Turning 50 is a huge milestone for a lot of women. It can cause women to feel at a crossroads in terms of their lifestyle choices and how to feel when it comes to their health. Many women find that their bodies simply aren’t as resilient as they used to be or feel as though they’re slowing down compared to their younger years.
Turning 50 is a time for self-reflection and, upon realisation, that they don’t feel as active or energised as they used to, many women take it upon themselves to do something about it. One of the most common changes women make is to their lifestyle and, more specifically, their health. It’s always good to recognise and make changes with a focus on your health, especially as you get older, so with that in mind, here are 3 healthy lifestyle tips for women over 50.
Eat Heart-Healthy Foods
A lot of women are aware of the risks that getting older can bring, but what a lot of women don’t realise is that heart disease is actually a much bigger problem for women over 50 than cancer. After starting the menopause, your risk of developing heart disease increases, so it’s important that you do as much as you can to protect your heart health, such as eating heart-healthy foods.
Broccoli, apples, kale, blueberries, sweet potatoes and leafy greens are all good sources of vitamins and minerals you need to keep your heart healthy, but you can further support your heart health with additional vitamins, such as vitamins with B12 and omega-3, and ensuring you eat the recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day.
Daily Exercise
Aiming to do around 30 minutes of exercise per day is one of the best things you can do when it comes to your heart health. Not only does it help to improve circulation and create muscle tone, but it has follow on effects on your mood, energy levels and sleep quality. A lot of adults over 50 have some issues with their sleep, but what many don’t realise is that it is often the result of not doing enough physical activity during the day to tire out their brains and body.
If you haven’t done exercise for some time, start off slow and build your way up to more physical activity. Just taking a brisk morning walk is enough to keep your heart healthy in the long run, but exercises such as swimming and cycling are great too! If you’re starting to exercise again after an extended period of time, be sure to support your body with plenty of water and the right types of vitamins and nutrients, such as magnesium supplements, which support your muscle and nerve function.
Stay Hydrated
Around 13% of women are dehydrated and if you’re not drinking enough, this could be causing symptoms such as headaches, tiredness and fatigue and weight gain, which are also symptoms that a lot of women put down to getting older. Drinking plenty of water and keeping hydrated when you’re over 50 has lots of added benefits, such as helping to promote cell production and health, aiding with circulation and digestion and lubricating joints. Water also helps to flush out any excess toxins from the body and aid digestion.