THE IMPACT OF AGING ON WOMEN

\n\nAging gracefully is a term that conjures up images of individuals enjoying life with the same vigor and enthusiasm in their latter years, as they did in their youth. However, the truth of the matter is, aging for most people brings along with it multiple issues. But its not all doom and gloom and here is the good news! You CAN age gracefully, if you follow some simple tips and maintain self discipline. For those of you who are thinking that its too late to create a healthy lifestyle for yourself, and I should have done it a long time ago, it reminds me of an old Chinese proverb, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time is now”. In other words, its never too late to take control of your life. Now let’s look at some of the factors that affect us later in life.\n\nWEIGHT GAIN\n\nA natural state of aging is losing muscle, and metabolism slows down. As you become less active, there is a tendency to gain weight. As well, your body burns fewer calories for the same physical activities as when you were younger.\n\nYou don’t need a medical background to realize that being overweight raises you chance of conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke. But the extra pounds can pose an even bigger burden for older people. Everyday movements like walking and getting out of chairs get harder. Therefore, it should come as no surprise, that obesity and arthritis go hand in hand.\n\nSo, whether your 20 or 80, exercise is one way to fight weight gain. You will find plenty of guidelines that stipulate working out 30-60 minutes a day are fine for younger adults. But that might not be realistic for many older folks. This is where a good personal trainer comes into the picture; You can devise an exercise plan matched to your health and fitness level. Its never too late to start! Even simple muscle-toning exercises can help you stay fit and mobile. Let’s look at some of the factors which cause weight gain.\n\n LACK OF SLEEP \n\nThere are two primary points of concerns with sleep and weight gain. First, if you are constantly up late (night shift), there is a greater chance that you will be doing some late-night snacking, which naturally equates to more calories. More importantly, however, lets understand the internal chemistry of your body when you are sleep deprived; it means changes in hormone levels, which means an increase in appetite.\n\n STRESS \n\nWhen life’s demands get too intense, our bodies go into survival mode. Cortisol, the “stress hormone,” is secreted, which causes an increase in appetite. Naturally, we may reach for high-calorie comfort foods, such as cakes, chips, cookies and ice cream, in times of stress as well. This combination creates ideal conditions for weight gain.\n\nMost women do gain some weight around the time of menopause, but hormones probably aren’t the only cause. As mentioned previously, aging slows your metabolism, so you burn fewer calories. And changes in lifestyle (such as exercising less) play a role. But where you gain weight may be related to menopause, with fat accumulating around your waist more than your hips and thighs.\n\nNUTRITIONAL PROBLEMS \n\nOur nutritional needs change as we age. Many of us don’t eat as well. Plus, older bodies can more easily lack certain vitamins and nutrients. These include vitamin B12 (we don’t absorb it from foods as well); calcium (we need more as we age); vitamin D (our skin doesn’t soak it up as well from the sun); and vitamin B6 (we need it to keep red blood cells healthy and strong).\n\nUsually, all you need is any multivitamin that offers the minimum daily requirement. You also don’t need huge doses. In fact, they can be harmful. If you’re taking any prescription medications, let your doctor know which supplements you take so you can avoid any bad interactions.\n\nTHE BENEFITS OF EXERCISE FRAGILE BONES\n\nMany seniors fear falling. As you get older, it can affect your balance and make you less steady and sure on your feet. Falls can be especially dangerous if you have osteoporosis, when your bones become less dense and more susceptible to breaks and fractures. Almost everyone gets it to some degree if they live long enough, but women ages 50 and older are twice more likely than their male counterparts to break a bone because of this “brittle bone disease.”\n\nYOU CAN KEEP YOUR BONES STRONGER IF YOU:\n

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• Eat lots of fruits, veggies, and foods high in calcium.
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• Take vitamin D. Older bodies absorb less of it from the sun.
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• Lift weights or do exercises that use your own body weight (walking, push-ups, squats).
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