Do you want to live a longer and healthier life? Yeah… silly question. Most of us do and it is important to protect your health, especially as you advance in years. After all, you aren’t getting any younger, so your mind and body will inevitably start to struggle if you don’t take the appropriate steps. The thing is, many of our lifestyle habits don’t kill us outright… its a build up of many years. Hence this article. The following three steps are the first ones you should consider taking, so be sure to keep them fresh in your mind. While there are no guarantees in life about health and longevity, you can still improve your chances of a better life if you follow these simple suggestions.
#1: Be in Tune to Your Body
Being self aware is key. Our bodies are amazing and let us know anytime something is wrong or out of balance. So when something feels “not right” check in with your doctor or naturopath. Bloodwork can tell you if you have deficiencies in anything. Never ignore what your body is telling you. If something hurts, its a message that something is out of balance. If your extremely tired all the time, again, your body is trying to tell you something. Our “system” is always striving for homeostasis. Your body wants to be healthy and that’s its goal. When its not it lets you know. Pay attention!
For minor ailments there are many natural ways to heal. We have an entire section on Natural Remedies with some pretty amazing stories included. Here are a few of them below:
#2: Follow Wise Advice
Here’s the other thing many people do. They visit their doctor (and other health professionals), but they don’t always listen to the advice they have been given. This is not to say you might not want to get a second opinion on something more serious, but it seems to be human nature to take in info and then not do it. They might continue to drink alcohol, throwing caution to the wind with the ‘you only live once’ mentality. Or they might make little effort to exercise, despite being advised that they need to be more active. Some people neglect the advice after surgery too. So, they might continue to drive while in cataract surgery recovery. Or they might return to work early, despite having been told to rest for an extended period.
So, don’t make such silly decisions. If you have been given advice related to your health, follow it to the best of your ability! If you’re having problems remembering, then ask a family member, friend, or caregiver to help you. You will only hurt yourself otherwise, and you will only have yourself to blame.
#3: Be Smart By Following good habits
This is standard info but prevention is of course the best path to health. By following good habits, it is possible to stave off age-related health problems. So, by living an active rather than sedentary lifestyle, you can reduce the chances of developing bone and joint-related health diseases. By eating healthy snacks and meals in favor of sugary and fatty alternatives, you can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues that can result after eating junk. And by cutting out such habits as smoking and drinking excessively, you can reduce the chances of cancer, high blood pressure, and other associated health risks.
So, cut out the bad habits and focus on the good. And if you need help in any area, see your doctor, therapist or other specialist for all the advice and support you need. Today then, take those steps to protect your health as you grow older. You will feel better if you do, both now and in the long-term. Take care, and thanks for reading.
