The Magic Behind Healthy Aging
September is National Healthy Aging Month, so we thought it a great time to talk about some best-practices to keep you going strong for years to come.
Is there a magic pill, a fountain of youth, a special diet, or just luck with great genes that can promise healthy aging?
No, not really. The good news is that there are so many things you can do to promote healthy aging and none of them includes magic. It has to do with maintenance and looking at the big picture.
Just like with a car or a house, if you maintain it every day, week by week, month by month, it will last longer, run better, look better, and have greater resale value. All of these things apply to your health too. Well ok, maybe not the resale value, but everything else does.
Whether you are a teenager, hustling as a young adult, maxing out your earning potential in middle age, or nearing (or enjoying) retirement, you can take advantage of any and ALL of the things on this list. Even if you haven’t been doing them all along, you can start anytime and enjoy the benefits of a healthier, happier you – today and in the future.
Tips for Promoting Healthy Aging
Chiropractic Care and Maintenance
You need a mechanic to keep your car tuned up and plumber to keep your drains clear. Your chiropractor keeps your body tuned up too. Many people tend to think about chiropractic care in terms of back pain only. While it does help with this tremendously, there is so much more to the science of chiropractic than fixing problems and reducing pain. If your body stays in alignment with regular adjustments you are more likely to fight off infection, sleep better, remain pain-free, and heal from injuries faster.
Chiropractic care affects every part of the body and all the systems and zones, not just your spine. To learn more about the Zone Technique for optimal health, click here.
Note: If you are concentrating on improving your overall health or focusing on one area (weight loss, strength training, endurance, digestion, managing pain, etc.) chiropractic care can “jump-start” your efforts and help you achieve success quicker and easier.
Vitamins and Minerals
A lack of certain vitamins and minerals can contribute to feeling tired and worn down. Get your levels checked regularly through simple blood tests at your doctor’s office. Many people who live in the Mid-west have low Vitamin D due to lack of sunshine in the winter. This can lead to fatigue, depression, and sleeping problems. Being aware of your vitamins and minerals is part of maintaining your health. It’s easier to adjust when you are a little low on something rather than becoming seriously deficient and have to resort to shots or heavy doses of pills to get your levels back up. Sometimes slight dietary adjustments or supplements can make a huge difference and actually feel like a magic pill.
Moving More
The word “exercise” can seem a bit overwhelming to some people who simply want to add more movement into their lives without joining a gym, starting CrossFit, or training for a marathon. These are all great too, but just being a bit more active than you currently are is the perfect way to start. You don’t have to climb a mountain to make a difference.
- Take a walk during your lunch hour for 10 – 15 minutes
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator
- Park further away from the doors
- Spend 10 – 20 minutes a day stretching (even 5 minutes can make a big difference)
- Biking, hiking, dancing, kayaking, etc.
Do Things You Love
Making time to do the things you love promotes a healthy work-life balance. People who value play and rest and time with loved ones report being happier overall. Engaging in a hobby and disengaging from work reduces stress. Stress can cause all kinds of problems with our health and mental well-being. If you make reducing stress a priority in your life you will likely find you enjoy life more and it could quite literally prolong your life.
Drink Lots of Water
You’ve heard it said before. Drinking water is good for you. It really is. It helps so many processes in your body. Your skin will look better, your digestion will improve, it could help you lose weight, and more. Your healthy aging plan needs to include drinking a lot of water every day.
Eating a Variety of Nutritious Foods
We all know that eating healthy is the key to staying healthy. However, “variety is the spice of life” and adding new or different foods can increase your joy and journey in eating healthier. You can certainly enjoy the healthy food you are eating and there is wisdom in mixing it up a bit. We are lucky to have all four seasons in Michigan so we can eat with the seasons and enjoy the fruits and vegetables throughout the year when they are ripe and harvested.
Sometimes the best way to start eating healthier is to think about which nutritious foods you can ADD to your diet instead of focusing on the things you should eliminate. This is a more positive approach and allows you to enjoy the food you are experiencing instead of restricting your diet and feeling punished.
Regular Check-Ups
Going to the doctor, dentist, eye doctor, and other specialists regularly (and when you have a problem) are all ways to maintain your body and promote healthy aging.
Healthy Aging: The Wrap Up
The overall message here is maintenance is key. Doing something every day that promotes a healthy lifestyle.
We’d love to partner with you on your journey of healthy aging, no matter your age. Let’s develop a maintenance plan to keep you in great shape so you can keep doing the things you love. Moore Life and Healing offers affordable monthly chiropractic care packages for individuals and families. We believe chiropractic care should be available to everyone. We also participate in The Whole Veterans Act, which provides free or drastically reduced services to veterans.
Which one of these tips are you going to add this month during Healthy Aging Month?
To find more about Dr. Ryan and Dr. Allyson and their chiropractic practice and philosophy, click here.
To make an appointment please call (517) 781-4884