As men approach their early forties, many start to feel their age. Metabolism begins to slow, and we face a higher risk for more ailments and illnesses than we used to. Even old injuries from sports activities in college can flare up, and remind us that we are not as young as we once were.
In some cases, certain important parts of our bodies can even begin to underperform, leaving much to be desired by lovers and spouses in the bedroom. Luckily you can find offers online for free Cialis coupons and other medications that will give you back some of your youthful vigor, at least as far as your love life is concerned.
There are some steps you can take and some lifestyle adjustments that you can make to help you stay up to snuff as you age. Try to maintain a healthy, active and fulfilling lifestyle well into your forties and beyond, and you are sure to continue a healthy life.
Crunch the Numbers
Age 40 is a good time to look into your numbers for blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar and body weight.
When you visit your local pharmacy, take time to get your blood pressure measured on one of the machines, and visit your doctor to get a simple blood sugar test. Knowing these numbers and what they mean will help you and your doctor identify possible risk factors for disease.
Learn about Your Family’s Medical History
During your fifth decade, it’s time to look carefully at your family tree to find out if your genetics increase your risks for diseases such as cancer or heart disease. Learning about any history of disease in your family tree is an important factor to consider when looking ahead to the future.
It is also important to note that men over 40 are at an increased risk of suffering from cancers of the prostate and colon, and it is recommended that you see a doctor for regular prostate check-ups and colonoscopies, especially if your family has a history of cancer.
Get Up, Get Active
At age 40, we begin to lose muscle mass, our metabolism slows down, and we may begin to pack on a few pounds around the belly. While a “Dad-Bod,” as it is sometimes referred to, is not necessarily unhealthy, and can be corrected with proper exercise. If you don’t exercise, you may find that a few pounds can become a few dozen, and the older we get, the harder it can be to lose weight. Obesity can also put you at risk for other health issues like sleep-apnea and other serious conditions.
While weight lifting and jogging may be good options for some, these activities are usually high impact, and may not be as easy on our aging bones and joints. Some less strenuous alternatives you may consider are:
- Yoga and Acro Yoga
- Isometric Exercises
- Walking or Hiking
- Bicycling and Swimming
- Calisthenics
These are all great options to help you maintain your physique and healthy blood flow.
Maintain Proper Diet
Around the age of 40 when our metabolisms start to slow, it’s important to adjust our diets accordingly. By cutting back on fatty foods like red meat and pizza that we as men love so much and substituting more greens, we can help prevent high blood pressure and high cholesterol, as well as promote digestive health.
Our bodies aren’t really designed to digest a diet that is heavy in red meat and animal products. We are better equipped to handle a high fiber plant based diet. This has led some to adopt vegetarian and vegan diets because of the simple fact that bathroom visits can become a bit more difficult as we age. Any doctor will tell you that the right amount of fiber in our diets is essential to digestive health as we age.
Even if you choose not to become vegetarian, you should still consider replacing unhealthy options with healthier ones. Baked chicken with roasted vegetables are delicious alternative to greasy fried chicken and french fries. Instead of sugary snacks, fresh fruits and vegetables. Whatever may be the case, adjusting our diets is essential to maintaining a healthy body as we begin to find ourselves “over the hill.”
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to give up all of your favorite foods, but moderation should be practiced as with anything.
Drink More Water
Water is of major importance to all living things. Up to 60% of the human adult body is water. It is important to maintain proper hydration, as all of our bodies organs and systems need water to function properly. Lack of proper hydration can inhibit kidney and liver function, leading to a buildup of toxins in the body that could potentially cause life threatening illness.
Water is also critical to healthy circulatory function. The liquid portion of blood, known as plasma, is 92 percent water. This life giving serum constitutes 55 percent of blood volume so you can see why hydration is important when it comes to healthy blood flow.
Even your skin, which is your body’s largest organ can begin to show signs of dehydration in the form of dry flaky skin and even uneven skin tone. While most many men aren’t concerned with dry skin, drinking more water is recommended by many dermatologists as a way to keep your skin looking younger, longer.
It’s recommended that you drink about 64 fluid ounces, or about 8 glasses of water a day. If you drink a lot of coffee, smoke, or do anything else that could cause dehydration, you should drink a few more glasses than normal to compensate.
Healthy Mind, Healthy Body
All of these are very important keys to maintaining a healthy lifestyle after 40. Overall health isn’t just physical though. Mental, emotional and spiritual well-being are also very important to maintaining a healthy balance.
Whether it’s spending time with loved ones, relaxing at home, even prayer or meditation, leisure time and mindful activities are essential to maintaining a healthy mental state. While many people are waiting longer and longer to retire, it is important not to work too hard, or let yourself be bogged down by too many demands or obligations.
As we enter the autumn of our lives it is important now more than ever to think about ourselves, and put our best interests first. Mental health is critical to keeping up with our lifestyles, and taking time to make sure your needs are met fully is one of the best ways to promote healthy awareness of the physical changes in your body due to aging.
Conclusion
While these are not the only ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle after 40, they are a good place to start. What are some helpful habits that you have adopted as you make your way over the hill? Leave us a comment in the section below with your helpful advice.