What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

Since 50 is considered to be the youth of old age; and physical aging is about decay, maturity and so on and so forth–I wonder what our members have learned is most important about staying healthy?

What do you use? What have you heard? What would you like to do to stay healthy?

[and what's realistic?]

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

It starts when you are young, eg non stop fad diets might make fragile bones when we're older. Healthy habits when young carry us into a healthier old age, then in old age good maintenance, eg keep active, use it - or lose it, don't give up, do something to encourage physical and mental activity regularly. Look at inherited tendencies, eg my Mum loved sweet things and is type 2 diabetic, Dad died before retirement of a heart attack, so my diet contains very little added sugar and is healthy, high fibre and low in cholesterol.high in omega 3 and 6.   It helps to have something to love / care for, to get up  for, or give one an interest other than self, I knew a shepherdess in her late 80's, an historian still writing at 96,
As a nurse, I cared for a lot of elderly, the quickest route to decay is to give up on company/ life, negativity, and a poor diet.

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

I completely agree with what Zephyr said and would add two things to her firm foundation:  (1) correct breathing and (2) lots of fresh water.

(1) Not shallow breathing, but deep belly breathing.  Inhale through the nose; exhale through the mouth.

(2) Divide your body weight in half and you will know the number of ounces of water that you should drink every 24-hours. (i.e., a person who weights 150 pounds should drink 75 ounces of water every 24 hours).

These two things help to make the difference between longevity and quality longevity.

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

Such lovely tips - Zephyr,  you've given a great overview of the many factors that go into good health. I love the way you learned from the health of your parents. What worries me is when I see my father, who's early 80s, and lived a very health-oriented life - giving up anything that he learned was unhealthy; eating well, yoga and exercise, walks, meditation, and so on, even in his youth and later.

Yet, to great shock, he got a double bypass in his late 70s, and from then, though he recovered briefly, he's gone on to losing a lot of weight, the docs have ruled out the usual suspects and so far found no reason.

Finally my mother [who's in her 80s] is accepting it as old age; because till now, she was shocked how she, who didn't do too much looking after her own health, is frail as she's always been, but so is he. It's shaken us all in the family.

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

Laurie, do you mean breathe this way all the time, or as an exercise? “Inhale through the nose; exhale through the mouth.”

There are many times of yogic breathing - pranayama - breathing in different ways for health. But in a general way, it is recommended to breathe in and out through the nose. But like you said, through the belly [however unfashionable it seems!!]

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

Meenakshi - Oh gosh, I'm sorry that I was not clear.  I meant as a consistent, daily exercise.  For people who commute (car, bus, train) this is a perfect time because it's also extremely calming.

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

John Marks Templeton wrote that enthusiasm is the best thing we can do for our health. He was a medical doctor and had many other remarkable achievements. When I read what he wrote about enthusiasm it struck me very powerfully. Enthusiasm can be applied to everything and is readily available!

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

Lovely!!!

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

Jeannie - Enthusiasm!  That's fantastic - thank you.

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

Laurie, thanks for clearing that up! Of course when I read yr second email I'm telling myself I knew that's what you meant, but….just in case! One never knows!!!

A great idea to do it while commuting. And if we can add some visualization to it as in..

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

I have found that a positive attitude  +  a healthy sense of humor > enthusiasm = Staying healthy after 50. 
I heard somewhere that the word “enthusiasm” is a derivative of the Greek: “en theo” meaning “in God”. 

Joyous Mary
1937                   

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

How lovely! I enjoy those seeing where words have journeyed to come to us. 

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

“… “enthusiasm” is a derivative of the Greek: “en theo” meaning “in God.”  I love it!

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

I discovered something this week (Long past  50).  I retrieved a book that I had set apart to be sold at my garage sale mid-August.  The ones that I decided to keep are in sealed boxes so that leaves me browsing those that I decided to sell.    
The subtitle is:  The Path of Midlife Spirituality. 

The author sets midlife at around 50.  She speaks of life changes that begin to occur at that age.  “A call to go deeper.”    “Is it possible, I asked myself, that I'm being summoned from some deep and holy place within?  Am I being asked to enter a passage in the spiritual life  -  the journey from false self to true self?”    Dear Heart, Come Home:  by Joyce Rupp

My discovery:  Not in my 50s, not in my 60s.  This is what has been happening NOW, in my 70s. 

Joyous Mary
1937

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

I'm discovering daily how many new things can - and do- happen to us all our lives- loss of loved ones, intense changes as you are going through, getting out of your comfort zone.
 It's not just the youth who experience change and growth; so do those in their 80s and 70s and…..well, every age, really. Being spiritual can certainly bring the centering that these changes bring; it helps to balance us.

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

Being aware that I am spirit walking around in body does it.  Also I find that being here with my Gaian Family keeps me balanced.  Sometimes it takes a lot of generosity on their part to do so.  
Believe me.  
I truly appreciate it. 

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

Think, for me it's important to try out new things and to keep excited about life.  Also to develop the skills I already have…

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

Would you say that it helps to focus on physical health; or to let it coast along; while focusing on other activities? I like what you've said, Tai - I think that a feeling of excitement, anticipation, learning new things helps me…

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

Exercise of course.

I have planned for an integrative program.

Get a bike and commute to work.

60 miles round trip daily.

Save about $4,000 a year on commuting expenses.

Loose that spare tire and improve cognitive and cardiovascular.

Its more time consuming than driving a car, but its worth it.

Daniel

P.S. easier to do in the sunbelt rather than the northern states.

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

I'm in awe! I don't think I could bike even a mile. Does this strengthen the knees, or strain them?

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

Hawkeye - I'm in awe too!  Does your place of employment have showers that you can use when you arrive?   I know I would need one after a 30-mile bicycle ride.

Meenakshi - It's not so much the knees that can be damaged (although that's certainly possible) as the IT Band (iliotibial band).  This is located on the outside of each thigh and runs the length between the knee and hip.  People who bicycle a lot (60 miles a day would qualify) can get something called “friction syndrome” if they don't take precautions.  The most important one being to properly stretch the leg muscles before and after a bicycle ride.

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

The iliotibials can also be overstressed especially if your bicycle shoe/pedal/cleat is misaligned. Or if one leg is appreciably longer/shorter than the other and you overcompensate with the other leg. Look up forefoot Varus. Look up LeMond LeWedge.

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

Ah, thanks for that information, Laurie. The more I think about it, the more I'm drawn to 'only yoga' and walks –once I”ve got my weight down.

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50? 10 Tips

To add to the wisdom in this thread, I thought I'll post what came in my Inbox today:

The tips rock!
Young at Heart

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

Weight. Maintain healthy weight.
You never see obese centenarians.
Approximately two thirds of Americans are overweight, even obese. You reduce all sorts of health problems by being your “correct” weight. Less heart attacks, less colon cancer, less diabetes, etc, etc. Less stress on your knees, hips, bones and joints.

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

Staying optimistic and looking forward.Learning to let go of past hurts and mishaps.Strangely enough,as this topic was being  disussed with so much interest and feeling,I had the good fortune of attending the 93rd birthday of  a friend who is a professor emeritus of Architecture.His love of life,passion about his profession,the love and admiration of his friends all were amazing.As the champagne flowed  so did all the love in the room.He sang in avibrant voice-You are nobody till somebody  loves you-find somebody to love you etc etc.

Re: What's most important to stay healthy after 50?

“Staying optimistic and looking forward.  Learning to let go of past hurts and mishaps.”  Well said, roamer.