There is no rule that says getting older means getting sick, being weak and frail, and not having your wits about you. The fact is we are living longer than ever because of advances in medicine and technology. Even so, it still takes some effort on our part to make choices about how we live, what we eat, and what we do to be productive and meaningful and live with good health as we age.

I’ve written these 18 best tips to healthy aging for 2009 because I am participating in a group writing project, “2009 in Review” for Daniel Scocco at http://DailyBlogTips.com and will post them for his project.

1.    Choose a produce rainbow because brightly colored fruits and vegetables contain more nutrients than paler ones.  I suggest dark-colored spinach for a salad rather than iceberg lettuce.
2.    Exercise regularly and at least 5 out of 7 days a week to help prevent or delay certain diseases, help control chronic illnesses, and just feel better and enjoy life more.
3.    Maintain a healthy body weight to avoid the risk for certain diseases including diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease and high cholesterol. Your doctor can help you figure out your healthy weight.
4.    Get enough calcium to keep your bones healthy and strong. People over 65 often need more than 1,200 mg of calcium daily.
5.    Keep fully hydrated because next to oxygen, water is the most important nutrient your body needs to work well.
6.    Visit your dentist on a regular basis because without good oral health you won’t be able to eat and chew the way you should to maintain a healthy diet.
7.    Take care of your eyes by having an initial screening for glaucoma and check for retinal damage. Have your eyes checked annually if you have diabetes or high blood pressure and eat a diet rich in green leafy vegetables to prevent diseases such as macular degeneration.
8.    Have your hearing screened to determine if you have lost some of your hearing because loss could impact social relationships, emotional health and overall well being.
9.    Maintain flexibility by including stretching in your exercise program plus other times during the day. You need flexibility to remain mobile and for small tasks such as backing out of your garage.
10.    Don’t smoke.
11.    Stay socially active by contributing time to your community and being in close contact with friends and family.
12.    Exercise your brain to keep mentally active. Read books, attend a class, learn a new skill, learn to play bridge, or develop a new hobby. It’s never too late to learn to play the piano or guitar.
13.    Drink alcohol in moderation. When you do drink, let someone else drive.
14.    Reduce your salt intake. To add healthy flavor to your food, try natural herbs.
15.    Eat a healthy diet.
Gravitate to a Low-fat diet by reducing the amount of animal foods you consume.
Don’t eat refined sugar.
Organic food is preferable.
16.    Wear your seatbelt when you’re driving.
17.    Protect your skin from the sun and avoid skin cancer.
18.    Learn to manage your stress using exercise, meditation, yoga and breathing exercises.

Let me know if you have a tip or two we can add to this list.  And I will keep you posted about the writing project.

To your successful healthy aging,
Ruthan Brodsky

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Filed under: Aging Gracefully

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