6 Healthy Habits to Help You Thrive After 50

Although your 50s can be a decade of significant change, they can also signal the start of the best years of your life.

Here are 6 healthy habits that will help you navigate your fantastic 50s and beyond:

1. Eat a balanced diet
Foods that are high in healthy fats, low in cholesterol, lots of protein, and bone-nourishing minerals such as Calcium will replenish bone cells and increase bone density.

2. Stay active
Moderate exercise not only benefits your muscles, bones, and heart, but did you know that staying physically active can also keep your brain young?

3. Get just enough sleep
Quality sleep can escape you past 50. Fortunately, more isn’t always better when it comes to sleep in your 50s and beyond. In fact, research studies conclude that the “sweet spot” of sleep for older adults is between 6.5 and 7.5 hours and is associated with longer lifespans than more than 8 or less than 6 hours.

4. Reduce the strain on your joints
By practicing regular mobility exercises at home with a resistance band – these can be bought at your nearest sports retailer. “Certain exercises and activities might just be too tough for your joints to handle at first. Go slow. Modify exercises that cause joint pain. Listen to your body and learn the difference between “threatening pain” and good muscle-building pain.

5. Train your brain.
Whether you prefer learning a new language, crossword puzzles, sudoku, or online brain games, research shows that taking the time to engage your brain in your 50s and beyond can have significant benefits for your cognitive function.

6. Live a probiotic-rich life.
Having a healthy gut teeming with diverse populations of beneficial bacteria is truly the foundation of both physical and emotional health for every age, but it’s of vital importance as you enter your later years.

You’ve worked hard to earn the confidence and wisdom that comes with living for half a century, so go on, enjoy every minute of it and live your happiest, healthiest days!