8 Steps to Healthy Aging
… how to maintain your youth and vitality for years to come
Why Aging and Growing Older are Not the Same Thing
Unbelievably, getting older does NOT mean you have to give up doing what you love. In fact, not doing what you love – is what actually leads to growing older.
There are inspiring stories everyday of people in their golden years who are out there performing activities that some 30-year-olds have trouble with. What’s the secret…?
… Daily commitment to your health!
Health is the most important investment in your life. As a Physical Therapist, take it from me; those who practice good health habits, heal quicker, maintain their youth, and live an overall higher quality of life well into their golden years.
This all starts with our first step…
Eating Healthy: Your Body Is a Temple
It’s no secret that what you put in your body has a MASSIVE effect on how you operate. Just like a high-performance sports car cannot run with garbage in its fuel tank, neither can you.
You want to select foods that are organic and rich in vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Basically, if you haven’t heard of it…
… you shouldn’t put it in your body.
For improved muscle function, you want lean sources of protein. Incorporating raw foods with healthy digestive enzymes are also necessary. When it comes to fats you want to consume healthy versions such as; olive oil and avocado oil, these are important for many cellular functions. They also provide the additional benefits of omega fatty acids, which help with inflammation.
Now just like your intake, what you avoid is equally as important. Refined sugars are horrible for you, as they cause inflammation while also feeding bad bacteria in your gut. Drinks such as alcohol can cause many harmful effects such as dehydration and toxicity, while dairy can lead to inflammation of your digestive system.
As you can see, your gut is the center of your body and problems with it can be the underlying cause of most health conditions. This is why is so important to eliminate what’s harmful and add more of what you need. Like…
Drinking Plenty of Water: Hydration is Key
Water is essential for our bodies. It hydrates joints, detoxifies and helps the chemical processes that are constantly taking place in our systems. Lack of water can lead to a host of issues such as; weakness, lack of energy and cramps.
It’s critical you get at least 8-glasses of fresh water a day. Make sure this water is purified or from a spring…
… not your tap!
Tap water is harmful to our bodies. It can contain chemicals like fluoride and other pharmaceuticals. Spring water on the other hand, can provide important minerals to our bodies. So best to avoid the tap, unless you are using a high-grade purifier.
Next, we have…
Fasting: How the Body Can Repair Itself
Fasting is something that has become popular over these recent years, but it’s actually been around for quite some time now. Of course, some people might freak out at the thought of going multiple days without food but…
… that’s not the type of fasting I’m recommending for you.
A full day of not eating performed just twice a month, can allow your body to naturally heal itself. Digestion takes a lot of work and fasting lets the body rest from the grind of digestion, so it can focus on healing itself naturally. Those who fast regularly report feeling and looking younger, so it’s definitely something to consider. Just like…
Exercise: We Don’t Stop Being Active Because We Grow Old, We Grow Old Because We Stop Being Active.
As we as age we see a decline in our muscle mass, bone density and flexibility. This causes you to become more prone to injury, which is why you need more rest in between your workouts, but…
… don’t let the stop you from being active!
Your heart is a muscle, and the more sedentary your lifestyle becomes the greater the risk to this all-important muscle. As the heart gets stronger, it’s able to pump more blood per each beat. This reduces the stress that’s put on it, from over strain due to faster beating.
Another key benefit of exercise is the improved strength and function of your joints. By building lean muscle mass, you can reduce inflammation in the body while supporting your joints and feeling younger.
One thing you must remember is the importance of stretching. Being active and exercising is great but, if you’re not maintaining your flexibility you can develop pain and degeneration in your joints. Just being on your feet can cause compression and stress on your joints, so always make sure to stretch. It can help with every aspect of your health, including…
Getting Plenty of Sleep: The Body Must Rest
With greater age comes lesser sleep. Not because of any one sleep related issue, but because of the secondary effects caused by other developed medical issues. These can include…
• Stress • Unhealthy food intake • Inactive lifestyle • Naps
And more.
When it comes to aging, its critical to practice good sleep habits. Because if you don’t have the energy, then you can’t experience our next step, which is…
Laughter and Love: Nothing Better Than Time with Friends & Family
They say; laughter is the best medicine. The more you laugh and play, the happier you’ll be. Many people might scoff at this but try it for yourself. Put a smile on your face and try to get mad, you’ll discover…
… it’s impossible to do both at the same time.
This is why spending time with your family and friends helps so much with your overall enjoyment of life. Laughter releases a natural drug in your body called “endorphins,” and they are the feel-good hormones.
But, that’s not the only natural high your body produces when your spending time with family and friends, it also produces…
… “oxytocin.”
This is a hormone that gets released in response to feeling loved. The human body is an amazing thing and doing simple stuff like laughing with friends and family can produce a feeling that can’t be replicated by any form of poisonous drug on the street.
Which is why when we’re with our family and friends we must always be…
Grateful: “Trade Your Expectation for Appreciation and the World Changes Instantly.” – Tony Robbins
One of my favorite sayings is, “happiness does not bring gratitude, it’s gratitude that brings us happiness.”
Being grateful for the things we have in our life will have a drastic effect on our health. Whether big or small, when we exercise an attitude of gratitude, we are generally happier, less stressed and overall healthier.
Even during the hard times, just taking a few minutes to reflect on what you’re thankful for can have huge implications and effects. The
bottom line is; negative thoughts produce negative energy. And whether or not you want to believe it, what we put out…
… we attract!
And if you’re in a constant state of negativity, you’ll attract more of it. But when you can be in a positive state of mind, you’ll begin to notice how many good things seem to just happen.
No matter who you are, there’s something you can be thankful for. So, start practicing the art of appreciation and it’ll change your life for the better. Which is ultimately what we all want. Which brings us to our last step…
Visiting a Physical Therapist: Because Natural Health is the Key to You Aging Gracefully
Now I know it’s convenient to add this step being that I am a Physical Therapist but, there are many benefits that physical therapy can provide you with especially in your older age.
Unfortunately, there is no fountain of youth. Our bodies deteriorate with time, and this cannot be avoided. But that doesn’t mean we can’t slow down this process and even manage it completely.
Most people only relate physical therapy to “post-surgery” or “post-injury” processes, but we can provide you with far more than that.
Physical therapy can help you eliminate pain caused by a number of different issues such as, arthritis, osteoporosis, joint degeneration and more. With physical therapy, you can actually reduce your chance of injury while increasing your youth, vitality and independence.
Staying healthy does NOT mean popping handfuls of medications and supplements each day. With our natural approach to health, you can continue to do all the things you love well into your golden years. Don’t let the thought of aging slow you down.
Always remember; You don’t stop being active, because you grow old…
… you grow old, because you stop being active.
Now if you’d like to learn more about how we can help you optimize your health and lifestyle;
you can contact us by phone at (530) 329-8490
or you can visit our websites…
Physical Therapy: https://www.healingartspt.net/