you can do to keep you healthy and feeling great, even as you age.

1. Eat a Well-Balanced Diet

One of the most important things you can do to keep your body and your mind active is to eat a healthy and well-balanced diet. This will ensure you receive the right amount of nutrients and vitamins to keep you functioning and active. Healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables and lean proteins are excellent as they help your body but they also aid in brain function. They can help you think more clearly and can improve your memory.

As you age, you may not have the energy or the ability to cook for yourself anymore. You may want something fast, simple, and convenient every night for dinner. However, you must stay away from many processed foods and frozen dinners. You should also avoid eating fast food or at local restaurants multiple times a week. These foods often have high calories and large amounts of sodium, which can trigger serious health conditions such as high blood pressure.

2. Exercise

If you want to have the energy to accomplish multiple tasks throughout the day and you desire added mobility, you must exercise each day. When working out, you don’t have to endure high-intensity workouts. Rather, you simply need to complete various activities that will increase your heart rate. Exercises such as swimming, walking, and even riding on a stationary bike are all excellent options and ideal for aging adults.

No matter your age, you should also incorporate some type of strength training exercises to your workout. There are many benefits to lifting weights and they include:

• Reduces the risk of falls and injuries
• Helps you better manage your weight
• Improves your quality of sleep each night
• Strengthens muscles
• Reduces symptoms of various health conditions such as arthritis and diabetes

For aging adults who live at home, having the motivation to get up and exercise can be a challenge. However, when in an independent living home in Minnesota, you have access to a variety of fitness options just outside your door. Plus, many of these classes provide incredible social opportunities.

3. Drink Water

Drinking the recommended amount of water each day is one of the best things you can do for your body. Staying adequately hydrated will help both your mind and your body. It will:

• Improve your skin
• Flush out excess waste and toxins from your body
• Improve your mood
• Fight fatigue and give you more energy
• Better maintain your blood pressure
• Improve your joint movement
• Improve your oral health

Unfortunately, for many aging adults, drinking an adequate amount of water is challenging. There are many beverage options that are tempting such as soda or ice tea, but they do not provide the health benefits that you can receive from water. As you strive to improve your water intake in your senior living apartment home, townhome, condo or cooperative  in Minnesota, consider implementing the following into your daily routine:

• Drink one glass of water before every meal
• Set reminders throughout the day to help you remember to drink
• During each meal, only drink water
• If possible, carry a small water bottle with you throughout the day and sip on it regularly

4. Socialize

Visiting with friends and family members is one of the best things that aging adults can do for their health. Many aging adults suffer from depression. They may have a difficult time moving on after the death of a family member, they may be bored, they may struggle with their health, and they may simply be lonely. Socializing gives them opportunities to get outside. It helps them think about something other than their own problems. It gives them opportunities to laugh, share stories, and have fun.

Being a part of a senior care community in Minnesota, provides ample opportunities to socialize and make new friends. These locations provide a full schedule of activities each day to get you out of the house and engaged. You can learn a new skill, enjoy a fitness class, go on a short field trip, and so much more.

 5. Take Your Medications as Prescribed

If you want a long, rich life, you must take all of your medications as prescribed by your doctor. These medications are given to you for a specific purpose and even if you feel good while on them, it doesn’t mean you should stop taking them without a medical professional’s orders.

Not only should you take your medications as prescribed, but you should also make sure you are taking the proper dosage as well. Taking too many pills, taking them too often, or not often enough can cause serious health concerns. If you have any questions about your medications, make sure to ask your doctor.

No matter if you need senior care in Minnesota or you live by yourself,  it is crucial that you take care of your physical and mental health. When you take proper care of yourself, you will feel great and have much more energy to go throughout the day.