Are you in your 50s or 60s today? Then, chances are good that you’ll see decades ahead. But as for aging well? That depends on a variety of factors. Scientists are discovering remedies for everything except for the aging process itself. According to Harvard researcher Dr. David Sinclair, advances are being made daily in the realm of delaying the actual deterioration of cells leading to death in the age range we expect today.

As we age, our blood pressure may be managed, as well as hormonal imbalances and heart rhythms. And we have more cures for chronic disease. Replacement of organs help keep us alive. But our quality of life is slipping away.

Quality of Life as We Age

Researchers agree that 75 to 85 percent of chronic health issues are lifestyle related. Dr. Sara Gottfried, with more than 30 years of research to prove it, argues that there are protocols to intervene in genetic predisposition for just about every known disease. What we do during our lifetime to protect our health is said to profoundly impact the last five years of life. These last years can be spent swimming and hiking with the grandkids or living in assisted living needing help with the most basic needs.

The choice is up to us. What are we learning that might help? According to the work of Dr. Sinclair, world-renowned geneticist and longevity expert, just a few extra pounds can negatively impact our last years, accelerating the rate of aging. Yet, most people simply accept these extra pounds as an inevitable reality as the years roll by.

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Aging Well and Nutrition

In her book Elderhood: Redesigning Aging and Reforming Medicine, Dr. Louise Aronson is a strong advocate of getting as much protein in our diets as we age as possible, and she doesn’t mean red meat. She doesn’t think we can get too much protein and disagrees with studies purporting excessive amounts can be harmful.

As we know, more protein is helpful in building muscle mass. Dr. Aronson notes that our muscle mass will determine the quality of life we have in our advancing years. How many of us calculate the amount of protein we consume, or even feel that it’s important?

Exercises that Complement Aging Well

A tandem requirement to increasing our protein consumption is the need for weight bearing exercise, resistance or weight training. Progressively increasing the amount of weight used in weight training builds muscle mass. We lose a percentage every decade over 40. The exciting news is that we are never too old to begin weight training. Studies done with centenarians prove that they we are able to build back muscle mass even using light weights.

Although cardio is essential, resistance training is even more critical. We are told, as we age, that we need to walk, expecting the need for a slower pace. But whoever tells us that walking is simply not enough? Who is advising us that without strength training we will lose muscle mass, we will slow down, and we will be at risk for falls and breaks?

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The Dangers of Sugar

By now everyone should know about the dangers of sugar in all its forms. Food manufacturers realize that most people trying to eat healthy are avoiding it. Packaging now often displays labels such as “no sugar added,” or “all natural” or “nonfat.” These labels should serve as a warning to us to check the ingredients. Often, we find artificial forms of sugar and just about anything can be labeled “natural.” All packaged foods contain ingredients to be worried about. They’re designed to taste good while not being health-friendly. These packaged “nonfoods” can cause accelerated aging.

If we eat as we did as teenagers, neglect some of the recommendations of researchers, and especially skip any weight training as part of our exercise regime, we can’t expect the years ahead to go well.

What Choice Will You Make?

The choice is yours. So, what will it be? If you have never implemented any of the recommendations noted in this article, the question becomes where to begin? Trying to change everything at once just won’t work. So, I recommend picking one thing to change. Master it and then move on to the next.

You’ll need a health coach online or in person. If that’s not an option, you can find a holistic doctor who will provide support sessions for nutrition and exercise. Or, you can start with free online support such as closed Facebook groups where members support one another. The same goes for finding a friend that wants the same goals. Then, you can support each other.

The bottom line? When it comes to making a commitment to aging well, there are endless ways to get the support needed to make lifestyle changes before it’s too late. That said, this is your life we’re talking about. There’s no time to delay. Contact me to find out more about how I can help you jumpstart a fitness and nutrition regimen that will help safeguard you against the aging process.