The Body and Mind in Healthy Aging

Keeping the Body and Mind Healthy as You Age

It is normal to notice that your body and mind is not quite functioning the same way as you age. While there is no way for you to stop the aging process, you can maximize the health of your body and mind and any given age in order to slow down the aging progression. In other words, you can take control of your life to keep your body and mind functioning far beyond what you will get out of it if you just sit around waiting for the end like some sort of aging victim. Keeping the body and mind healthy as you age is a matter of providing each with challenging activities during the course of each week.

One thing you can learn from being around older people is that the moment you stop using some vital organ, the organ rapidly begins to decay. The more we take care of ourselves when we are younger, the more slowly we will age. The more the body ages, the less able the body is to absorb the nutrients it needs or make use of them. The more the body ages, the less able the body is to build muscle and build strong bones. The more the mind ages, the harder it is to learn new processes and perform daily tasks. But if you will start taking good care of your body and mind now, they will age more slowly and thus you will be able to do things to slow down the aging process even more and keep your body and mind readily able to even increase in function.

A Healthy Lifestyle for Body and Mind

You need to keep your body and mind engaged in daily activity. When you begin to decrease your activity levels, your body and mind will rapidly begin to decline in function. Your body will begin to move more slowly. Your mind will begin to think more slowly. Coordination may be lost. The ability to think clearly may be lost. But you can avoid or delay most of this decline by staying active.

Exercise needs to be something we do most days. While many cultures once looked down on physical activity as a thing for peasants, fortunately it is now very acceptable in most cultures to get out and be active. Your body and mind will both benefit from regular exercise. Exercise can even be a great socializing experience if you plan it out correctly. You need to keep your body moving to keep your muscles and organs functioning at capacity.

A side benefit of exercising is that you will look great and feel good about yourself. You can lose weight and get your muscles finely toned. Take note of the advancements you make to encourage yourself to go out and make advancements daily.

The older you get the more your exercise will need to involve some sort of weight-bearing or resistance training. But as you start out on a new program, you should take things very slowly. You will eventually build up to much higher levels, as long as you remain consistent. If you try to build up too fast, you risk causing yourself injury, which can interrupt your exercise program and set your development back quite a bit. Be patient and the results will eventually come. Persistence is everything with exercise programs.

You need to supplement your exercise with a healthy diet. Eat a balanced, healthy diet as a matter of daily routine, not as an occasional tonic. You need to eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Some nuts and legumes each day are also a good idea. If you have any questions about how your diet can keep your body and mind healthy as you age be sure to consult with your doctor or a nutritionist.