DR MARTHA NESSLER: What if you lived to be 100? Recent statistics show that there is a strong possibility that the average American will in fact live to be 100 or older so what steps are you taking to be the healthiest you can be? Let me give you some suggestions to create a game plan that moves you towards wellness, which includes exercise, nutrition, positive thought, and preventative steps
Move, move, and move! Movement is life. There are varying levels at which you can exercise: light, moderate, or intense.
You need to pick a category that best fits your lifestyle and coincides with your current level of health, being sure not to over do it! Also, earlier in life more recommended forms of exercise are running, weightlifting, and cardio.
Later in life it is recommended that individuals choose less weight, swimming, biking, water aerobics, and exercises with overall less impact. Remember to always consult your physician before starting any exercise program and obtain guidance on which routine best serves you and your health. Longevity is achievable when you get your body moving!
Nutrition is a very important part of your overall wellness! Remember you are what you eat and food is fuel. Having said that a well-balanced diet includes fruits & vegetables, protein, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and healthy fats.
Remember that color is important:
The richer the color the more beneficial to your health!
It's also important to remember to drink plenty of water because dehydration can lead to injury. A good rule of thumb is take your body weight and divide it in half and then convert that number to ounces; and that is how much water you should drink a day (ex 150lb/2 = 75lbs à 75 oz a day). Plenty of water also rids the body of toxins and waste. It's a win-win all around!
Stress takes its toll on the body! Research shows that people who are more affected by stress are more likely to get Alzheimer's or other mental declines. Also, stress leads to sickness and fatigue. It's important that realize that stress is not what happens to you but how we handle what happens. There are many techniques that individuals can use to help eliminate stress: meditation, yoga, prayer, journaling, walking, exercise, or just being still. Realize that when something happens that upsets you that you can't control what happened but you can control how you handle it!
Last but not least and surely very important is regular screenings! Regular screenings are important so you know where your health stands. A wellness checkup at your doctor will help you to know how balanced all your systems in your body are and to confirm they are all working in accordance. Most importantly don't forget to get your nervous system checked by your chiropractor! The nervous system is the first system to form and controls every system in the body; keeping your nervous system in tune just makes sense. Your chiropractor can also speak with you about chiropractic care to help you stay active. Chiropractic maintains joint integrity and a healthy joint is a happy joint! Also, when your joints are functioning 100 percent and pain free it is much easier to stay active!
If you implement the above you will be on your way to achieving your next level of health! A recent Discover magazine article says that a child born today can live to be 150 years and is backed by other researchers who say that there is no age cap that needs to be set. Having said that it's important that we realize we could and may live to 100+ and live our lifestyle according to that standard. I always say, "When I'm 100 I want to be healthy, rich in life's blessings, and happy! Not crippled, broke, and alone!" Who is with me!!
Dr. Martha Nessler is a chiropractor for Optimal Chiropractic. For more information go www.yourbestwellness.com.
