How Many ‘Good Summers’ Are Left? Aging’s Impact and Enhancing Your Health
If someone told you that you only had a dozen ‘good summers’ left in your lifetime, would you do anything differently? While it’s common knowledge that our population is aging, maintaining good health isn’t guaranteed. Non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer are on the rise, with a significant number of people in New Zealand being diagnosed every day. Alarmingly, these diagnoses are happening at younger ages, leading many to spend the rest of their lives on medication just to feel well.
But what is a "good summer"? It’s not just about the warm weather. A good summer is one where you’re in good health, full of energy, (mostly) free from aches and pains, and mobile enough to enjoy the activities you love. Whether that’s gardening, hiking, spending time with family, or traveling, it’s about having the vitality to live life fully.
While some health conditions are beyond our control, there are lifestyle and dietary changes we can integrate into our daily lives to promote longevity and improve our quality of life.
1. Longevity and Quality of Life
Prioritizing Prevention: Creating healthy habits and nurturing ourselves with nutritious food can be instrumental in preventing common age-related health issues like cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and cognitive decline. Just as weight training and exercise benefit the body, practicing mindfulness and keeping the brain engaged are vital for maintaining cognitive function.
Balancing Physical Activity and Rest: Regular exercise is essential for maintaining mobility and strength as we age, with resistance training helping to preserve bone density. Equally important is rest and quality sleep, which are crucial for recovery and overall health.
2. Preventative Health Measures
Regular Health Screenings: When was the last time you had a check-up just for peace of mind? Sometimes, maintaining good health means assembling a healthcare team to support you. Complementary medicine practitioners like chiropractors, physiotherapists, osteopaths, and naturopaths can provide valuable insights into your current health and ongoing maintenance, helping to prevent the need for more significant interventions later. Regular health checks, such as annual blood tests or blood pressure measurements, offer a baseline for tracking your health and measuring success.
Stress Management: Stress significantly impacts how we age, often going unrecognized until it takes a toll. Stress isn’t just emotional—it can be physical and mental, and when left unmanaged, it can lead to disease. Stress management techniques like mindfulness, meditation, and yoga have gained popularity for a reason—they work.
3. Mind-Body Connection
Mental Health’s Role in Aging: Have you ever heard of “glimmers”? A concept introduced by Debbie Dana, identifies them as micro-moments that fill us with joy, warmth, and safety, helping to regulate our nervous system. Tapping into these moments can bring us into a parasympathetic state, promoting rest, relaxation, healthy digestion, and balanced blood pressure. For example, feeling the warmth of the sun on your face during a morning walk or savouring the warmth of a freshly brewed coffee in the morning can be a glimmer. Maintaining a positive outlook and finding joy in these small moments can have a profound influence on our overall health.
Joy and Social Connection: Social connections and engaging in activities that bring us joy provide a sense of belonging, understanding, and passion. Staying mentally active through hobbies, learning, and social engagement is key to maintaining cognitive function and overall well-being as we age.
4. Nutritional Support for Aging
Food as Medicine: Food can either hinder or heal. When viewed as medicine, a balanced diet becomes a source of nourishment that provides the building blocks our bodies need to repair and thrive. The problem often lies not in the food itself but in how it’s processed. Ultra-processed foods increase the risk of heart disease, obesity, and mental health issues. On the other hand, a diet rich in whole, nutritious foods, including anti-inflammatory options, can support joint health and reduce inflammation associated with aging.
Gut Health: Our microbiome, which is influenced by diet, environment, and even the people we interact with, plays a critical role in our health. Groundbreaking research continues to reveal the impact of the microbiome on disease development and overall health. Eating a diverse diet rich in whole foods, fruits, vegetables, and fiber promotes a healthy gut, leading to better health outcomes.
Taking the First Step
Change doesn’t need to be dramatic. Unless you’ve neglected your health for a long time or have chronic conditions, making gradual and sustainable changes to your diet and lifestyle can have long-term health benefits.
Are you ready to take action and make impactful changes to improve your health, or are you content to let nature take its course? Reflecting on how your life might play out based on how many 'good summers' you have left, consider whether it’s time to change how you currently approach your health.
Reference: https://www.rhythmofregulation.com/glimmers
