Though all of us age over time, there are those who age better than others – they remain relatively healthy until the end of their lives. The biggest factors that influence how you age are nutrition and lifestyle. Nutrition is important because it is how you fuel the ageing human body. People who have good nutrition remain energetic and disease free for many years.
Good nutrition is all about ensuring that you eat food from all the food groups in every meal – you must get a portion of lean protein such as beef, chicken, fish or turkey, you must eat healthy carbohydrates such as whole grain bread, potatoes (not fries!), sweet potatoes and you must also consume at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables. In addition to eating a wholesome diet it is important that you keep yourself hydrated by drinking at least 2 liters of water daily.
Your lifestyle will also play an active role in determining how you age. It is very important that you stay mobile as you grow older. You should exercise at least 3 times a week. It does’t necessarily mean that you have to go to a gym to do this. There are many different ways you can exercise. You can take up a dancing class, you can walk or run several times a week, you can hike on the weekends, you can swim a few times a week – the important thing is to make sure that you break a sweat. It helps not only to keep you strong but also for better heart health.
Your lifestyle also encompasses your social life. It is true that people who have strong relationships with friends and family age better and live longer than those who don’t. This means that you should start building those relationships now. Look up old friends who are nearby and spend time with them often.
As you can see, the ageing human body doesn’t demand a lot from you.