If you’re over age 40 — perhaps even over 30 — it will come as no surprise to hear your body starts going through changes, and not for the better. While bones become more brittle, the skin begins to sag. Joints start to stiffen and nails begin to weaken. Whatever colds are going around seem a little easier to catch, a little more severe, and a little harder to snap back.
These bodily breakdowns, which for many of us start gradually and almost unnoticeably, pick up steam as we enter our 50s and 60s and beyond. It’s the normal aging process at work, and is partly a function of our body’s weakening ability to naturally produce essential compounds and vitamins. The infographic below, Essentials Your Body Produces Less of as You Age, and What You Can Do, describes this situation as it applies to six critical substances that affect our ability to enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
We can take steps to slow down or counteract our body’s decline in the production of these essentials, as the infographic explains. Vitamin D, for instance, is a very important substance for maintaining bone strength. In the later years of life, bone strength, formerly something seldom if ever worried about, becomes a prominent cause for concern. Many a senior is confined to a wheelchair or much worse as the result of a fall that causes a break or fracture. However, by maintaining a proper diet and getting adequate exposure to sunlight, an individual can maintain higher levels of Vitamin D and reduce these risks over the years to come.
For maintaining health, it’s key not to wait until the last minute. The infographic is important for adults of every age: Being aware of what will happen in your 50s and 60s when you are still in your 20s gives you ample time to prepare and begin creating healthy habits for diet, exercise and other practices that replenish the body’s supply of essential vitamins and compounds. The older you are, the harder it is to form healthy habits, so there is no time like the present.
Dietary supplements are an area that can be confusing. Some varieties of supplements are widely considered to be effective, others (not relevant to this infographic) are widely thought to be ineffective, and still others require more clinical studies to make a determination. The supplement’s form of delivery (pill, tincture, etc.), along with the dosage can have a major impact on its efficacy. In addition, an individual’s overall health and medical history should be taken into account. When it comes to supplements, the best course is to consult with a trusted healthcare provider, and to not rely on supplements to the exclusion of all else. Nevertheless, supplements should be considered as a way to keep as healthy as possible as the years pass.
For more information, please read the accompanying resource.
Graphic created by Celera.
