Are you part of the “baby boomer” generation? According to Australian author Bernard Salt, you’re a “boomer” if you’re currently between the ages of 49 and 64. He placed the Australian baby boom between 1946 and 1961 in his book “The Big Shift South,” and the Australian Bureau of Statistics agrees with him. More than four million Australians were born during that period.
If you’re in your fifties and sixties, you are likely beginning to notice the negative effects of aging on your body and mind. You are not alone. While the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that 85 percent of baby boomers completing the National Health Survey considered themselves to be in good to excellent health in 2001, over 90 percent reported having one or more long-term health conditions. These conditions included arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure among others.
The National Health Survey also showed an increase in depression and anxiety related health issues amongst those in the boomer generation. In fact, the prevalence of mental problems increased 13% between 1995 to 2005 in the 45 to 54 year age groups.
If you’re thinking “I’m just getting older and there’s nothing I can do about it,” you are wrong. Aging gracefully does not have to mean slowly descending the slippery slope of failing health. While a 2008 study of aging Japanese gentlemen conducted by the Pacific Health Research Institute and Kuakini Medical Center determined that there could be a genetic link to longevity, a 1998 study conducted by Swedish scientists found the genetic link to be minimal. In fact, they stated genetics’ role in longevity is only 20 to 30 percent. The other 70 to 80 percent depend upon lifestyle.
Those who live healthy live longer. Numerous medical studies have suggested that regular consumption of a variety of healthy foods is associated with longevity and reduced risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Diets containing less healthy foods (including loads of red meat, refined carbohydrates, sugars and saturated fats) have been shown to result in a higher incidence of disease and decreased longevity.
Risks for disease and disability as you age also increase with inadequate physical activity. Regular cardiovascular exercise has many benefits, including maintenance of bone density, increased endurance and strength, increased flexibility, better cardiovascular health, lower body weight, reduced stress and more.
It’s never too late to begin living a healthier lifestyle. Even if you’ve spent most of your adult years with your backside attached to the couch, bathing your digestive system in saturated fats and processed foods, your only exercise the trek from the living room to the refrigerator. Eating right, exercising and reducing your stress level can add years to your life, not to mention enable you to enjoy it more.
Are you ready to begin living healthier and increase your longevity? If you want to be one of the baby boomers who enjoy life for more than a century, we can help. At Holistic Health Concepts, your optimum health and well being is our focus. We’ll tailor a wellness programme to meet your individual needs and provide coaching and support to help you make long-term lifestyle changes. From corrective exercise and personal training to holistic health coaching and whole food cooking classes, our services can help you to ensure that your golden years are the best years of your life.
