Healthy Habits for Seniors to Keep Sharp

Introduction

As we age, it’s important to keep our minds healthy. Sometimes this can be challenging, especially if you’re not always sure what the best habits are. But it’s also easy to take simple steps every day that can help keep your mind sharp as you get older. Here are five healthy habits all seniors should incorporate into their lives:

Exercise

Exercise is an important part of staying healthy, especially for seniors. Exercise can help you maintain weight, sleep better and strengthen bones and muscles.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that adults aged 65 or older get at least 2 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each week–such as brisk walking–or 1 hour of vigorous aerobic activity, such as jogging or running (or a combination). If you’re not currently exercising regularly, start slowly: Try doing some daily activities that require more energy than normal (like vacuuming) with greater intensity until you build up to the recommended amount of weekly activity over time.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

A balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health as you age. It can help to improve your overall well-being and reduce the risk of disease.

A healthy diet includes:

• Plenty of fruits and vegetables – these provide vitamins, minerals and fibre that may help prevent heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and strokes. Try to include at least five portions per day (a portion is equivalent to 80g).
• Low fat dairy products – milk, cheese or yoghurt containing less than 3% fat have been shown to reduce cholesterol levels when eaten daily over time.
• Lean meat or fish (less than 2g saturated fat per 100g) once or twice a week can be included in a healthy balanced diet but avoid processed meats such as bacon rashers or sausages which contain high levels of salt/sodium nitrite preservatives which have been linked with an increased risk for stomach cancer

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Drink lots of water

Drinking plenty of water can help you stay hydrated, feel full and avoid dehydration. It’s also a good way to keep yourself healthy, lose weight and boost your energy levels.

If you’re not sure how much water is enough for you, try this simple trick: drink half your body weight in ounces every day (e.g., if you weigh 150 pounds then consume 75 oz.).

Get enough sleep

Sleep is one of the most important things you can do to keep your brain sharp as you age. Sleep helps clear away toxins and keeps your body healthy while you’re resting, so it’s no surprise that getting enough sleep helps boost memory and prevent mental decline.

One study showed that people who regularly got less than seven hours of sleep per night had an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared with those who slept eight hours or more each night (1). Another study found that people who slept fewer than six hours per night were twice as likely to have cognitive impairment compared with those who got eight hours or more (2).

Getting enough sleep doesn’t just mean going through your nightly routine: It also means having regular habits so that every night feels like any other night–and this includes avoiding naps during the day! If you need some extra rest before an important event or meeting, try going to bed early instead of taking an afternoon nap; this will help ensure that when it comes time for bedtime again later in the evening, there won’t be any surprises about how much energy remains in reserve after being awake all day long!

Keep Busy and Focused

• Keep your mind active. The best way to keep your brain sharp is by challenging it with new things. Try new activities, learn a new language or read a book.
• Do crossword puzzles and other puzzles that require concentration and mental engagement on a regular basis (daily or weekly).
• Play games that require you to use strategy and logic, such as chess or bridge. You can also try playing against the computer on these types of games if you don’t want anyone else around while doing so!

Simple changes can keep seniors healthy and sharp as they age.

As you age, your body changes and it can be hard to keep up with the latest information on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. But there are some simple steps that everyone can take to stay sharp as they get older:

• Maintain a healthy diet. This means eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products (if you consume dairy), lean meats and fish (if you eat meat or fish), legumes such as beans or lentils–and limiting saturated fats from animal products like meatballs or bacon. It also means cutting back on sugary foods like cookies or cake as well as salty foods like potato chips/crisps/corn chips/cheese puffs/potato wedges etc.. If possible try not to drink any alcohol at all (even small amounts). Alcohol consumption increases the risk for several diseases including cancer so if possible avoid alcohol altogether!
• Sleep well each night by going to bed at around 10pm every night without fail – this will help ensure adequate restorative sleep which is vital for brain function throughout life stages including adolescence through adulthood into old age

Conclusion

Seniors have a lot to offer and can be productive members of society. If you’re concerned about your aging parent or loved one, consider these healthy habits as a way to help them stay sharp.

At Abiding Home Care, we believe in personalized care that recognizes the individuality of each senior we serve.