Add More Years to Your Life

By Donna Stark

There are many positive aspects of growing older, however let's not gloss over the fact that there are plenty of negative aspects too. Some of those negative aspects deal with the potential decline of your health. How well you feel during the aging process will depend on a lot of things, but the most important ones are the way you care for your body and the lifestyle choices you make on a daily basis. Thankfully, it's never too late to change your bad behaviors or replace them altogether with new ones. Take a look at what your local chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic recommend.

Consume a Nutrient-Rich Diet

With some simple math during your meals, you can reduce your risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. Try to fill half of your plate with vegetables (aim for a variety of colors), one-fourth of your plate with whole grains, and the remaining fourth with lean protein (fatty fish or beans are great options). Cook your food with heart-healthy fats, watch your sodium and sugar intake, and drink the recommended amount of water each day! You should also try to avoid eating as much processed food as you can.

Exercise Daily

The most important thing about exercise during the aging process is that you keep at it! Movement is key for optimal health and wellness and necessary for maintaining strength, flexibility, balance, and independence. If you are hesitant to work out on your own, sign up for a fitness class, ask a loved one to join you, or take a walk in a public area. Just be sure to consider all your health and fitness challenges before you commit to anything new.

Stay on top of Your Health Screenings

It is essential to stay on top of your health screenings and doctor visits too. Sometimes, it is hard to remember how you feel from year to year and difficult to tell if a certain condition is getting better or worse, but your doctors will have all that important information recorded. Before you head in for your appointments, write down all your questions and concerns. That way, nothing will be forgotten or missed.

Add More Years to Your Life

Although there are many things to look forward to as you age, nobody said it would be easy. Aging gracefully and healthily does require some work, and possibly even some changes to the lifestyle you have now, but it will all be worth it in the end!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Memphis, Tenn.