Getting older is one of those things that we can’t run away from. However, how you age can be up to you, especially when you consider healthy ways to ensure your well-being is taken care of, so you stay active, strong, and mentally sound as the years go by. Read on to discover essential tips for healthy ageing.

Fuel Your Body with the Right Nutrition

Your body’s nutritional needs change over time depending on which stage of life you are in. As you age, your metabolism might slow down, muscle mass starts decreasing, and bone density declines. Ensuring a balanced, nutrient-rich diet is important, but it doesn’t mean giving up on food you enjoy, so consider:

• Prioritising whole foods: Fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and lean proteins should become part of your everyday meals.
• Focusing on bone health: To maintain strong bones, ensure adequate calcium and vitamin D intake. Consider increasing your intake of dairy, leafy greens, and oily fish.
• Staying hydrated: Did you know that older adults often don’t feel thirsty even when dehydrated? Make water your go-to beverage by having a water bottle to keep track of your daily intake and to ensure you meet the recommended water consumption for a healthier immune system.
• Watching portion sizes: A slower metabolism means fewer calories are needed to avoid complications in the long run. So, focus on nutrient density, the amount of nutrients you consume daily.

Stay Active and Move Your Body Daily

Staying active is one of the most powerful ways to remain youthful in body and mind. Physical activity helps maintain strength and mobility, boosts mood, improves sleep, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. At this stage, you should aim for moderate activity like walking or swimming at least twice weekly.

Keeping your body active can make a significant difference, even when you think it’s small. Other things to consider include:

• Strength training at least twice weekly can keep muscles strong and support joints.
• Balance exercises, such as tai chi or yoga, to help prevent falls.
• Stretching and flexibility work to maintain your range of motion.

Keep Your Mind Engaged

Most people think healthy ageing is about physical health. However, the older you get, the more vulnerable you are to declining cognitive health, which can pose a risk for dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease and related conditions. Mental stimulation is important for ensuring optimal brain function and overall mental health.

Lifelong learning helps maintain a sense of purpose and won’t make you feel like you’re doing the same thing repeatedly. It’s an authentic way to switch between different ideas and thought processes to ensure your mind adapts and is flexible at every stage of life.

Ways to give yourself a regular brain workout include:

• To keep your mind active, challenge yourself with crosswords, puzzles, sudoku, or learn a new language or instrument.
• Stay socially connected and engage with others to stimulate memory recall and boost emotional well-being.
• Keep learning through different ways, like attending workshops, taking up a new hobby, or joining a local club.

Prioritise Preventative Health Care

Regular health check-ups can help catch issues early before they become more severe and life-threatening. Ageing increases the risk of certain conditions, but many are manageable if you prioritise early detection. With an affordable health insurance plan like Affinity Health Senior, you can access benefits such as:

• Regular GP visits.
• Checking your vitals to keep track of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
• Monitoring your vision and hearing for any sensory changes that can affect your quality of life.
• Hospitalisation for trauma events causing severe bodily injuries.
• Chronic disease management and support.

Manage Your Mental and Emotional Health

As you age, you face a broad range of emotional challenges. For instance, you will likely lose loved ones, accept that you should retire, and understand your changing physical abilities. These are significant transitions that can affect your mental and emotional health when you don’t have a support structure and means to navigate the influx of emotions. Most importantly, stressful moments can impact your physical health, making you more vulnerable to infections and chronic conditions.

• Maintain relationships: Stay connected to friends and family. Loneliness can have a profound impact on mental and physical health.
• Find purpose: Whether volunteering, gardening, or mentoring others, having something to look forward to gives life meaning.
• Don’t be afraid to seek help: If you’re feeling anxious, down, or overwhelmed, talk to someone because mental health matters at every age.

Getting older is a privilege that not everyone gets to experience. It’s important to embrace it with intention and care to prioritise your health to enjoy one of the most fulfilling chapters in your life. Staying strong and active are some of the things you can do. With an Affinity Health Senior, you have health insurance with a range of benefits to help you make proactive and smarter choices regarding your health.