AGING HEALTHY: IT'S NOT JUST THE QUANTITY OF OUR YEARS BUT THE QUALITY OF THOSE YEARS THAT MATTE

Jenny Robertson BA RHN
Sep 3, 2015
3 min read

Although we all hope that we are lucky enough to live a good long life, to see our children and our grandchildren grow, the thought of aging, of “growing old”, comes with many mixed feelings for most of us. When we think of aging we often think of the decline and the loss that comes along with it; those things that we think are just an inevitable part of aging.

Things like:

loss of energy
loss of flexibility
loss of mobility
loss of memory
loss of visual acquity
loss of hearing

Aging is a natural part of our lives and although the passage of time will carry with it some physical changes, the process is quite unique to each of us. The physical changes have less to do with our chronological age and more to do with our “life story”; our dietary and lifestyle choices. Two people of the same chronological age can experience aging very differently; one may remain healthy, mobile and active while the other does not.

The Good news is that aging doesn't have to = loss and decline!

Here are some things that you can do today, regardless of your age, that can help you remain as healthy, mobile and active as possible today and as you age!

Eat a nutrient dense diet; incorporate a wide variety of vegetables from a wide array of colours, some fruits, adequate complete proteins, adequate complex carbohydrates, essential fatty acids and high fibre food choices
a diet rich in antioxidants will help to neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals (toxins)
Omega-3 fatty acids such as cold water fish, freshly ground flaxseed and walnuts
Drink lots of good quality fresh water; aim for at least 8/8oz glasses per day
Start each day with the juice of half a lemon in water (cold or boiling), this will gently cleanse the digestive tract, the liver and the kidneys
Avoid Saturated Fats such as margarine, shortening, trans fats, and overheated oils/fats; all of these lend to cell degeneration
Make Olive Oil your dietary fat choice; coconut oil is also a good choice
Replace white flours and white rice products with 100% whole wheat choices
Avoid concentrated and refined sugars of all kinds; they weaken the immune system and they contribute to weight gain
Avoid alcohol and tobacco
Keep your bowels moving at least once a day, the intestines are capable of holding up to 65 pounds of waste! It takes water and fibre to keep the bowels moving
Exercise Regularly; stretch every morning and take part in some sort of aerobic activity three times per week… walk more and drive less
Maintain a healthy weight by eating wholesome, good quality food, only when genuinely hungry and only as much as needed to satisfy your hunger
Recognize when stress is becoming problematic and incorporate effective coping strategies (relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga, exercise)
Get adequate good quality sleep; sleeping gives our bodies a break and allows for rejuvenation and repair
Think Young; develop an"ageless" attitude about yourself and everything you do
Act Young; do things that are fun. Find the fun in what you are already doing
Get to know your body and pay attention to symptoms – learn to recognize potential problems before they develop into more serious problems
Take a good quality, whole foods multi-vitamin that contains B vitamins; Folic acid, B6 and B12 are all related to healthy cognitive function