New Year, New Me

No matter what your age, it's never too late to start making changes towards a healthier life. Now is the perfect time with the new year right around the corner! It should be your main goal to become and stay healthy for the years to come. Here are some new year resolutions you could be thinking about.

• Eat more fruits and vegetables. You should be having 5 servings each day and remember to be eating the rainbow. Eat more whole grains and fish while reducing the fatty meats in your diet such as chicken and turkey. Stick to consuming 2 servings daily of low fat dairy and use healthier fats in your meals!
• Be active! Exercising daily can make your bones stronger, improve your balance, and help maintain your weight. Doing water aerobics, stretching daily, and going for walks is a good way to get in your exercise. You will be more motivated and held accountable if you do these activities with a friend! 
• Make an effort to go to the doctor and get your annual checkups. It's important to get your health screenings regularly and get the immunizations that you need each year. 
• Work out your brain! Do more activities to get your mind thinking. If you usually stay at home everyday, push yourself to get out of the house and go to your community center. Socializing can help in so many ways. 
• Stop smoking. Smoking can cause a plethora of health issues and it's not too late to quit. 
• Take a multivitamin. Make sure you are getting all the nutrients you need. 
• Get enough sleep. With age comes less sleep. Try to cut out the day time naps so you can get a longer nights sleep. It is recommended to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. With more sleep you will be more alert and have more energy.

Source: http://www.healthinaging.org

Yoga and Aging

Another good form of physical activity is yoga. Getting older can take a huge toll on the body so why not slow the process down and facilitate the aging process with some yoga? Yoga can give us a healthier mind as well as improving strength, flexibility, agility, and balance. 

Strength/Balance: When we age, our balance gets worse over time, and we can fall and get hurt. With yoga, there are poses that help with balance and will strengthen those leg muscles. Bone density will improve and there will be less risk of developing osteoporosis. You will also feel more confident as you won't be afraid of falling. 

Agility: This aspect will help with coordination and being able to move around. When a situation occurs you will be able to move with ease and feel in control. 

Flexibility: As we age, our joints become more stiff. This will help you strengthen your muscles in an effective way as well as reducing the risk of muscle injury. 

There are tons of yoga videos online if you do not want to go take a class. Start with the beginner videos and work your way up. 

Source: https://www.yogauonline.com

Benefits of Physical Activity

One of the best things you can do for your body and to improve your health is being physically active. No matter what your age, get your body moving! 

Being physically activity will strengthen your bones and muscles. This will help with balance and decrease your risk of falling. It's important to preserve your bone density as it can decrease with age, especially for women. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals known as endorphins. These cause a positive feeling which can help with anxiety and depression. When you are trying to lose weight, most people diet and don't do any physical activity. It's important to exercise so you don't lose your muscle and bone mass. Exercising on a regular basic can improve your heart health. It will lower your risk of getting heart disease and improve your cholesterol and blood pressure. Not being active can increase your risk of not being able to do simple daily tasks. Find activities that you enjoy that will bring you to a healthier you. 

Activities can include, walking, dancing, riding a bike, gardening, swimming, jumping rope, etc.. You should be getting at least 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week. 

Source: http://www.healthinaging.org