Maintaining Your Youth Even As You Age

Age, they say, is little more than a number. While this might not be technically true, staying young can be tied to your state of mind. There may not be a Fountain of Youth – at least not one that has been discovered – but there are things you can do to help stave off feeling old for as long as possible.

Avoid Stress

Per Fitness Magazine, new research has found that stress accelerates aging.  When you’re stressed, your body releases adrenaline and cortisol, two hormones that can increase heart rate and cause blood pressure to spike. Short-term stress isn’t that concerning, but long-term stress can drastically affect your health. Chronic doses of adrenaline lead to anxiety, depression, hypertension, anger, and heart attacks.

It might be impossible to avoid stress altogether, but minimizing it can keep you feeling young and healthy. One of the best ways to do this is to meditate or pray, if only for a few minutes a day. 

Socialize

People need other people to be both happy and healthy: according to Psychology Today, not having a social network can be deadly. The odds of someone without friends dying prematurely are much higher than someone who considers themselves a social butterfly. In fact, people who are isolated have a 50 percent greater mortality rate than those with strong connections.

If you’re in your golden years, one of the easiest ways to stay social is to consider a senior living community. These communities are filled with activities, outings, game nights and all things conducive to company.  

Exercise

As you age, it may be harder to exercise than it was in your younger years. However, there’s probably a good chance you have more time to pick up the fitness routine that evaded you decades ago.

It is of particular importance for seniors to exercise for a few reasons. First of all, exercise lowers the risk of many of the diseases that plague the elderly, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and certain kinds of cancer. Exercise also releases endorphins, making you happy and less stressed out. Second of all, as a person ages, they lose muscle mass. If too much mass is lost, a person can become frail and things like falls can become deadly much bigger deal than they once were. Exercise helps you retain your muscle mass, increasing your chances of both quality and length of life.

Eat More Fat

Eating more fat may seem to go against everything your doctor has ever told you, but fat can be your friend as long as it’s the right kind. Omega-3 fatty acids (sometimes called the “good fat”) can help you stay feeling young by maintaining bone strength, reducing inflammation in your body, and stabilizing your moods. Omega-3s also help your skin maintain its elasticity and keep it looking youthful and radiant.

The best way to get Omega-3s in your diet is by eating fish (particularly salmon), nuts, and seeds (such as sunflower seeds). If you can’t get enough of these fatty acids through the foods you eat, you may want to consider taking fish oil as a supplement. 

While there is no way to stop yourself from aging, you can look and feel younger by leading a healthier lifestyle. Start making a difference in your everyday life with help from the non-profit senior care services from Concordia Lutheran Ministries. With senior care communities located throughout Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, Concordia makes it easier than ever to maintain an active lifestyle free of many of the stresses of aging. Whether you’re looking for extensive senior care services or just retirement communities in Pennsylvania or Ohio, take a tour of one of Concordia’s many locations to discover how our senior healthcare services can help change your life for the better.

Get Updates From Concordia

There is always a LOT happening at Concordia! Would you like to stay up-to-date with our news and events? Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter here.

Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.