Having a healthy lifestyle is important for most Australian Seniors as it not only makes you feel amazing but, as recent studies have shown, it can make you live a longer life. Some people think that leading a healthy life is daunting and don’t know where to start. But integrating five simple factors into your life is the first step to enriching your life.
Healthy Eating
Research by Harvard Health Publishing has shown that eating a healthy diet can help prolong life expectancy, by decreasing the risk of developing heart disease, hypertension, cancer, and cataracts. It is recommended that you eat at least five serves of vegetables and two serves of fruit a day. To some this may seem intimidating, but can be easily achieved by snacking on carrots with hummus, putting lettuce on your sandwich, or adding fruit to your cereal in the morning. Don’t know what a single serve of fruit looks like or want to learn more about how to eat healthy? Click here for more information.
Exercise Frequently
Many people are struck with fear at the sign of the dreaded “E” word, but luckily even small amounts of exercise can improve your cardiovascular and overall health. For optimal health benefits, aim for 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week, and ensure that you stretch before and after you exercise. Types of exercise you could do include taking a brisk walk, swimming, or yoga.
If you haven’t exercised recently, start off at a level which is manageable for you. We recommend that you consult your doctor prior to engaging in any type of exercise, especially if you are recovering from an illness or are currently ill.
Don’t Smoke
It is well known that smoking is a major contributor to many health problems, particularly lung cancer and heart disease. However, recent studies have found that some, if not all, of the damage caused by smoking may be reversed! How? By quitting smoking. A few months after stopping smoking, the risk of developing heart disease begins to drop. In five years time, the risk of heart disease and stroke is the same as someone who had never even smoked!
Keep Your Mind Active
Keeping your mind active is just as important as moving your body. You can challenge your mind in many different ways, such as learning a new skill, reading a book, playing chess, completing puzzles, or playing brain games. Not only is this fun and entertaining, but helps to improve memory and general mental functioning.
Build A Strong Social Network
Having a strong social network is extremely important as you age. But remember your social network doesn’t just have to be made up of friends, it can also be made up of family members and beloved pets. Not only are these relationships key for happiness, but they also fight against social isolation, and are great support in times of stress. If you want to broaden your social network, we recommend going to local events and engaging in your local community, through fun activities like book clubs, cooking classes, or volunteer work!
Sadly, if you live alone developing and maintaining relationships can be difficult. Not only could this impact your mental health, but also your physical health for example, if you had an accident and nobody was home to help. This is where APERS can help. Our specialised Medical Alert Alarms are a handy device that make help accessible at all times. By pressing the emergency button on the pendant, a signal will be sent to our 24/7 Care Team, who will contact you through your device and discuss your situation and get you help as soon as possible.
Want to know more about the other services and products we offer? Feel free to contact us on 1300 852 148, where we would be glad to have a chat about what device is best suited for your needs!