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Secrets On How To Keep Looking Young And Fabulous Print E-mail
Importance of Physical FitnessBeing physically active and eating well may help you stay fit, younger looking and feel fabulous over the years.







If you are overweight or inactive, you may have a higher risk for:
  • Type 2 diabetes (high blood sugar)
  • High blood pressure
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Certain forms of cancer

No matter what your age, you may be able to improve your health if you move more and eat better!

Being physically active and making smart food choices is good for your health. In addition to improving your physical health, moving more and eating better may also help manage health problems like arthritis, osteoporosis (bone loss), and coronary heart disease.


In This Article:

Additional benefits for staying physically active
Easy and fun ways to help you stay physically active
Simple ideas for eating well


Additional benefits for staying physically active include:
  • Give you more energy.
  • Reduce stress.
  • Help you feel better about yourself.
  • Relieve boredom or depression.
  • Keep your body flexible.
  • Keep your bones and muscles strong.
  • Keep your heart and lungs healthy.
  • Control high blood sugar, especially if you lose weight.
  • Let you keep living in your own home without help.

Here are simple and fun ways to help you stay physically active:
  1. Walk your dog or meet up with a neighbor to walk together.
  2. Take an exercise class with a friend or a group. This way, you can cheer each other on, have company, and feel safer when you are outdoors.
  3. Start a small garden in your yard or in a community garden.
  4. Try to break physical activity into short blocks of time. Taking three 10-minute walks during your day may be easier than taking one 30-minute walk.
  5. Be active with your grandchildren. Take a walk, toss a softball, or ride bikes.
  6. If you are not comfortable being active outdoors because of safety concerns, consider joining your local recreation or fitness center or going to a relative’s neighborhood to walk.

Eating healthy is just as important as being physically active. It will not only help you keep younger looking but it will definitely help keep you fit and fabulous.

To eat better, try to consume plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products, and lean meat, poultry, and fish. Also, try to limit the amount of fat, sugar, and salt you eat.


Here are simple ideas for eating well:
  1. Start every day with breakfast. Try oatmeal, a whole-grain cereal like raisin bran with fat-free or low-fat milk, whole-wheat toast spread with jam, or fat-free or low-fat yogurt. Enjoy some fruit with your breakfast too.
  2. Try kidney or butter beans in hot dishes, on salads, or plain. Protein is important to your health as you age. Beans are loaded with protein and cost less than meat.
  3. Choose fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese instead of full-fat dairy products.
  4. Choose whole-grain foods like whole-wheat bread, oatmeal, brown rice, and whole-wheat pasta more often than refined-grain foods like white bread, white rice, and white pasta. Whole-grain foods offer dietary fiber, which helps keep you regular.
  5. Do not let sweets like cookies, candy, or soda crowd out healthy foods.

Keep in mind that it is never too late to be physically active. If you are over age 50 or have chronic health problems such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, or obesity, talk to your health care provider before starting a vigorous physical activity program.

Remember to set goals. It is important to do this and move at your own pace to reach them. Your family and friends can be great sources of motivation and support as you adopt a healthier lifestyle. Ask them to join you in healthy eating and physical activity, as it is important for them, too! By making healthy choices together, it may be easier to eat right and be active. No matter what, keep trying, you can do it!


To get more tips on how to stay healthy and fit, read these related articles:

Improving Your Eating Habit
Tips To Healthier Eating Habits
Secrets To A Longer Healthier And Happier Life
Lifestyle Changes To Improve Your Health
Behaviors To Promote Health Aging
Keeping Your Skin Healthy And Young
Exercise For A Healthy Lifestyle

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