September is Healthy Aging Month
Aging is a process that brings many changes. No matter what your age, it’s never too late to take steps to improve your health. Carolyn Worthington, editor-in-chief of Healthy Aging® Magazine and executive director of Healthy Aging®, is the creator of September is Healthy Aging® Month, an annual health observance designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older.
Here are some great tips that you can apply to your life during the month of September (and beyond to help you live a healthier life as you grow older).
Be positive in your conversations and your actions every day. When you catch yourself complaining, check yourself right there and change the conversation to something positive.
Start walking. Not only is walking good for your health but to get outdoors and see your neighbors is a great way to increase your level of social activity.
Stop smoking. We know, easier said than done. But it’s time to state the obvious. Smoking is harmful for you. If you want to stay healthy as you age, it’s crucial that you stop smoking as soon as possible. According to the National Institute of Health, smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and leads to lung cancer, lung disease, heart and blood vessel disease, stroke, and cataracts. If you want to look your best as you age, consider this: Smoking causes wrinkles and speeds up the aging of your skin.
You are what you eat. What you eat can influence how healthy you stay as you age. Of course, you should include the gold standards of healthy eating, like low-fat protein and dairy, whole grains, and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. And you should cut down on unhealthy foods like ones that are processed and high in sugar and fat (darn it, we mean cookies, soda, and chips), which have been linked to serious health problems like heart disease and diabetes. The trick is to find the right balance of energy and nutrients. As you age, your body needs less energy. But it also needs good nutrients.
Make the month of September your time to set up your annual physical and other health screenings. Don’t just set the appointment, make sure you go and then, hopefully, you can stop worrying about ailments for a while.
Join us over on Facebook during the month of September. We’ll be posting additional tips, suggestions, and fun ideas that you can do during the month (and need we say this again…and beyond) to help you enjoy your life as you grow older.
If you have a comment and/or tip you’d like to share on healthy aging, please share in our comments below.