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06/01/2011 21:49 pm

Aging is tough. The results can range from body aches to illnesses to low energy to depression. Very few people breeze through life without any glitches. From a child's point of view, it is tough to watch your parents age. Being proactive in encouraging better health throughout their lives will pay off big time as they enter their golden years. It does not matter if your parents are in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s or older; you can still make a difference by encouraging healthier choices. Helping your parents implement some of these tips can be a great Mother's or Father's Day gift too and can make your life easier down the road!

1. Moderation is key.
Encourage moderation on any bad habits versus totally giving them up. Exception: give up smoking and excessive drinking. If your Mom loves chocolate, encourage her to switch to a good quality dark chocolate and have a square after lunch and dinner. If your Dad loves Big Macs, encourage him to get one a week versus several times a week. Teach them simple ways to lower calories like skip the special sauce and the cheese.

2. Hydration is key.
Dehydration is a key component to many diseases. Being well hydrated will improve health and energy. Many Americans (all ages) are chronically dehydrated. Encourage your parents to drink at least their body weight in ounces of water each day. Get a good quality water filtration system so the water tastes good and the toxins and chemicals are removed. Add a squirt of lemon if they prefer. Info on choosing a good quality water system is available at http://www.livinghealthiernow.com/water_info_15.html. One way to greatly improve health is to give up or greatly reduce soda consumption.

3. Socialization is key.
Encourage your parents to get out, volunteer, do things they enjoy and make new friends. As their friends start dying, it is critical for them to have a wide network of friends. Feeling valued and important is key for their health and well-being. Socialization is important for staying mentally sharp too. Search the internet for appropriate support groups if they are dealing with any special health issues. Check out www.meetup.com for groups in their area to meet new people while doing the things they enjoy.

4. Challenging the brain is key.
My grandma was almost 100 when she died and she never showed any signs of dementia. She was constantly working crossword puzzles and word searches. Some colleges offer free or low cost classes for seniors. Take advantage of your local library for CDs and DVDs that teach things like a new language or a hobby.

5. Breathing clean air and getting sunshine are key.

Get outside for fresh air and sunshine. Indoor air (dust, cleaning products, carpets, furniture, paint, etc.) can be very detrimental. Studies have shown breathing better quality air improves health. Info on choosing a good quality air filtration unit is available at http://livinghealthiernow.com/air_quality_17.html. Ten minutes of sunshine per day has many health benefits ranging from Vitamin D production (bone health) to setting your internal clock to improved mood.

6. Decreasing toxins is key.
Many people use really toxic cleaning products. Check out the Household Product Database http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/ and then see what products need to be removed from the home. Be sure to safely dispose of them. Many communities have collection events. Personal care products are often a significant source of toxins too. Website http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ will help you decide the best products to buy.

7. Eating healthier is key.
Shop the outside of the grocery store to avoid the processed and preservative-laden foods. Eat as much whole foods (fruits and veggies) as possible. Avoid processed foods. Buy organics whenever possible. Check out http://www.livinghealthiernow.com/health_aricles_6.html for an article about which fruits and vegetables you should buy organic. Watch the ads to get great prices on organics.

8. Prevention is key.
People fall into three camps when it comes to healthcare - never go to a doctor, only go in extreme situations, and go all the time. Encourage your parents to get their annual exams. Remove throw rugs that can cause falls. Teach them good body mechanics for lifting and bending to avoid back injuries. Make sure there is a no-slip pad in the tub or shower.

9. Monitoring Medications and Supplements is key.
Even if your parents don't need help managing their medications yet, help them make a list of all their medications including dose, when to take it properly, what it does and how long they have been taking it. Get rid of outdated medications and supplements. Call a local pharmacy to see if they have any disposal events. Do not flush them down the toilet. Often, they have numerous doctors who prescribe medications without fully knowing what other medications they are taking. Sometimes they wind up on long term medications that they no longer need. My Grandma was on 14 different medications! How could anyone know the potential interactions between all of those chemicals? Be sure to look at their supplements too and make the same list. Work with the doctors and pharmacists to figure out which ones are really needed right now. See if there are any duplications or issues with taking certain meds or supplements together. If they are taking supplements, make sure they are good quality supplements. The most impressive supplement I've ever seen is called Protandim. It exponentially reduces oxidative stress and cellular aging plus it regulates over 400 survival genes in our DNA. Watch the ABC Prime Time Live clip at www.lifevantage.com/livinghealthiernow. Oxidative stress is linked to over 200 chronic diseases. Website www.stopyourclock.com has more info on the 7 published studies and 3 patents.

10. Movement is Key.
Daily movement and exercise benefits the body on so many levels. Not only does it help keep weight down, but it increases the strength and flexibility of muscles and tendons to help prevent injuries and accidents. Exercise is a great mood and energy booster too.

For more info on easy ways to improve your health at any age, visit www.livinghealthiernow.com. Susan Trost is our healthier living expert. She focuses on helping the body function better at a cellular level through a variety of natural and high tech technologies, supplements and energy work. Better health can be easy and fun. Questions? susan@livinghealthiernow.com


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