Stress Management: Wellness and Aging
Wellness means more than just the absence of illness. Focusing on wellness and practicing self care helps us put our emphasis on prevention and health.

Self Care means: Eating a healthy diet Exercising our wonderful bodies Being aware of the stress in your life Practicing stress reduction methods on a regular basis Finding or creating a group to meet with on a regular basis to encourage community, support and sharing.

• Preventing and treating injuries
  
• Monitoring health and safety hazards in our homes and workplaces.
  
• Using our health care system focusing on prevention instead only using the healthcare system for disease.

Aging

Our life expectancy has increased 62% in the last century. The advent of genetic engineering holds great promise to increase our health and extend longevity.

Aging is no longer described as mandatory retirement, depression, disability and pain. Our attitudes toward aging have changed dramatically. Aging now means that we live longer, are happier and healthier. Many of us create our dream careers and have entirely wonderful lives as we age.

Those of us who live to be centenarians have several traits in common:

• Have a good sense of humor
  
• Are optimistic
  
• Are independent
  
• Are active mentally
  
• Eat breakfast
  
• Practice forgiveness, don’t hold onto resentments.
  

Tips for Wellness, Self Care and Healthy Aging:

• Eat foods rich in Vitamin C everyday. Vitamin C may help protect against many diseases. Some great sources for Vitamin C are, asparagus, blackberries, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, kale, raspberries, strawberries, tangerines and tomatoes.
  
  
• Eat foods rich in carotenoids, beta carotene. Research shows that beta carotene may play a role in preventing cancer and other diseases. Notice the bright colors of carrots, sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens such as collard greens, kale and spinach.
  
  
• Focus on eating fruits and vegetables. Eating a diet of vegetables, grains, legumes, fruit, and dairy products can lower the risk for heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, maintain a healthy weight, and have fewer digestive problems.
  
  
• Women and men should do self examinations on for breast and testicular cancer.
  
  
• Get an annual flu shot.
  
  
• Quit smoking.
  
  
• Maintain your normal weight. Excess weight can lead to heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancer and many other chronic diseases.
  
  
• Get a good night’s sleep. Sleep is critical for the healing cycle of our bodies. Insomnia stresses the mind, body and soul. Before bed listen to music, read, listen to a guided imagery tape or take a warm bath. Keep your bedroom quiet, dark and cool. Don’t drink caffeinated beverages before bed.
  
  
• Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. Water relieves constipation, cleanses the body, clears the skin and is critical in the body’s daily functioning. Our body is 80% water.
  
  
• Wear a broad spectrum sunscreen. Skin cancer is a constant risk.
  
  
• Floss your teeth daily. This reduces periodontal diseases and it actually affects longevity. The CDC indicates that people with gingivitis and periodontitis have a mortality rate that is 23%-46% higher than those who don’t. They are linked to increased rates of cardiovascular disease and strokes, as well as to an increase in mortality from other causes, such as infections.
  
  
• Be active. As many as 12% of all deaths in the U.S. maybe attributed indirectly to lack of regular physical activity.
  
  
• Walk to loose weight and stay healthy. Walk just 20-30 minutes a day, three times a week to stay healthy.
  
  
• Exercise improves your mood and gives you an energy boost.
  
  
• Regular exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, hypertension, obesity and many other diseases.
  
  
• Exercise inhibits and even reverses many of the declines associated with aging.
  
  
• Practice stress reduction practices regularly. Studies show that doing the relaxation response, or meditation, for 20 minutes a day reduces blood pressure, decreases heart disease, increases our immune response, along with many other health benefits.
  
  
• Experiment with various relaxation practices that have health benefits: yoga, tai chi or chi gong.
  
  
• Guided imagery provides health and relaxation benefits. You can practice with your own imagery or purchase or rent guided imagery tapes or CDs.
  
  
• Journaling keeps you healthy mentally, physically and spiritually. It helps to move your emotions, worries and thoughts out of your body on to the paper.
  
  
• Laughter is very healthy for your body, mind and soul. We have new research revealing the health benefits of laughter.
  
  
• Being playful helps your immune system and creates a long and happy life.
  
  
• Research shows that people who are engaged in some type of group activity live longer and are healthier. Create or discover a group to get involved in. Play cards, join a study group, a meditation group or a book club. It doesn’t matter what kind of group it is. They provide support, community and love.