Staying healthy over fifty!

Health living is something I'm passionate about. I also turned 52 this year! As you age it becomes even more important to look after yourself if you want to stay active, healthy and injury free!

Here are some easy tips to incorporate into your daily routine!

Eat Healthy Fats - fats from dairy and red meat are bad for your heart and your memory! Instead make sure most of your fat intake comes from plants (such as avocado, flax seeds and nuts) or fish.

Protect Your Joints! There's no need to give up running or other sports - focus on strengthening your joints - Pilates and Yoga are ideal ways to do this!

Keep Learning! New experiences will build new pathways in your brain, keeping your mind healthy as you age. They'll also expand your options for finding excitement and happiness. I love learning new things but games like Scrabble and Soduko are great too!

Cut down on salt Is your blood pressure higher than it used to be? That's not unusual. It tends to rise as we get older. The worst sources of salt are premade and packaged foods so try to eat healthy, home made meals instead. Did you know that if you eat a banana -- the potassium will lessen the effect of sodium in your diet and may lower your blood pressure!

Track Yourself There are lots of smart watches and wearable fitness trackers available which allow you to get a fuller picture of your health. Try logging the food you eat onto a smartphone app, or use gadgets like a home blood pressure monitor. I love how the Apple Watch encourages you to move and exercise every day - it definitely motivates me!

Make a New Start It's never too late to start! I have no doubt that I'm healthier now than 10 years ago. I exercise regularly and eat a plant based diet. No matter what age you start to make improvements to your health you will still reap the benefits. By exercising or moving your body more and eating a more plant based diet you can quickly lower your risk of heart problems, cancer, and bone fractures.

Make Smarter Food Choices It's true - your metabaolism does slow down as you get older - but don't use that as an excuse for those extra pounds!! Think about eating nutrient dense calories from dark leafy greens and colorful fruits and vegetables. and cut down on empty calories from sugary drinks and sweets.

Stay on Balance Having good balance is one of the best ways to prevent a fall -- and potentially serious injuries. Practicing Pilates or yoga are both great ways to improve balance as they target your core, stabilizing muscles, making them stronger and making you less likely to fall!

Build Strength Aerobic exercise is important, but don't forget to build your muscles, too. As you get older your muscles degenerate if they're not used - so put them to work! You don't have to lift heavy weights to get the benefit. It's especially important for women to help prevent osteoporosis. I have recently added a strength routine to my workouts and love how it makes me feel!

Get Social Spending more time with friends or family can help your brain stay sharp! Volunteering is also a great activity and is linked with a lower risk of heart disease and a longer life. But don't wait until you retire to start! Studies show that the earlier you begin, the less likely you are to have health problems later.

Sleep Sounder Sometimes easier said than done! You've all heard the rule - 7-8 hours sleep and you're golden! But as you age you might be able to function on 5-6 hours and that's ok too! But Insomnia isn't a normal part of getting older - so please seek out help from your doctor if insomnia is affecting you. Other things you can do to promote good sleep are to exercise more, drink less alcohol, keep your room cool and stay away from screens about an hour before bed.

Enjoy the Rewards of Age It's not a bad thing to be getting older. I'm a great believer in embracing your age. I loved turning 52! I no longer worry as much about what other people think, I'm more confident and happy. You can't turn back time (sorry Cher!) so enjoy it!