September is Healthy Aging Month:  Tips for Healthy Aging

September is Healthy Aging Month and your IMA Providers are sharing some tips to help our patients age healthy! 

The most important anti-aging activity is to Stay or Become physically active.

All your vital organs: Heart, lungs, kidneys, muscles, and brain work better when more blood circulates to them.  Any activity is fine.  Sustained activity, like taking a walk, is better than intermittent activities housework, or dog walking. It’s best to start off slowly and build up to an average of 150 minutes a week. One man began by doing a lap in his basement.  He slowly increased his activity to where he ended up walking a mile a day.

As we all tend to not want to do things when it is too hot, too cold, too wet, or icy, it is important to choose an activity that you can do in any weather.   

A good diet is number two on the anti-aging hit parade.

A good diet tends to focus on plant-based meals rather than meat.  A Mediterranean-style diet is a good example.  It is centered around fruits and vegetables, potatoes, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, and extra virgin olive oil. The diet also includes moderate amounts of lean poultry, fish, seafood, dairy, and eggs.

Limiting alcohol is important.  Men should not exceed 14 drinks a week and women seven a week.

Social isolation and loneliness take a big toll on us.  

Make time to reach out to family and friends.  Test, email, call or meet on a regular basis.  Join a club or take a class to meet others.  Check your local library for free programs they may have such as book clubs or game clubs.  These are a great way to get out be social and mentally healthy!

Get regular checkups

Keeping up with your medical, dental, and eye checkups is an important way to ensure you will remain active, functioning, and happy.  During these visits, you will have the opportunity to go over any changes in your health you are experiencing.  

Stay mentally healthy

Research shows that the two biggest factors to prevent dementia are physical exercise and avoiding social isolation.  Activities such as reading, doing puzzles, or playing games are great ways to stay mentally healthy.

Unfortunately, there is limited evidence that products promoted as being “memory enhancing” do any good.

As always, your IMA Providers are here in your journey to maintain good health.  Should you have any questions, you can reach out to your IMA Provider by messaging them on IMA’s Patient Portal or scheduling a visit to go over your concerns and questions.  

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