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Baby Boomers Set A New
Paradigm For Aging Well
By
Kathi Casey |
 June
is an interesting month. We have: Fathers Day, Flag Day,
it’s vision research month, national men’s and women’s
wellness weeks are in June, as well as home safety month.
Since wellness is one of Baby Boomers’ top concerns, I’ll
stick with that topic. There is a ton of propaganda on the
web, and in print and TV advertisements on treatments
available for diseases and the aches and pains associated
with the aging process. They haven’t learned yet that we
Baby Boomers aren’t interested because we’ve decided we
don’t intend to age at all! Well not very much, anyway. We
want to keep our vitality and good health until we leave the
planet.
Today’s Boomers are much more interested in prevention than
in treatment. We want to know what to eat and which
supplements to take to prevent colon, breast and prostate
cancer. We want to know what we can do to keep that welcome
mat for Osteoporosis away and how to keep our minds sharp.
We are much more interested in playing golf, tennis or
running a 5K race, than utilizing one of those “days of the
week” pill boxes. The over 50 crowd has the largest number
of newcomers entering triathlons and other athletic
competitions these days. So, in honor of all the Boomers out
there who have made 50 the “new 40,” and 60 the “new 50,”
here are my top four tips for making 70 the “new 60” and 80
the “new 70”:
1. Make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin D and C. Vitamin
D is the largest vitamin deficiency in the US right now, yet
we need D for bone health, defending against cancer (studies
link deficiencies of vitamin D to as many as 18 different
cancers); it protects against multiple sclerosis and
rheumatoid arthritis and it helps regulate insulin and blood
pressure. It’s also been linked to improved muscle strength
and optimized brain activity. The current recommendation is
a minimum of 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant which helps to protect
cells from the excess stress hormones we release on a daily
basis, keeps our immune system healthy and helps to repair
and regenerate tissue. The recommended dose of vitamin C is
600 milligrams twice a day.
2. Eat Salmon and other oily fish four times a week to get
your Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3’s are the lubrication of
the body, we need them for healthy joints and to prevent
inflammation. There is also some evidence that they can
smooth out wrinkles – Yay! Docosahexaeonic acid (DHA) is the
ultimate form of Omega 3 and I recommend taking 500
milligrams a day. DHA will also keep our eyes healthier
because it helps to prevent macular degeneration.
3. Learn a new language, or a computer program, or how to
play an instrument. All of these things keep your brain
active and healthy. Also, keeping socially active has been
shown to help keep those brain synapses functioning. If
you’re a loner and it’s difficult for you to socialize then
get a pet, which also benefits brain health.
4. Build lean muscle. It’s not difficult, it just takes a
little commitment, and it’s important because lean muscle
burns twelve times more calories than fat. Excess weight can
invite high blood pressure, knee trouble and in women, it’s
a contributing factor for breast cancer. Add pushups to your
every other day routine, or try some Pilates leg lifts while
you’re catching up with the news in the evening, or add some
squats to your warm up exercise routine before walking. It
only takes a few minutes each day to add some muscle
building exercises and you’ll get the extra benefit of added
strength and flexibility for all of your other activities.
For all of my readers this month I’m offering a 25% discount
on Personalized Wellness Coaching. Click on the Wellness
Coaching tab on my home gage at: www.HealthyBoomerBody.com
and then enter the coupon code: Boomers, in the
appropriate box in your shopping cart.
Best of Health,
Kathi |
About The Author
Kathy Casey, RYT, CPI is located in Otis and offers a
great deal of helpful information on her web site. For more
information on this and other health topics, you may visit
Kathi’s web site at www.KathiCaseyPilates.com and click on
the “Ask Kathi” button. For your free hand out on specific
exercises to get your hips, legs and abs in shape while
watching your favorite TV show, go to www.CoolBoomers.net.
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