Are you longing for some good news?
We all are.
This is one of the most trying years in recent memory, with the pandemic leading the way. It’s enough to make some of us just want to hibernate until things get better, isn’t it?
But guess what? We’re not bears. And we don’t have to be.
We’re going to share some positive information right here about maturing, exercising, and taking care of yourself.
Some of it might not actually be “news,” but it’s all definitely information we need to share and share again to keep us motivated and moving!
Headline No. 1: Eating Right Builds Immunity
While we’re waiting for a vaccine, put down the drive-through burgers and diet soda. If you want to stay strong against viruses, then you’ve got to eat well. You know that healthy protein, whole foods, grains, vegetables, and plenty of water are key. Elderberries, button mushrooms, oysters, watermelon, spinach, green tea, broccoli, and garlic are full of disease-fighting nutrients.
Headline No. 2: So Does Exercise
Exercise improves health in general, so it’s also specifically good for a healthy immune system. It also promotes good circulation, which helps the cells and substances of the immune system move throughout the body and take care of business. Being sedentary is bad for everyone, but it’s downright dangerous for older people.
Headline No. 3: A Bath Might Do You Good
A nice, hot bath can be soothing, right? It can also improve sleep and lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, according to one study.
Headline No. 4: What Makes a Community Healthy
Los Alamos County, New Mexico, has been ranked as America’s healthiest community of 2020 in the annual U.S. News Healthiest Communities rankings. The list evaluates communities based on environment, food and nutrition, population health, and other categories related to helping citizens lead healthy lives.
Headline No. 5: Healthy Living Means Longer and Happier Living
When you exercise regularly and eat well, you’re happier and you live longer. Period. It’s that simple. Your body and your brain work better for more years. You have less stress. You sleep better. Your sex life is better. And on and on.
Headline No. 6: Pick Up the Pace or Mix It Up
OK, to be fair, that headline comes directly from The New York Times article about a new study on older people and walking. If gentle strolling is your primary exercise, the study suggests, then you’ll do better if you also jog, cycle or add hills sometimes. That gibes with the current thinking that merely walking just isn’t good enough.
Headline No. 7 Strength Training Is Crucial
Strength training is optional for the young, but it is imperative for older people. It slows age-related muscle loss and strengthens bones, thereby helping to prevent falls and fractures. If that’s not enough to get you to call us, then consider this: Resistance training is safe, effective, and doesn’t even require a bunch of equipment.
Despite the current challenges, Holly is still helping mature members of our community to stay strong, to have endurance, and to gain flexibility. She’s here to help you, too, and will provide information on eating right, improving your mood, and lots more.
That’s our good news to share every day.
Holly Kouvo is a personal trainer, functional aging specialist, senior fitness specialist, brain health trainer, writer, and speaker.