In a perfect world, we would never grow old and we will stay young forever with perfect health. But in reality, our body starts to break down as we grow older. Our immune system becomes slower to respond and the risk of contracting a disease increases.
But it is important to keep in mind that there are some factors we can and can’t control in regards to health risks if you’re over 50.
Some of the factors that you can’t control are:
- Genetics – an abnormality in your genetic makeup can strongly influence the risk of you contracting the same disease from your family members in your genetic line.
- Age – as mentioned earlier, our body starts to deteriorate as we get older. Our immune system starts to respond slower thus putting us more at health risks.
Those factors are beyond our control and there is nothing much we can do about it no matter how much we try to avoid it.
But the only factor we can control to lower health is our LIFESTYLE. And having an unhealthy lifestyle will increase your chances of health risks.
Here are some things you can do to help contribute to living a healthy lifestyle:
Balanced Diet
Some people associate a diet with surviving on eating vegetables all day. But that is far from it. Healthline defines a Balance Diet as “one that gives your body the nutrients it needs to function correctly.”
You get those nutrients from the following foods:
- Fresh fruits
- Fresh vegetables
- Whole grains
- Legumes
- Nuts
- Lean proteins
Portion control is also important in a balanced diet. If you feed your body the proper nutrients it needs to function, your immune system is strengthened and thus reducing the chances of health risks.
Get Exercise
Exercising is an excellent way to get in shape and stay fit. There are various forms of exercise so pick one that you think you can stick to long-term.
Exercising helps your body in the following ways:
- Burn Fat
- Improve your mood
- Have a better sleep
- Boost energy
But in addition to those benefits, exercising helps reduce health risks. When you combine a balanced diet with regular exercise, you can be sure to look and feel great even in your 50s.
Remove Unhealthy Habits
Unhealthy habits contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle. What you put in your body will show in your appearance. Here are some examples of unhealthy habits:
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Smoking
- Sleeping late
- Consuming too much salt and sugar
- Drugs and other substances
Completely removing those bad habits out of your life will benefit you in the long term. In turn, you will age better if you remove unhealthy habits, exercise regularly, and have a balanced diet.
Can I Really Lower Health Risks by doing that?
Of course, you can. Your body is a temple and you should treat your body as something sacred. Age and genetics are something that is beyond our control, but we can control our lifestyle.
When you live a healthy lifestyle it allows you to enjoy a longer and much healthier life.