More people
are living longer than ever before, which is good, but with these
added years, the chance of experiencing health problems becomes
more likely.
In this respect health is like financial investment, since what
can go up can of course go down too. However, with regard to your
health you have more opportunity to influence how rich your future
will be.
Whatever your age, there are a few basics that should be part of
your routine - eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, drink alcohol
only within safe recommended amounts, watch your weight, and
control stress. No matter what your age, keep active in whatever
way you feel comfortable and enjoy, whether this is walking the dog
or marathon running. At each stage of life, particular health
problems are more likely to arise and need additional attention and
this is where specific supplements can lend a hand.
Life begins at forty
In your forties, certain health conditions may already be
pre-paring to change your life and not necessarily for the better.
Take heart disease, for example. The damage to the arteries may
already have begun but this doesn’t mean there’s
nothing you can do to avoid becoming one of the thousands in the UK
who suffer an attack each year. Regular exercise will keep the
heart healthy whether you swim, work out at the gym, or do an
aerobics class. In addition to a low-fat, low-sugar, and low-salt
diet, supplements that can help to keep the heart, circulation, and
blood pressure healthy include essential fatty acids, omega 3, cod
liver oil, antioxidant vitamins C and E, co-enzyme Q10, garlic and
pycnogenol.
The mid-life crisis can affect men and women. The realisation that
those younger days have now gone for good, the fact that children
may have already, or are preparing to leave home can cause untold
stress. It’s at times like these that relaxation is vitally
important if stress is to be kept at bay. Camomile, lavender,
valerian, hops and lemon balm are all good stress relievers, as is
any form of exercise since this will release endorphins, the
body’s own natural feel-good chemicals.
From our thirties onwards, more bone cells are lost than are
replaced. In time this means that bones may thin, and brittle-bone
disease (osteoporosis) may result in painful fractures for men or
women. Now is the time to ensure that the body gets enough calcium
and vitamin D. Magnesium is also needed for healthy bones.
Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking and jogging, are
what’s needed to help keep the bones strong.
Halfway to receiving a birthday card from the
Queen
It’s in their 50s that many people first notice that their
joints are not as flexible as they used to be. Swimming is an
excellent exercise for strengthening them since unlike running, it
doesn’t place pressure on the joints. For good joint health
cod liver oil, glucosamine and chondroitin and MSM can be
beneficial. For relief of joint pain, then ginger, devil’s
claw or green-lipped mussel all have a natural anti-inflammatory
action.
By this stage of life, on the scale of food and exercise,
it’s the former that is usually tipping the balance. If you
are to avoid becoming overweight with its associated health
problems, such as diabetes and osteoarthritis, it’s important
to keep active. You may still be fit enough to play hockey or you
may prefer to take a brisk walk. It doesn’t really matter so
long as you follow the advice of a major sportswear manufacturer
and ‘just do it’.
The menopause is an inevitable stage of a woman’s life. Not
every one experiences the symptoms though, but when they do strike,
the distress caused can be minimised with black cohosh, soy
isoflavones and sage extract, which is particularly good for hot
flushes.
Another inevitability, for men this time, is that their prostate
gland will enlarge. Some are not troubled by this, whilst others
find that they spend more of their life in toilets than they should
do. It’s saw palmetto, lycopene, selenium and zinc that are
helpful here.
Swinging sixties
A common cause of premature disability and death is stroke.
Narrowing of the arteries is most often responsible, a process that
can be prevented by not smoking, keeping unhealthy saturated fats
to a minimum and following a healthy lifestyle with plenty of fruit
and vegetables, regular exercise and not too much salt. Essential
fatty acids (omega 3), cod liver oil, antioxidant vitamins C and E,
co-enzyme Q10, garlic and pycnogenol can help to keep the
circulation healthy.
Many people report being busier in retirement than ever before and
being more active too. It’s a time when you should be able to
do the things you’ve always wanted to. Being on the go all
the time may mean that the immune system becomes weakened and cough
and cold infections, rather than spending time with family and
friends, is what occupies your time. Zinc helps to keep the immune
system strong and when infection does strike then vitamin C
(available in a stomach-friendly form called ester-C) and Echinacea
can help to keep your days out of circulation to a minimum.
With all these things to do during retirement, is it any wonder
that a problem sleeping may rear its ugly head? More time on your
hands means more time to worry about things too and so it becomes a
vicious cycle. Practising good hygiene techniques such as going to
bed and getting up at the same can be really helpful. Valerian,
hops and lemon balm can also help ease that transition into
rewarding and refreshing sleep too.
Seventies and onwards
It’s important to remember that age is not a barrier to
keeping active; it’s more often poor physical and emotional
health that gets in the way. Calcium supplements are important to
maintain strong bones since falls and fractures become more likely
with advancing years and a person’s diet may not be providing
enough calcium at this time in life. Just as you may wish to take
things a bit slower, so does your gut at this stage. Constipation
is a common problem, eased by senna, for example. Activity, plenty
of liquid and fibre and a daily probiotic (friendly bacteria) can
help to keep the bowels moving regularly. Prebiotics promote the
growth of these friendly bacteria that our gut needs to function
properly and peppermint effectively relieves wind.
Many people become a bit forgetful during these years and as
they get older. For some it’s blood-vessel damage that is the
cause, for others it’s Alzheimer’s that is responsible.
The essential fatty acid DHA, ginkgo, and vitamin B complex can
improve brain function. Garlic can help to keep the circulation
healthy.
Sadly for us all, bereavement is something that during this
stage of life comes round with increasing frequency as loved ones
pass on. The loss of independence may also bring us down.
It’s here that gentle exercise and social contact are very
beneficial in helping to lift our spirits. St John’s Wort,
vitamin B6, and ginseng can also help so that exercising and
socialising are not seen as such a challenge.
As is done in radio adverts, read the following very quickly:
‘Remember that the quality of your health can go up as well
as down. The investments you make for your health depend on your
individual circumstances. Always consult your doctor if you are
unsure about which supplements to take or are already taking
prescribed medication.’
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