Healthy Aging Month
Healthy Aging Month is observed annually in September. It is aimed to promote the importance of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle and to encourage individuals to take positive steps toward improving their physical, mental, social and emotional well being as they grow older.
The goal of Healthy Aging Month is to challenge stereotypes about aging and to emphasize that growing older doesn’t mean giving up on a fulfilling and vibrant life. Instead, it encourages individuals to make proactive choices that contribute to their overall quality of life as they age. This observance is particularly important as the global population continues to age and highlights the potential for a fulfilling and active life well into old age.
Exercise and physical activity.
Being physically active can provide many health benefits that can positively impact physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Additionally, being physically active can help prevent future health problems.
Try yoga. Yoga is a holistic practice that combines physical postures, breathing exercises, meditation and mindfulness. Practicing yoga has many great benefits for older adults including improving flexibility, mobility, enhancing balance, reducing stress, and more (1).
Healthy Eating.
Making smart food choices can help protect against health problems as well as positively impact physical and mental health.
Eat from the rainbow. Eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables can be nutritious for both body and mind.
Red fruits and vegetables contain lycopene, which is a great nutrient to improve heart health and increase brain function. A good source of lycopene includes tomatoes, beets, cherries, strawberries and red pepper.
Orange and yellow fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamin C and carotenoids, which reduce the risk of inflammation and strengthen your immune system. Try yellow peppers, bananas, carrots, sweet potatoes, mangoes and oranges.
Green fruits and vegetables are full of indoles, isothiocyanates and high in vitamin K, which help blood and bone health. Good sources include spinach, kale, brussels sprouts, avocadoes, kiwis, asparagus and broccoli.
Blue and purple fruits and vegetables contain anthocyanins and antioxidants, which are associated with improved memory and brain health. Try blueberries, blackberries, purple cabbage, eggplant and plums (2).
Get good sleep.
Getting quality sleep can help you stay healthy and alert. Most adults should get between seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Chronic lack of sleep has been linked to irritability, anxiety and depression (3).
Try meditation before bed. Meditation is a relaxation technique that can help quiet the mind and body. Meditation may help reduce insomnia and bring overall relaxation that helps prepare the body for sleep. When practicing meditation, find a comfortable position and focus on the breath (4).
Sources:
Rountree, Sage. "15 Health Benefits of Yoga For Aging Adults", Yogajournal, 4 Jun. 2022, https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/15-anti-aging-health-benefits-of-yoga/.
Terpstra, Caitlin. "Eat a rainbow of food for good health", Mayo Clinic Health System, 3 Jun. 2022, https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/eat-the-rainbow-for-good-health.
Summer, Jay. "8 Health Benefits of Sleep", Sleep Foundation, 23 Jun. 2023, https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/benefits-of-sleep.
Pacheco, Danielle. "Meditation and Sleep", Sleep Foundation, 16 Dec. 2022, https://www.sleepfoundation.org/meditation-for-sleep.