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Ageing healthily is something that probably everyone wants. And fortunately, there are things you can do to help ensure that you play your part in this. In this article, you’ll find out what you can do to stay as healthy as possible!

How can you tell if you’re ageing healthily?

Ageing healthily doesn’t mean staying young forever. It’s about staying fit for as long as possible, both mentally and physically. If you tick the boxes below, you’re already well on your way to ageing healthily:

• You have good muscle strength and mobility, enabling you to carry out daily tasks effectively.
• You have enough energy to do what you want and you recover well after exertion.
• Your brain remains active; you learn new things and can concentrate well.
• You get enough deep sleep and recover well after, for example, a bout of low immunity.
• You feel mentally well and can cope with stress.
• You have plenty of social contacts that you’re able to maintain well.
• You’re committed to staying healthy, for example by eating well, exercising and getting enough rest.

If, alongside the points above, you do notice that you’re getting wrinkles, perhaps going grey, or wanting to relax more than before, this is all part of the process. It doesn’t mean you’re otherwise unhealthy; it’s simply how the body works.

What should you avoid if you want to stay healthy?

Of course, there are also things you’d be better off avoiding if you want to stay healthy. These include not getting enough exercise, eating an unhealthy and unbalanced diet, not getting enough sleep, drinking alcohol, smoking and ignoring health issues. It’s also important to maintain good social connections with others and to manage stress.

You probably already know which things you’d be better off not doing too often. That’s why we’re now going to talk about what you can do to stay healthy as you look to the future.

10 tips for healthy ageing

1. Eat a healthy and varied diet

Eating a healthy and varied diet ensures you get enough nutrients. This supports your muscles, bones, blood vessels, organs and your overall health. Make sure you get enough vitamins, proteins and healthy fats, amongst other things.

2. Keep active

Getting enough exercise helps you maintain your fitness and strength. It also helps you stay balanced and mobile. It’s important to choose a form of exercise that you enjoy, so that you get pleasure from it. Think of strength training, cycling, walking or swimming.

3. Get a good night’s sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is almost the most important thing. Your body and brain recover whilst you sleep. A regular sleep pattern is important, as it helps your body enter deep, restorative sleep more quickly. Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night.

4. Keep your brain active

You’re never too old to learn, and it’s actually important to keep doing so. By staying mentally active, you stay sharp and stimulate your cognitive functions. So read more, do puzzles or try out new hobbies.

5. Keep your social life going

Maintaining good relationships with friends, family and the people around you fosters a sense of connection. This is very beneficial for your mental wellbeing and, indirectly, for your physical health too. So make sure you plan plenty of time with others or take part in group activities.

6. Get plenty of rest and minimise stress

Getting enough rest is very important, both mentally and physically. If you experience prolonged stress, it affects the quality of your sleep, your mood and even your physical health. So make sure you do plenty of things that help you relax, such as going for a walk, meditating or engaging in creative activities.

7. Be sensible about sun exposure

Getting out and about is very important, not least to top up your vitamin D levels. However, it’s also important to protect yourself properly against the sun’s UV rays. This naturally helps prevent serious conditions such as skin cancer, but it can also simply make you look older more quickly. So, seek out the shade a little more often and apply plenty of sun cream.

8. Don’t smoke and limit your alcohol intake

Everyone probably knows that smoking isn’t healthy. It increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, lung disease and various forms of cancer. So don’t do it. Alcohol isn’t healthy either, of course, so if you do choose to enjoy the occasional drink, do so in moderation.

9. Always keep an eye on your health

If you have persistent symptoms, it’s always important to get them checked out. Not only for your physical wellbeing, but also for your peace of mind.

10. Use intranasal red light therapy

As you get older, the energy metabolism of your cells changes. Your mitochondria play a major role in this, as they produce the energy your body needs to function properly. Intranasal red light therapy can help recharge the mitochondria in your body, thereby improving the functioning of biological processes.

How does intranasal red light therapy help you age healthily?

Intranasal red light therapy is administered via a small light placed in the nose. This directs the red light onto the blood vessels, thereby affecting the whole body. Here’s how red light can support the ageing process:

• Energy in your cells: the mitochondria in your cells often become less efficient as you get older. Red light can help these mitochondria to function more effectively.
• Body recovery: as you get older, some recovery processes – such as wound healing or recovery after exercise – become less efficient. Red light can help you recover faster and more effectively.
• Strengthening the immune system: making you less susceptible to viruses. If you do catch a virus, there’s a good chance you’ll recover from it more effectively.

In most cases, red light therapy can also be used alongside other treatments or advice. It is intended as a supplement and often works well