It doesn’t really matter how old you are, it’s so important that you are doing all that you can to take care of your body and prevent yourself from becoming unwell. You deserve to feel your very best self, and the best way that you can do that is to know how to prevent yourself from being unwell. Your mind and body are important and maintaining these into your old age is going to help you to feel your absolute best. 

When you’re in your senior years, everything from learning to maintain your dentures to ensuring that you have regular eye tests really matter to keep you feeling well. The slightest flu or common cold can knock you for six, and your body isn’t as resilient to the difficulties of the world as it used to be. Taking good care of yourself is just good sense! Below, we’ve put together some of the healthy choices that you can make to strengthen your body and your mind, and reduce the chances of you getting sick.

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First, keep on moving. Movement is so crucial in your senior years that it’s going to be even more important now than ever that you keep exercising. Even when your body doesn’t allow you as much movement as it used to, you need to keep pressing on – walking, Tai Chi and small movements will all really help you to keep your heart rate up and your body feeling good.

Second, add some supplements. The best thing to do here is to speak with your doctor. Supplements can help an immune system become much healthier, but only if you take the right ones. You should choose supplements that support your bones, muscles and your skin where possible.

Third, choose a healthy diet. By ensuring that your diet is full of fruits, vegetables and lean meats, you are giving your insides a chance to be as healthy as your outsides. Choosing healthy foods means choosing foods that protect against harmful viruses, bacteria and germs that can cause illness. You should work to reduce the consumption of foods that are unhealthy for your teeth, such as sugary sweets. If you enjoy drinking alcohol, limiting it to a glass of wine a day is vital for your continued health.

Fourth, remember, wash your hands. Before and after meals and whenever you get them dirty, wash your hands. Regular washing can help you to stay healthy as you don’t move more bacteria into your mouth and nose when you touch your face. Keep a small bottle of antibacterial sanitizer with you at all times, too.

Fifth, manage your stress well. One of the fastest ways to help yourself to live a healthy life is to lower your stress levels. The best way to do this? Plenty of sleep and relaxing! You want to reduce how much cortisol is produced by the body as too much of it can be disruptive to your bodily functions and immune system.

Sixth, sleep. Expanding from the previous point, sleep is vital for your health. This is the part where your body recharges its batteries and it’s going to feel so much better for you to sleep than it is anything else. The right amount of sleep will ensure that you feel refreshed and ready for the day! 

Seventh, speak to your doctor. There are steps that you can take to prevent infections and these are things that you can discuss with your doctor. You are much better off getting your annual vaccinations, for flu season especially! You could also work on staying on top of your annual physicals to ensure that you are in tip top shape. The flu season can be crippling if you are over 65 and your doctor will be able to advise you of your level of risk.

Eighth, if in doubt, shout. If something feels wrong in your body, you are going to do better if you speak up. If you’re forgetting things or you are losing your sight, seeing the appropriate healthcare professional is the smart thing to do. Symptoms of illness can only be helped if you are speaking to professionals about it and getting the right care.

You deserve to live a long, healthy and comfortable life and it’s so much easier to do that when you’re taking better care of yourself. Now that you know all of the things that you could be doing, look at how you can improve and live a healthier, happier life in your senior years.