7. Embrace muscle mass
By the time we hit 50, the average adult will lose 15 percent of lean body mass, which is replaced with fat mass – and it’s an unfortunate swap that continues with the years. Sigh. A higher fat mass opens the door for things like diabetes and heart disease. As well, less muscle means one is more likely to falling. Seidenberg writes that adequate protein throughout the day can help, noting that beans, nuts, seeds, wild fish, chicken and avocado can be key as the body ages. “Weight-bearing exercise and yoga support muscle strength and flexibility,” she adds.
