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Age seems to be dreaded. It’s a terrifically terrifying thought for some. Yet with age we can actually reach the stage of acquired experience to be more broad and comprehensive. The narrow simplistic impatient view is dismissed. Our bodies may not look as youthful yet we often reflect how we feel. Feeling young and energetic will enable you to look better. To enable us to feel energetic we need to look after our health. As we reach a certain older age and feel older, our bodies alter in ways that are just part of natural ageing. Absorption of nutrients becomes less efficient and then we may neglect adequate eating due to care-less attitudes or difficulty in eating. Taking supplements helps out but can never replace a healthier dietary intake. Losing muscle tissue is easy but replacing it is harder as we age. When we’re smaller children there’s favouritism of tissue build-up. As we age that favouritism dwindles. It’s not the end of the world, just a matter of taking our changes into consideration and applying the correct lifestyle. Living to a greater age has much to do with our genetics and lifestyles. Being mentally tense and stressed literally does stress our body, which ages quicker. Although we may have less power on genetics than lifestyles, it’s still worth the effort to watch your lifestyle. Lifestyles have a major ability to give the experience of better or worse lives. Living a happy active life requires attention on employing certain attitudes. Have a positive attitude, be less rigid but still firm and care about your life. Being too rigid is often seen in the elderly arthritic sufferers. Certain Asian schools of medicine have linked rigidity to arthritis. A ‘party jumper’ may be enjoying a less healthy diet while drinking and smoking with seemingly impunity! That precise person’s better genes and mental positive outlook are probably highly favourable. South Africa’s renowned former president, Mr Nelson Mandela, had a hard life and yet he still is able to attend functions with vast travelling but he is probably taking guard on his health. Genetics can affect mental outlooks (children of anxious parents are more likely to develop anxiety). In addition it has been shown that anxiety feeds on anxiety (place people in a congregated place and as fear erupts it’s hard to not feel the fear and stress as well, regardless of how unfounded). We are affected by the ambient emotions of our times. Taking recognition of one’s preponderance to be more anxious, stressed or tense gives one the chance to apply techniques to gain a more balancing state. Going into a room full of fearful people is likely to push up the adrenaline and alert mode; it’s natural to share in the fearful atmosphere. Thankfully if we can become fearful and tense we can reverse that feeling. When it comes to our body’s it is worth investing early. Ensure you’re not going to be deficient in nutrients by taking supplements and eating healthily. Deficiency of vitamin B12 will lead to slight loss of balance; then if not corrected symptoms progress to senility, according to research and studies. To reverse this, at an advanced stage on brain functionality is not possible. The elderly often are susceptible to vitamin B12 deficiency, among others, as they have reduced absorption and possibly tend to eat less nutritious foods. Having a diet that supplies ample antioxidants prevents the speed of ageing! We know the sun ages the skin. The free radicals from the UV rays accelerate ageing. The best policy is to avoid excess free radicals and stock up on your counter defences with antioxidants. Antioxidants are imperative in the right to keep us healthy. Fresh plant foods and supplements are the bearers of antioxidants and other substances to protect our health. When we have health life is easier to participate in. Then who we are around also has its effects on our enjoyment of life. Grandparents near grandchildren are often happier. Each scenario is different but children’s enthusiasm and zest spurs on a lighter atmosphere of simple happiness. A sunny home with love and care should be the home for all of us, especially when we feel doom and gloom due to age. Feeling unappreciated and useless are probably the worst feelings among the elderly and that’s on top of the aches and pains being felt in a frail body daily. Expressing love and friendship through food is a cross-cultural act. Just as anyone needs a diet within a supportive uniquely adapted healthy lifestyle, the same applies regardless of age. You may be a centurion! You still need to care about your health. Anastacia Sampson |