Many of us think living to 100 would be amazing! It far exceeds the current life expectancy and you will even get a letter from the Queen!
How do we give ourselves the best shot at this? How do we also ensure we have a great quality of life as we age? Can we put years in our life AND life in our years?
Part 1: healthy eating
You have heard it before, "you are what you eat". Staying away from processed sugar, saturated fats and "fast food" will help you to create a balanced diet.
A balanced diet should include 2 fruit and 5 veg daily, as well as a combination of complex carbohydrates, proteins and nutrient-rish food sources.
Many of us will consume empty calories. That is, calories which add no value to our daily nutritional intake. These include soft drinks, sugary snacks and excessive coffee consumption (is there really such a thing?!).
Having a balanced diet allows you to better control your weight, decrease stress on your system to control sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol, and build an ideal environment for cell regeneration and creation.
Part 2: exercise and activity
Regular exercise has been proven to have a protective function on our health and body. Not only do we know that exercise protects us from pain and injuries, it also helps protects us from heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, metabolic disorders, high blood pressure and cholesterol, and all other causes of morbidity.
Regular exercise has been shown in study after study to extend life by improving cardiovascular endurance, bone density and overall fitness.
The World Health Organisation recommends 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise, or 75 mins of high intensity exercise, PLUS 2 strength sessions, per week.
Health professionals such as Physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and dietitians can assist your journey and help you clean up your diet and exercise habits.
Here at Drovers Elite Physio, we love to get you moving, keep you moving and parade the health benefits of it!
