We all know the importance of healthy eating at any age but truthfully many people only truly understand the value of good health and its benefit until they reach midlife and beyond. When you are young, eating healthy may not have an immediate impact on your health and therefore, it may not your top priority. However, the secret to healthy aging lies in healthy living from the start. We often spend countless hours working hard and making money so we can be financially fit when we retire, yet we don’t seem to put the same emphasis and effort toward our health. Our health is truly our wealth; without health, wealth is of no use.
Who defines healthy aging as “the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age?” It doesn’t matter how old you are, it’s never too late to start. Here are some tips you can start to incorporate into your daily lifestyle so that you can age gracefully and maintain functional ability.
- Follow a low glycemic impact eating – rich in wholesome and unprocessed food such as fruits, vegetables, quality protein and starches, and healthy fats – at TLS, we offer different menu plans for different goals whether your goal is weight loss or simply to eat. When you feed your body the nutrients it needs, you will likely feel better, and live longer and stronger.
- Keeping yourself active is just as important. It is not only to keep your bone strong and retain muscle mass, but it will also keep you flexible to reduce injury and falls. Choose something you enjoy and do it often. Remember this is a lifestyle. Daily practice is your best practice.
- Prioritize your sleep – sleep is just as important as moving your body and eating a healthy diet. Aim for 7-9 hours of restful, quality sleep. If sleep is an issue, find the reason why – is it due to stress, over-caffeinated, too much screen time, or eating late at night?
- Be part of a community – there is something magical and special about being part of a community of like-minded people who want to achieve similar health goals. Join us on Facebook @TLSWeightLoss and participate in our challenge is a sure way to connect with people and keep yourself accountable. Our 7-8-28 Challenge is starting soon on September 20th. Join us, we can’t wait to help kick-start your healthy aging journey with this challenge. Learn more here.
What actions are you going to include to seek healthy aging throughout your years? Comment below and be sure to share this with a friend.
Sosan Hua, RD, CDE
Comments (0)