Health is for Everyone – Benefits of becoming healthier at any age
Karen Morris
Sometimes I speak with patients who think they are too old to improve their health, this could not be further from the truth. In fact, health and vitality is something that is available at any age and with the help of naturopathic herbs and supplements – health really can be achieved no matter how ‘un-healthy’ you may currently feel. With a new 30 Day Challenge on the horizon, I felt it was time to bust a few myths about age and health and to explain why age is really no barrier to becoming your healthiest, happiest self. By applying all the latest health and fitness knowledge, more and more people are prolonging youthfulness and living longer, healthier and fitter lives. No longer is aging about forgetful memories and dealing with a back that goes out more than you do, but rather physical and mental improvement through regular exercise, proper nutrition and quality supplements!
In Australia, life expectancy is at an all time high, with the average newborn girl expected to live to 84.5 and boys to 80.4, up from 83.3 and 78.5 almost a decade ago! These stats are greatly to do with such a strong emphasis on health and fitness, which also means quality of life is improving with age as well – especially with the help of quality naturopathic supplementation. Consistency with exercise, good nutrition and supplements means the body is able to renew and repair itself at a faster rate than ever before, resulting in stronger immune systems and even the ability to become a parent later on in life.
Fewer Colds
While we are busy eating breakfast and replying to emails, our immune system is facing millions of potential dangers. The human immune system is responsible for prolonging our lives and it does this by forming an ‘immune memory’ which helps us attack ‘invader cells’ faster. John Upham from the University of Queensland says this memory is staying around longer than ever before “Immune systems can remember viruses for 40 or 50 years. It does begin to drop off in your 70s or 80s, but there’s a bit of a sweet spot for people – particularly from your 40s through to your late 60s and early 70s – where the immune system remembers the viruses experienced over the years.” This increased protection results in fewer colds, with today’s over 50s averaging just one or two colds a year, compared to 20-somethings who are more likely to catch the sniffles up to three times a year.
Exercise is for all ages
Since older generations are healthier than ever, there’s no reason why you can’t be your healthiest self well into your fifties, sixties, seventies and beyond! As regular exercise and nutrition is one of the main reasons why older generations are healthier than ever, there’s never been more reasons to stay committed to health. Research also shows that regular exercise, in particular strength training, is good for your brain too. According to Professor Maria Fiatarone Singh, a geriatrician at the University of Sydney, exercising as you age will keep your brain switched on and your mood lifted too “We’re currently looking to see what the exact mechanisms are, but there is evidence that both improvements in cognitive function and depressive symptoms in older adults are linked to the amount of strength gains or intensity of the strength training,”.
Family Benefits
Thanks to fertility treatments like IVF, it’s now possible to become a parent much later in life, with many new parents being in their mid to late forties. Research suggests older mums have many social and psychological advantages too, as older parents are likely to be more tolerant and to invest a lot of time and effort into child raising. Having life experience before becoming a parent is also good for our mindsets. As we age we tend to care less what others think of us, which means our confidence in both our own skin and our own abilities is increased. If you are currently trying to fall pregnant, why not give me a call to discuss how I can help you? At Herbs Online Shop we have lots of products to help make pregnancy easier like our Raspberry Dried Leafwhich can ease morning sickness and cramps.
As always, please feel free to get in touch with me via the www.herbsonlineshop.com contact page and if you’re not already, why not follow the @herbsonlineshop Instagram account and Facebook page and group. I post daily about my clinic, my top health tips and information about custom herbs and supplements, just for you!