AUTHOR: JANE SANDWOOD
Maintaining a healthy weight, particularly in later life, is key to overall health and longevity. Obesity is one of the most common and significant risk factors for a wide range of different life-threatening illness and diseases including heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. Age is also another risk factor. Simply being over 50 can increase your chances of life-threatening illnesses, which is why it is all the more important to ensure that you are maintaining a healthy weight and taking measures to improve overall health into older age.
1. Following a Well Balanced Diet Plan
People of all ages often choose to follow a diet plan to help them lose weight. For some, it is much easier to stick to a diet when you are following a set of rules, advice and guidelines. Many diet books will also give advice on healthy recipe ideas that work for the diet which people find very practical and convenient.
Two popular fat busting choices are the Keto vs. Atkins diets, both of which involve restricting carb intake while increasing your intake of protein and healthy fats.
2. Preventing illness through dietary changes
Maintaining a healthy weight is often a consequence of having a good and healthy well-balanced diet. Getting your diet right will not only help you maintain a healthy weight, but it’s also one of the most important foundations for improving your health. Many illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, heart disease and even cancer can be prevented or controlled through dietary changes.
3. A balanced diet is key to health and longevity
Unhealthy carbohydrates such as cakes, biscuits, pastries and white starchy foods, as well as foods and drinks that are high in refined sugar such as sweets, chocolates and fizzy drinks should either be avoided, or at the very least restricted. This is because all of these foods have been linked to a range of chronic diseases. The same goes for harmful substances such as alcohol, drugs and cigarettes. Stopping smoking and limiting your alcohol intake is another crucial factor involved in staying well in old age.
4. Eating healthy foods
Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables, healthy fats such as nuts, seeds and avocados, and sources of protein such as beans, pulses, eggs, lean meats and fish, is the best for health. This well hep make sure that you are getting the full range of vitamins and minerals which are key to health and fighting disease.
5. Staying active
Along with a healthy diet, staying active and exercising regularly in later life is another important factor. As a general goal, you should be aiming for 30 minutes of moderate activity a day, whether this be going out for a walk, going up and down the stairs or doing an exercise routine, the key is to get the blood pumping.
If your mobility is limited, your body will still benefit from stretches and flexibility exercises where possible. If you are wheelchair bound, then you can still perform cardiovascular exercise by using weights or resistance bands and doing seated exercises.
6. Small lifestyle changes for big results
Exercising also releases endorphins which improve your mood, as well as helping you maintain strength, balance, flexibility and promoting cardiovascular health. It also helps you to sleep better and reduce stress. By making these simple lifestyle changes and adaptions, you can ensure that you are putting yourself at the best advantage to maintain a healthy weight and stay healthy in later life.