Health and Wellness 50 Plus - How to Adopt the Holistic Approach of Prevention Over Cure
- support61700
- Feb 9
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 20
Once we reach fifty, our views on health and wellness often evolve due to metaphysical changes . We have a renewed quest to increase vitality and ultimately, longevity.
This is where the idea of prevention over cure shines through.
Understanding holistic wellness, which includes physical, mental, and emotional health, begins a pattern of self-care that ultimately leads to better overall health.
Holistic Wellness in brief
Holistic wellness combines a balanced blend of body, mind, and spirit. It focuses not just on being illness free, but on thriving through preventive actions, and healthy lifestyle choices. A holistic perspective and its benefits for health and wellness 50 plus, cannot be overlooked. The choices we make now will directly influence our future quality of life.
By utilising prevention-oriented strategies, we can cultivate a vibrant and active lifestyle post 50 by choosing holistic health and wellness products that focus on nutrition, fitness and relaxation.
Preventive Health Measures
Preventive health measures such as regular check-ups, screenings, and discussions with healthcare professionals are essential for spotting potential health issues before they escalate.
In addition keeping up to date with vaccines is also important; for example the Shingles vaccine is recommended for all adults over 65 and those over 50 with weakened immunity
(the Shingles vaccine can can reduce the risk of developing Shingles and or lessen the symptoms and complications, NHS UK).
Mental Health awareness and discussion is also crucial, with over half of adults aged 55 or over developing some form of depression or anxiety (AGE UK).
Implementing these preventive measures can ultimately lead to early disease detection and therefore increased longevity.
Nutritional Choices for Longevity
As we age, our bodies need different nutrients to maintain optimal functioning. Eating a well balanced diet is always the best choice,
Healthy nutritional choices are:
Colours: Incorporate a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables into your meals. A palm sized portion of at least 5 different fruits and vegetables per day can significantly lower your risk of chronic diseases. Research shows for example, that it is crucial to consume a variety of antioxidant-rich foods to maintain optimal health and prevent chronic disease.
Whole Grains: Whole grains help keep blood sugar steady and provide sustained energy. Options such as oats, quinoa and brown rice offer fibre and essential nutrients.
Healthy Fats: Support heart health and brain function. Include sources of Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, walnuts, and flaxseeds into your diet. For instance, studies suggest that eating fish at least twice a week lowers heart disease risk by up to 36%.
Adequate Hydration: Staying hydrated is essential for energy, digestion, and skin health. Aim for at least 8 cups of water daily, as dehydration can impair cognitive function and lead to fatigue.
Making informed choices about our diet significantly contributes to our overall well-being and longevity. However busy lifestyles, the increased cost of living, plus age related gastrointestinal issues, can make receiving the daily recommended amounts of nutrients difficult. Nutritional supplements can be used to bridge this gap.
As well as the above, age related hormonal issues including menopausal symptoms, prostate problems, bone and joint health, urinary and sexual health problems may all benefit from additional herbals and supplements. Population wide issues, for example, a lack of access to adequate daylight levels in the UK mean the UK Government recommends a daily supplement for all in the UK during the winter months, October to March. Studies show our Vitamin D levels can be up to half of those of a 20 year old by the time we are 70 making vitamin D supplementation even more important for this age group.
Physical Activity
As we age it is vital we undertake regular exercise to maintain muscle tone and strength, and mobility and balance, which in turn improves overall health. Chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers can all be improved by engaging in 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
Various physical activities can include:
Aerobic Exercises: Activities like walking, cycling, or swimming improve cardiovascular health. This can be difficult due to the British Weather, but there are alternatives, such as compact exercise equipment that can be used at home, and fitness trackers to ensure we reach our daily step count!
Strength Training: Adding weight or resistance training to your routine helps maintain bone density and muscle mass, which decrease as we age. Seen as traditionally male orientated, strength training is becoming increasingly popular for women over 50. According to the National Institute on Aging, engaging in strength training twice a week can decrease falls risk by 40%.
Flexibility and Balance: Practices like Yoga and Pilates offer benefits for body and mind. They improve flexibility and enhance balance, plus they can help promote mindfulness and calmness.
Staying active can help you to feel better, sleep better and therefore function better. It can help keep thinking sharp and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression as we age.
Stress Management
Attention to mental health is as important as physical health in terms of holistic prevention. One way to achieve this is by practising mindfulness which can greatly enhance emotional well-being.
Strategies that may help:
Meditation: Daily meditation, even for a few minutes, has been shown to significantly lower stress levels plus enhance mental clarity. The NHS Campaign Every Mind Matters has some great Meditation advice for beginners.
Deep Breathing Exercises: Practicing slow, deep breaths can reduce stress hormone levels, try to practice these for 5 minutes a day. Again, NHS UK online has some really easy to follow techniques that you can try at home.
Journaling: Writing down your thoughts and feelings can be a useful way to begin to address and process hidden emotions and negative thoughts. This can lead to reduced anxiety.
Social Connections: Strong relationships are vital for mental health. Strong Social Connections have even been linked to living longer!
The Holistic Wellness Journey
In summary, by the time we reach 50, our health begins to become more of a priority and we begin to seek out new ways of coping with the symptoms of aging. Holistic wellness is a conscious lifestyle choice that focuses on prevention over cure.
When we choose to adopt preventative health measures such as staying active, making wise nutrition choices and manging stress and pain holistically, it is important to remember that each element plays an essential role in our approach.
By embracing the power of prevention over cure as we age, we really can enhance our lives.
Use the text links above for further information and look out for the next article in this series focusing on holistic wellness and prevention over cure.
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