Aging gracefully means visualizing good health and taking steps to get there. Callie Jones, a staff writer for the Journal-Advocate, covered a presentation by Paulette Carpenter, a nurse practitioner, offering suggestions on healthy aging—from mental stimulation, exercise and nutrition, including the use of dietary supplements. Carpenter noted, “Nutrition definitely is key to health.”
A first step, she advised, is consuming a diet to avoid excess inflammation, which can lead to issues such as arthritis and heart disease. Fruits and vegetables, whole grains, green tea, hemp, walnuts and omega-3 fats from fish and flaxseed were among Carpenter’s top choices. For example, eat fish up to four times a week, and consume two to four tablespoons of flax seed daily.
Carpenter also recommended several dietary supplements, including long-chain omega-3 fatty acids for those who don’t get enough in the diet, as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) support brain health. Other nutrients to consider are magnesium, probiotics, vitamin D, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and adaptogenic herbs such as Holy Basil and Ashwaghanda.
In addition, Carpenter emphasized the importance of social networking and keeping mentally active to avoid age-related declines in memory and cognitive performance. Also on the radar for a healthy mind is meditation to strengthen spirituality and wisdom; being grateful for the channels of good in life; and laughter, an important stress reliever that even stimulates the immune system.