Let’s celebrate 2024 and look ahead to next year with two dozen interesting tidbits about taking care of yourself, plus one to grow on in 2025.
And remember, you don’t have to wait for the new year to come in and get moving with Fitting Fitness In! The sooner the better.
- Regular exercise extends life expectancy, quality of life, and independence.
- Eating fiber-rich foods helps keep you at a healthy weight and lowers the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
- Regular exercise reduces the chances of developing type 2 diabetes, along with a range of other chronic illnesses often associated with aging.
- Spinach is high in iron, which helps maintain energy levels and healthy blood cells.
- Two superfoods are almonds (high in protein and healthy fats) and blueberries (lots of antioxidants and linked to memory).
- Talk to us about High-Intensity Interval Training. It burns calories even after the workout is over and is safe for people over 50.
- Exercise is good for your skin because it increases blood flow and improves detoxification.
- Strength training strengthens bones and lowers the risk of falling.
- Omega-3 fatty acids boost brain health and mood.
- Physical fitness makes you feel better mentally, lowering depression and anxiety.
- Sunlight produces Vitamin D in our bodies, helping to absorb calcium and promote bone growth. So, get outside every day.
- Eating protein after working out helps build muscle and aids in recovery. Many adults over 50 don’t eat enough protein. Make sure you do!
- Your body has more than 230 joints.
- How much do you walk? The average person will walk 70,000 miles in a lifetime.
- Dehydration is bad for your brain and mood, in addition to your body.
- Fitness helps you sleep better.
- It’s good for your sex life, too.
- Quinoa is a complete protein so it has all nine essential amino acids that our bodies can’t produce on their own.
- Muscle burns more calories than fat, even when you’re not doing anything.
- Your brain benefits from physical exercise in many ways, including growth in the hippocampus, which is involved in verbal memory and learning.
- Some experts say sitting too much is as dangerous as smoking. Get up and move!
- Lifting weights can allow you to burn calories even when you’re not exercising.
- You have more than 650 muscles.
- It turns out laughter really IS good medicine.
- The heart is your strongest muscle, your gluteus maximus the biggest. That’s your butt, and it’s meant for moving, not just sitting.
Want to learn more about your body? Learn by doing. We are here to help and hope to see you soon.
Happy holidays to everyone.
Holly Kouvo is a personal trainer, functional aging specialist, senior fitness specialist, brain health trainer, writer, and speaker.