Good genes are one thing, but you can also help game the system and age gracefully with these healthy lifestyle choices.
In the year 2000, the United States was home to 35 million people who were 65 and older; in 2016, that number was 49.2 million. And it’s an upswing that is expected to continue, according to the Census Bureau. That the baby boomers are growing older is no surprise – they began turning 65 in 2011 and will continue to do so for many years to come, says Peter Borsella, a demographer in the bureau’s Population Division.
Which drives home the point that much of the population is getting on in years (in fact, we all are!). Add to that the fact that we are living longer, and the enormity of costs and resources in providing care starts to loom pretty largely. So here’s an idea, let’s all do what we can to stay as healthy as possible. Besides, who doesn’t want to age slowly and gracefully?
We’ve all known a super-ager or two, those people who maintain a youthful brain and body well into their older years. And while it may seem like we can chalk that up to a lucky win of the genetics lottery, there is actually a lot we can do to slow the aging process and fend off disease. As Casey Seidenberg points out in the Washington Post, “the brain remains alert when it is elastic and rested; energy levels stay high when we balance blood sugar and hormones and maintain muscle mass; and we prevent disease when we preserve gut and immune health.”
So how we do that? The Post lays out a plan and we’ve added a few of our own, in no particular order.
1. Eat omega-3 fatty acids
These nutrients found in foods such as fish and flaxseed are important components of the membranes that surround each cell in your body. They have been shown to boost brain function, decrease inflammation, build and repair cell membranes, and aid with stress management, while also staving off other issues. Find them in fish and other seafood – cold-water fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, and sardines in particular. Also in nuts and seeds, like flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts, as well as their oils.
