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Entering your golden years is worth looking forward to as you finally have the time and freedom to spend your days as you please. However, in order to really enjoy this particular time in your life, it’s essential that you pay more attention to your health and wellbeing. This is because as you get older, your chances of having an accident or developing a chronic illness increases. For this reason, it’s critical that you’re a lot more attentive as your body and mind may be more fragile than it once was.
With the life expectancy in the U.S. presently at 78.6, you may be wondering how you can increase your chances of living a long and healthy life. One of the ways you could do so would be by adopting positive habits like healthy eating. Engaging in as much physical activity as you can is another way to keep your body and mind alert.
No matter how many precautions you put in place there is no guarantee that you’ll never experience accidents or health challenges. Nonetheless, this article is going to give you tips on how to prevent falling victim to pedestrian accidents, falls at home, and developing Alzheimers as a senior.
1. Adopt a Keto Diet
Alzheimer’s is a condition that around 5.8 million Americans are presently living with. As you age, it’s something that you want to try to prevent as it could negatively affect your quality of life. Some symptoms of the condition include memory loss and in the worst stages, a total loss of your independence. While the cause of Alzheimers isn’t fully known, research on the disease continues to grow. Some studies have shown that a keto diet could help prevent Alzheimers and treat the progression of the condition, so it may be something to look into with the guidance of your doctor.
If you’ve never heard about the keto diet before, it’s a diet that requires you to eat foods that are high in fat, low in carbs, and adequate in protein intake. Through following this regimen, your body should burn fats instead of carbs. So, how does this help prevent Alzheimer’s?
In terms of how the keto diet can help prevent Alzheimers, it treats risk factors such as insulin resistance, traumatic brain injury, high blood pressure, and chronic inflammation. Examples of foods that you may need to eat every day are seafood, low carb vegetables, cheese, avocado, and coconut oil.
2. Exercise Daily
As you likely already know, exercising as regularly as possible is one of many ways to keep your bones and muscles strong, as well as your brain alert and functioning. Keeping your body moving can also help reduce the risk of Alzheimers. This is because it helps increase blood flow to the brain so that it gets an abundance of oxygen.
If you find movement challenging, opt for low-impact activities such as yoga or water exercises. Otherwise, walking, jogging, or going to the gym should suffice. What’s most important is that your brain and body are active.
As you age, it is also common for your balance to begin deteriorating. Commit to doing age-appropriate exercises to help improve your balance. Examples of exercises you could do on a daily basis are simple single leg-balances or side leg raises.
3. Be More Cautious
As mentioned in the introduction, you’re more prone to accidents when you become a senior. Sudden falls aren’t uncommon as statistics presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that more than one in four seniors fall each year. Also, falling once doubles your chances of falling again. For this reason, you should pay more attention to your surroundings and aim to be more cautious.
Seniors are also at a higher risk of being injured as a result of a pedestrian collision. This could be for reasons such as struggling with vision and hearing. Stopping in the middle of the road because of health conditions could put them at higher risk as well.
To prevent a pedestrian accident from occurring, if possible, choose to always walk on the sidewalk. Paying attention and attempting to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the road may be beneficial too. For those with mobility issues, to help prevent a pedestrian accident, use a cane or walker when crossing the road.
4. Stimulate Your Brain
Mental stimulation is something you need at every phase of your life, but it is especially beneficial for you as a senior. When you keep your mind stimulated, it can help minimize memory loss and protect against Alzheimers. One way to keep your brain young would be to take courses that challenge you or solve math problems. Apparently, scientists have found that such activities can stimulate new connections between nerve cells and help your brain build a fence to prevent future cell loss.
When engaging in activities that stimulate you, why not invite a friend to do them with you? You can play chess together at your local park once a week and make it a sacred ritual. Stimulating your mind with a friend could keep you motivated and give you a sense of accountability. Also, remember that healthy relationships can contribute to your happiness and improve your overall quality of life.
5. Look After Your Mental Health
Aside from stimulating your mind, it’s also important that you take care of your mental health as you age. This is because caring for your mental health is a way to preserve your mind. Anxiety and depression can affect your cognitive function, so do things that help keep your spirits high. Whether it be engaging in a hobby or traveling, you want to feel as many positive emotions as you can. In the event that you feel your mental health spiraling out of control, don’t hesitate to ask for professional help.
Your golden years don’t have to be characterized by declining health, especially if you commit to looking after yourself. Hopefully, the tips mentioned above will help you improve your mind, body, and overall quality of life as you age.
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