So, have you completed a half-century? Congratulations!
Turning 50 is an important milestone achieved by over one-third of Americans, and this demographic is increasing with the rapid aging of baby boomers today. With aging, there come many health issues; the golden jubilee of your birth indicates certain lifestyle changes should be made to ensure your well-being. For this reason, this blog explains a few tips for a healthy lifestyle for 50-year-old people. Without further delay, here’s how you can retain your youth and stay healthy even after turning 50:
- Get preventive screenings
Regular preventive screenings can help doctors detect diseases earlier and prolong your lifespan. So, you mustn’t miss your next doctor’s appointment and stay on top of your health. Preventive screenings can detect diseases such as mesothelioma caused by prolonged asbestos exposure. Sometimes, this disease appears decades after that exposure.
What should you do when diagnosed with mesothelioma? If you were exposed to asbestos because of your employer’s negligence, you can hire a mesothelioma attorney to help you collect evidence and file a strong lawsuit to ensure you get the compensation.
- Ward off aging
Take good care of your skin to ward off any signs of aging, e.g., crow’s feet, wrinkles on your face, or uneven skin tone. You can do this by taking more vitamins C and E in your diet or using skincare products containing these vitamins. Consider the following sources:
- Vitamin C:- Kale, berries, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts
- Vitamin E:- Nuts, seeds, almonds, spinach, and sunflower/safflower oil
- Drink water
Stay hydrated as a middle-aged person because your body needs more water when turning 50 to compensate for temperature irregularities. Sufficient fluid intake facilitates your bodily functions and prevents any harmful chemical imbalance. Your joints work perfectly when you drink lots of H2O and your cells grow just fine. Staying hydrated also helps with healthy digestion and blood circulation. Drink at least 1.7 liters of fluids every day.
If you are tired of drinking bottled water, try imbibing some flavored alternatives, e.g., OJ, green tea, smoothies, coffee (not too much), or milkshakes. Try some sparkling water or even plain milk. These drinks can replenish your body and prevent dehydration. Just don’t engage in drinking too much alcohol.
- Improve immune function
Your immune system weakens with aging, and inflammation becomes rampant as a sign of different diseases, e.g., diabetes, arthritis, or Alzheimer’s. So, strengthen your immune system by consuming lots of immunity-boosting foods. One-half of your palate should consist of fruits and vegetables, and ensure to take 1,000 mg of calcium daily. Women must get 1,200 mg to fulfill their dietary needs. Also, consider eating the following nutrition-filed foods for better immunity:
- Tofu
- Beans
- Yogurt
- Berries
- Cheese
- Salmon
- Seafood
- Avocados
- Leafy vegetables
- Boneless chicken breast
- Consume less salt
Consuming too much salt can harm your well-being and lead to different health issues. So, reduce your sodium intake from 2,300 mg to 1,500 mg a day. It’s never too late to start eating healthy. Just rely less on fast, frozen, canned, or artificially-flavored food and more on healthy, home-cooked meals. You can flavor your food with salsa or citrus instead of harmful ingredients. Avoiding salty foods can protect your heart and kidneys from many health conditions.
- Sleep more often
Older bodies need more rest than younger ones, so you shouldn’t miss out on a good night’s rest. For adults above 50, it’s necessary to sleep 7 hours (or more, if possible) each night. Your body needs this period to rejuvenate and prepare for another day of busy work. So, ensure you’re getting the sleep you need to overcome exhaustion.
What if you have insomnia? A few tricks for sleeping soundly are: don’t use a blue-light-emitting screen before bedtime, sleep in a dark/quiet room, don’t drink coffee before sleeping, and play whale noises or other soft music to overcome sleeplessness. Contact your doctor if your insomnia is getting worse. Maybe, some underlying conditions are costing you well-deserved bedtime.
- Avoid a sedentary lifestyle
A 2017 study shows that middle-aged workers spent 7.8 hours every weekday just sitting down. A sedentary lifestyle is unhealthy for everyone, particularly 50-year-olds. That’s why you have to be more active now. Engage in healthy hobbies, socialize with your buddies, and go out more often to avoid wasting time on your couch or work desk.
Experts recommend 30 minutes of exercise daily for adults. You can spend half an hour walking or jogging to stay active. Or you can hit the gym and do some cardio or lift weights. Just don’t make it a habit to always sit on a couch watching television; get moving today.
- Drink in moderation
There’s a saying that age and alcohol don’t mix; Aging doesn’t mean you should quit drinking by going cold turkey. Just drink in moderation and safeguard your well-being. Experts recommend 7 drinks per week for all women aged 50+ and 14 drinks per week for all men aged 50+. Drinking excessively can lead to different health issues for 50-year-old folks, but drinking responsibly might still allow you to have some fun. However, quitting gradually is better for your long-term health.
- Give up smoking
Consider not smoking, as it’s dangerous to your long-term well-being. It’s believed that almost 13% of adults in the United States smoke, thereby making themselves vulnerable to different health issues. Tobacco harms your lungs, heart, and blood circulation by affecting oxygen levels in the blood and weakening your immune system. So contact a rehab center if this habit’s getting out of your hands.
Conclusion
Spending five decades in the world means you’ve probably spent an amazing life. However, aging also indicates your body isn’t the same as before, which is why certain lifestyle changes after 50 become inevitable if you want to retain your health. Focus on eating healthy, sleeping regularly, drinking less alcohol, quitting smoking, and staying active. Go for preventive screenings punctually. That’s how you can avoid long-term and chronic health problems common after 50.
