Investing In Your Health

Investing in your health is important at any age, but it is especially important as you begin coming into your maturity. Being in optimal health is important because you want to be able to enjoy this time of your life, so you must invest in your physical, mental and financial health. This investment means more than putting something away in order to take care of yourself later. It also means paying attention to how you live your everyday life right now.

Get Regular Checkups

While there are lots of things you can do in order to make sure you look after yourself, you still need to make sure you get to a doctor on a regular basis no matter how good you feel. You may not notice inconsistencies in your health, so including physicals, eye exams, ear exams and other necessary exams on a regular basis will help you find any issues and resolve them in a timely manner.

Eat a Balanced Diet

Of course, it is important to eat a balanced diet at any age, but a balanced diet can mean something different as you age. For instance, you should find out how the recommended daily allowances of many necessary vitamins and minerals change as you reach a certain age. You also want to be sure you get a good intake of healthy fruits and vegetables among other healthy foods.

When considering a balanced diet, it is also essential to think about what foods not to eat because they can affect you differently. For example, many people find it more difficult to digest red meat, especially after a certain time, so they have to either only eat foods like burgers and steaks earlier in the day or avoid them altogether. Furthermore, alcohol intake may also have to be modified as well.

Find a Regular Exercise Regimen

You should also try to remain active as much as possible. If you have issues with mobility, there are still things you can do to keep yourself in good shape. Light aerobics can be a good way to help you keep circulation going and/or to prevent developing conditions such as arthritis. Many older people simply prefer to go for a walk, which is not only healthy but also presents the opportunity to socialize.

Engage in Social Activities

Speaking of which, it is very important to make some time to engage with others and make sure you are looking after your mental and emotional health as well as your physical health. As you grow older, you may find that you have more time to spend with your friends and family, so you can look into making arrangements to see them on a regular basis.

For instance, you can set up a brunch or dinner group each month or even get together every week to watch a movie. There are many other activities you can do with others including board games, book clubs or live chatting with friends and family who live long distance. Sometimes it may help just to have a regular support group to discuss any issues of the day and keep up with the well-being of all group members.

Look After Your Finances

Of course, your financial health is a crucial aspect of your well-being. While it is important to begin putting something away for your later years to make sure you are comfortable, you also need to take measures to look after your finances in the moment. Learning how to budget early on will help you as you find living on a fixed income a necessity, especially if you are retired without your usual income.

Author Bio

Sarah Daren is a writer who creates informative articles relating to the field of health. In this article, she explains how to invest in your health and aims to encourage further study with a degree from the Adventist University of Health Sciences. 

Stay Healthy To Save Your Family's Finances

Health (Photo credit: Tax Credits)

According to the Administration on Aging, the number of people 65 years or older stands at 39.6 million. With this figure expected to hit the 72.1 million mark, healthcare providers will have to deal with more diseases and conditions affecting the elderly. Some of these include Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, hearing loss, vision problems, heart disease, diabetes, depression, and pneumonia. The good news is you can take steps to stay healthy. Keep reading to learn more about this topic.

Exercise

Regardless of your age, physical activity is good for your health. It will help you improve the body's balance and coordination, strength, and endurance. In addition, you will cut the risk of developing heart disease. In fact, the US Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health found that people who do not exercise are twice as likely to develop heart disease as the physically active. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends activities to improve balance, aerobic activities, activities to strengthen muscles, and activities to increase flexibility. Start by warming up and stop if you feel dizzy. Remember to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Sleep

For senior citizens, sleep is very important according to the National Institute on Aging (NIA). Make sure you have at least seven to nine hours of sleep every night. You can also take a nap during the day. Failure to get adequate sleep might interfere with your mood and cause you to be highly irritable and depressed. Additionally, it may cause you to experience memory lapses during the day. In view of this, senior citizens with insomnia should consult their physicians. To get a good night's sleep, NIA recommends avoiding caffeinated drinks and alcohol late in the day, sleeping on a comfortable mattress, and developing a regular bedtime routine.

Diet

As you get older, what you eat plays a big role in determining your health. Make sure you eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and grains. These contain antioxidants that protect the body's cells from oxidation damage. The NIH also says that they contain beta-carotene, lycopene, and phytochemicals. Some of the best vegetables and fruits that you can include in your diet include tomatoes, spinach, red bell pepper, and carrots.

Avoid the temptation to overeat and limit yourself to 2,000 calories every day. This is the recommended daily calorie intake by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Choose fat free or low fat dairy products, lean protein foods, seafood, as well as foods that contain complex carbohydrates. When it comes to fats, go for liquid oils such as canola or olive oil. Finally, avoid drinks that contain added sugars such as malt syrup, corn syrup, honey, fruit juice concentrates, corn sweetener, fructose, dextrose, sucrose, and glucose. A healthy diet reduces the risk of gaining weight and developing diseases such as type II diabetes and high blood pressure.

Socialize

Staying indoors throughout the day is not good for your health. You are likely to get depressed or even start overeating to deal with the loneliness. Take up a hobby that you love such as gardening, painting, volunteering to visit other senior citizens, or start a book club. You can also arrange with a friend to eat out at least two times every week. The aim is to socialize with other people and avoid the temptation to become a recluse.

The fact that you are getting older does not mean that you have to spend your sunset years in and out of the emergency room. To maintain a healthy body, engage in physical activity, adopt a healthy diet, get enough sleep every night, and build a network of friends you can visit. These tips will not only help you to stay healthy, but also ensure you do not spend your family's money treating medical conditions that you can avoid by simply staying healthy. Remember, huge medical bills could potentially drive your family into huge debts, especially if you have to finance a huge chunk of such bills out of pocket.

Author Bio

Sarah Daren is a writer who creates informative articles relating to the field of health. In this article, she explains the importance of health and exercise in regards to finance, and aims to encourage further study through athletic administration degrees.