National Senior Health & Fitness Day

Today is National Senior Health & Fitness Day! You may or may not have known about this unofficial holiday, but we think this is important for our patients, and the general public, to be aware of. Whether you are an older adult or part of the sandwich generation, taking care of kids in the home and your older adult parents, it’s important that everyone has the opportunity to age gracefully. While there isn’t a magic trick or fountain of youth that is a one-stop shop for each of us, there are plenty of activities and daily health decisions we can make that will ensure we are as healthy as we can be as we age. Even your eyes are effected by your health and fitness so it’s important for every aspect of your life that you have healthy practices.

On National Senior Health & Fitness Day, over 100,000 senior adults participate in over 1,000 events throughout the US! The goal is to ensure that older adults have a focus on being active and making healthy choices.

We asked our own Dr. Orlando what his perspective is on National Senior Health & Fitness Day and if he had any suggestions on living a healthy lifestyle. This is what he had to say:

“No matter our age, it is important to follow proper nutrition and maintain a level of fitness to prevent disease. Something as simple as walking for a half hour will help reduce blood sugar levels, increase muscle tone and maintain strength in our bones. Even if it is winter, we can drive to an indoor mall and walk in the hallways. Swimming is also an excellent form of low impact exercise and most local communities have a discounted membership for those of us over 60. They also have multiple classes on stretching and flexibility, low impact aerobics and other activities to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Fresh fruit and vegetables are vital to a healthy digestive system and avoiding processed foods and those containing high amounts of sugar and sodium should be avoided. It is easier than ever to see what additives are in the foods we eat so become a label reader and learn what is in the things you put in your body.”

So, like we’ve always heard, an apple a day may keep the doctor away. But you’d have better chance if you took a walk around the orchard first!

We encourage everyone to be active and healthy. We only have one life, so live it to the fullest! You can check out some additional tips below on healthy living for older adults!

Click here for Fitness Tips for Older Adults

Click here for Health Eating Tips for Older Adults