**Simple Strategies to Keep Your Mind and Body Young, guest post by Dana Brown of Health Conditions | dana@healthconditions.info **
According to AgingCare, several important factors can cause us to look and feel older than we’d like — including a lifestyle that lacks exercise, mental stimulation, nutritious foods, and calming, stress-relieving activities such as yoga and meditation.
However, there are some simple strategies that can be incorporated into our everyday routines in an effort to slow the aging process and keep our minds and bodies as healthy as possible. Check out these tips from Shelley M. White — herbalist, nutritionist, yoga instructor, and author — to learn all about them!
Treat Aches and Pains
Most of us experience aches and pains from time to time, but there are some steps we can take to protect our bodies and fight the pain of aging. By practicing yoga, for instance, we can alleviate muscle soreness.
Yoga helps relieve back, neck, and joint pain; and other discomfort and pain caused by conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. Furthermore, according to Harvard Health Publishing, practicing yoga for just 10 to 20 minutes several times a week can help us to reap these pain-relieving benefits.
In addition to yoga, inversion tables can help to soothe sore muscles, relieve back pain, and realign the joints. Some tables can even be used for massage and heat therapy, while others are more basic.
Before purchasing a table of your own, however, be sure to take customer reviews, height and weight limits, and product stability, durability, and warranty into account.
Moreover, certain exercises like walking, swimming, deep breathing, and strength training can reduce chronic pain and keep your body physically fit. Plus, regular exercise will help boost your overall health and wellness and slow the aging process — even if you don’t start exercising until later in life.
“regular exercise will help boost your overall health and wellness and slow the aging process — even if you don’t start exercising until later in life.” #fitness #healthyliving
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Train Your Brain
Yoga, inversion therapy, and regular physical activity are all great for the mind and body, but it’s also important to stimulate your brain with games, puzzles, and memory-boosting activities to prevent cognitive decline. Brain aging begins a lot earlier than you’d expect, and it’s important to care for your brain long before your cognitive abilities start to decline. Some ways to do it include the following:
- Using mobile apps like Lumosity, CogniFit Brain Fitness, and Personal Zen
- Completing crosswords, Sudoku puzzles, and jigsaw puzzles
- Playing board games such as Azul, Splendor, Catan, and Ticket to Ride
- Learning a new skill or hobby, like knitting or painting
Furthermore, regular meditation sessions can help keep the brain young and healthy while also alleviating stress and anxiety. To get started with meditation, try downloading a mobile app such as Headspace, Calm, Insight Timer, or Aura or search for guided meditations on YouTube.
Fight Inflammation
Chronic inflammation in the body is dangerous for a number of reasons, largely because it’s been linked to cognitive decline, pain and discomfort, and certain diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and rheumatoid arthritis.
However, you can fight inflammation and keep the mind and body young by consuming a variety of anti-inflammatory foods such as blueberries, strawberries, spinach, kale, salmon, sardines, and olive oil. Additionally, it’s best to avoid inflammatory foods as best as possible — including processed meats, refined carbohydrates (such as white rice, pasta, and pastries), sodas, and excess alcohol.
The Bottom Line
Aging is a natural part of life, but what isn’t normal is feeling older than you really are. And to keep your mind and body young for as long as possible, it’s important to reduce aches and pains with yoga, exercise, and inversion therapy; train your brain with games, puzzles, and guided meditations; and consume an anti-inflammatory diet that’s filled with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Even if you don’t notice any immediate changes or improvements in how you look or feel, your mind and body will thank you in five, 10, or even 15 years’ time.
Are you ready to look and feel your best, no matter your age? Contact Shelley M. White to learn how to embrace your body’s innate healing mechanisms for a happier, healthier life.
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