Healthy Lifestyle Series: Healthy tips for active adults

May is Older Americans Month and it is the perfect time to start thinking about your health and the ways you can improve your overall well-being as you age.

U.S. residents generally are living longer, but more than 100 million adults — almost half the adult population — now have a chronic healthcondition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Such a staggering statistic might make you think illness is synonymous with aging, but growing old doesn’t have to bring disability and disease.

Here are some tips to help you stay healthier, stronger and happier in your golden years.

HAVE FUN WITH FOOD

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring.

Have fun with a new recipe that uses a different source of protein or find a way to incorporate fish or beans into an old favorite.

Remember, as you age, it’s important to eat a variety of foods to help your body get the necessary nutrients.

GET ACTIVE

Physical activity is safe for almost everyone, and the health benefits of physical activity far outweigh the risks.

Regular physical activity is one of the most important things older adults can do for their health.

For older adults who have chronic conditions that hinder their ability to be active on a regular basis, some physical activity is better than none.

And older adults who participate in any amount of physical activity gain some health benefits.

TWEAK YOUR ROUTINE  

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To get the recommended 30 minutes of daily physical activity, change your routine to 10-minute sessions throughout the day.

To increase your cardio vascular endurance, take the stairs instead of the elevator or park farther from the entrance to work.

Practice balancing on one leg while doing an everyday activity. This can improve your balance and may prevent a fall.

GET SOCIAL

Socialization is an important part of aging.

Take a walk with a friend or a neighbor, join a book club or volunteer at your local pet shelter.

Social interaction provides meaningful engagement, builds relationships, enhances a sense of belonging and provides opportunities for involvement, all resulting in greater bonds and a stronger sense of community.

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Healthy Smile Series: Start healthy habits now

When should you start teaching your children about the importance of physical fitness? When they are preschoolers? Before they are 10? When they become teenagers? No matter how old your children are, the answer is now. Now is the time to make sure your whole family exercises. 

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Physical exercise is important for everyone in your family. Health benefits include lower blood pressure, stronger bones and muscles, reduced risks of heart attack and an overall longer life. Exercise boosts energy levels, helps you sleep better and gives you more confidence.

The benefits of family exercise are not reserved for marathon runners. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise each day can greatly improve your family’s health. The key is creatively approaching how you and your kids get moving. Forget that “all or nothing” attitude. Break up the time into three 10-minute blocks. Focus on activities that get your heart rates above resting levels.

GET TOGETHER AND GET MOVING

A fun and easy way to stay healthy is spending quality time with your family. Exercising together encourages family members to hold each other accountable for fitness goals. 

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•Is your children’s school less than a mile away? Let them walk. If you have safety concerns, walk with them or find other families on your block to join you.

•Take a 15- to 30-minute fitness break when everyone gets home at the end of the day.

•Take a walk, jump rope, go sledding or skating or play an active Wii game.

•On family errands, park your car at the far end of the parking lot to get added steps.

•Walk or bike to the grocery store, bank or library when you can.

•Join your kids on the playground at the local park.

•Sign up for family fitness or aquatics classes. As you plan activities, get input from each family member. Simple events such as a hike on a snowy nature trail or an outing to a local gym’s family night not only get everyone moving, but also create memories you can share for a lifetime. 

Zumba for a Cause 

Don’t wait until the kids are older or the weather is warmer.

Get moving and get healthy today.
Reference: 
 Nicole Pratt Associate Childcare Director, Spartan Stores YMCA

Are you looking for a fun, outdoor, family event? Join our dental office for Zumba for a Cause with the Nylaan Dental Team. Zumba is an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party that's moving millions of people toward joy and health. 

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Healthy Smile Series: "X" marks the spot... Xylitol will lead you to the treasure of good dental health.

 "X" marks the spot... Xylitol will lead you to the treasure of good dental health.  

 

Dental Benefits of Xylitol 

Tooth decay happens when bacteria in your mouth consume the sugars we eat. When you eat food containing ordinary sugar (sucrose), it gives bacteria on your teeth energy, allowing them to multiply and start making acids that can eat away the enamel on the teeth. This “acid attack” causes tooth decay and cavities to begin to form.

Xylitol is a natural sweetener derived from the fibrous parts of plants. It does not break down like sugar and can help keep a neutral pH level in the mouth. Xylitol also prevents bacteria from sticking to the teeth. This is how it protects the teeth from tooth decay. With the dental benefits of Xylitol, the acid attack that would otherwise last for over half an hour is stopped. Most people are not aware of this benefit because such a claim makes xylitol into a drug, crossing a boundary not allowed by the Food and Drug Administration.

 Less Bacteria, Less Acid – Healthier Teeth!

Because the bacteria in the mouth that are causing cavities are unable to digest xylitol, their growth is greatly reduced. The number of acid-producing bacteria may fall as much as 90%. No acid is formed because the pH of saliva and plaque does not fall. After taking xylitol, the bacteria do not stick well on the surface of the teeth and as a result, the amount of plaque decreases.

Repairing damaged enamel

Research has shown that the use of xylitol also helps repair damage to the enamel. Saliva in itself protects the mouth and teeth. Stimulated saliva in particular contains all the components needed to repair early cavities. If sugar is only taken a couple of times a day, the saliva can do the job alone. But most people take sugar so often that the mouth’s own defensive tools are not enough.

The dental benefits of xylitol also include saliva. Saliva that has xylitol is more alkaline than saliva stimulated by other sugar products. After taking xylitol products, the concentration of basic amino acids and ammonia in saliva and plaque may rise, and plaque pH rises as well. When pH is above 7, calcium and phosphate salts in saliva start to move into those parts of enamel that are weak. Therefore, soft, calcium-deficient enamel sites begin to harden again.

While reversing a rising trend of negative health and high health-care costs won’t happen overnight, improving your own health can begin sooner than later, and the dental benefits of xylitol can have a significant influence on that trend.

Schedule your dental evaluation today. 

References:
Xylitol.org
Brian S. Nylaan, D.D.S.