After 50’s or as you enter your 60’s, life slows down and you need to take it easy. Your body needs extra care and the mind needs to be kept tension-free. This is the time to get rid of all the stress in your life and start eating right. We give you tips to help you stay happy and healthy.
Regular checkups - It is not wise to wait to visit the doctor till you feel unwell, consult your family doctor thrice a month and have a complete body checkup once in six months. It is very important at your age that you keep your body checked on a regular basis.
Regular activity – Keep your body active and make sure you get your regular exercise it will help your blood circulation. You need to 
indulge in some form of exercise for at least half an hour a day, especially in winters. May it be regular walks, going to the market, yoga, climbing stairs, you need the right amount of activity in the day to keep your bones and muscles fit. But remember to not over do it, do only as much as your body can handle. If you have any specific ailment or have recently undergone surgery make sure you follow your doctor’s advice regarding specific exercises that they have suggested.
Balanced meals at regular intervals – Your meals are of utmost importance. What you eat is what will give your body the energy it needs. You need about 1200-1500 calories a day. Make sure the meal is balanced. Eat foods that contain plenty of protein (dried fruits, pulses), iron (green leafy vegetables like spinach), vitamin C (lemon, citrus fruits, cauliflower) and calcium (milk products, fruits like pears, oranges). Cut down on butter, fats and oils. Make sure you get one cup of milk at least a day. Switch from tea\coffee to health drinks like horlicks or bournvita.
Good water intake – Drinking at least 1-2 liters of water a day as it will flush your system of all toxins and keep your system working in a good condition. Drinking a glass of warm water with a bit of lemon or only warm water immediately after you get up and just before going to bed will help your digestion.
Indulge in hobbies – Do not give up on your hobbies like reading, writing, music, etc. even watching sports or gardening. If you find you do not have a hobby then you can develop new ones. Join clubs for yoga, prayers, walks, laughter, etc. whatever interests you. Try your hand at things you have always wanted to do but never had the time. Anything to keep you occupied.
Cut down the bad habits – If you are a regular smoker or a heavy drinker, or are addicted to coffee, chocolates or any other unhealthy food item it is necessary to cut down on them, if you cannot stop altogether. Do not assume that it doesn’t matter at your age. In fact it matters the most at your age. These bad habits will tell on your body and will make things worse by making your body organs detoriate faster.
Sufficient sleep – Sleep is the most important. Make sure you get at least 10 hours of sleep a day, even if not all together. You may be habituated to getting up early so take frequent naps during the day. A short nap especially in the afternoon or whenever your body asks for the rest. Do not push your body to limits as you used to earlier. Listen to your body if it tells you to stop or slow down.
Natural supplements – Instead of resorting to pills for vitamins, minerals, iron, calcium, etc try and eat a lot of foods that will help supplement the necessary nutrients. For example you can have a lot of spinach in place of iron tablets, or carrots in place of vitamin A. This way your body gets natural supplements that are easily digestible and naturally accepted by the body.
Alternative medication – Allopathic medication is not the only option. There are a number of other alternate therapies that are coming up today that have fantastic effects in helping the body and mind. Music therapy, yoga, massages, meditation are examples of alternate therapy. Try them. They help you relax and help reduce most body ailments right from acidity and asthma to back pain and heart problems. Supplement your daily medication with these and see the difference. But do not altogether drop your medications. Consult your doctor first.
Keep an optimistic outlook to life – At this age your mind is just as worn out as your body. Do not stress it further. Do not let your kids and their kids and all their problems get to you. You have raised them well and dealt with problems all your life. Now it is time for you to sit back and relax. Always keep your mind peaceful and far from mental tensions.
If you follow these regular tips you will find that you can do much more and enjoy this phase to its fullest with limited difficulties.
