What do you think the most important part of happy retirement living is? The two most common answers will be a solid financial outlook and good health. There is no need to choose between the two, as they can work hand-in-hand to help you towards enjoyable retirement living.
Heading into retirement with your health intact actually requires more effort and planning than anything related to finances. As everyone ages, the risks of severe health problems like diabetes and heart disease continue to rise. This is why planning your retirement living has to mean much more than just storing money in IRAs and under your mattress. A great retirement living plan has to include exercising, eating smart, and taking all the necessary precautions to avoid illness or disease.
The Best Tips
So, what can you do to ensure that your retirement living years are spent feeling healthy and happy?
Be Mindful of Cholesterol Level: National experts suggest anyone over the age of 20 take a test to determine their cholesterol level, and this is even more important for those of advanced age who are entering retirement living years.
Stop Smoking: This is the best tip for people of any age, especially those who wish to enjoy their retirement living. Smoking causes damage to the heart, raises blood pressure, damages blood vessels, and promotes plaque buildup in the arteries.
Maintain Blood Sugar Levels: A blood sugar test should be taken every year. A high level can be a precursor for diabetes, which would seriously limit the enjoyment of your retirement living. Diabetes can also lead to high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and heart disease.
Maintain a Recommended Weight: A typical diet as you head into retirement living is one consisting of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and anything else considered high in fiber. Other recommended foods are yogurt (low-fat), turkey (white meat), bread (whole grain), baked fish, chicken, egg whites, beans, peas, brown rice and oatmeal. Fad diets should absolutely be avoided during retirement living.
Know Your BMI: Your BMI, or Body Mass Index is a combination of a person’s height and weight, and is crucial to keep track of as you enter retirement living. This number will tell you if you are healthy, underweight or overweight. A person whose BMI places them into the overweight category faces a much higher risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, as well as making them more susceptible to a stroke. Retirement living is much more enjoyable when your weight is in check.
Exercise in Moderation: It is important to get into shape as you enter a retirement living lifestyle, but be sure to take it easy on your body. Starting out the first day with a 3-mile run is a bad idea. Begin with a light walk for perhaps five minutes, then add a few minutes each day and work up to the 30 minutes per day threshold. Any exercise regimen undertook as part of retirement living should be thoroughly discussed with a physician before starting.
