When people think about aging, they often think about decay first. Wrinkles, hair that thin and slowly lose shine and color, the limits of a body that moves less quickly than before. Decay is unmistakably part of aging.
But also wisdom. And the experience of life. Knowledge. Because life really gets more fun when you’re over 50, says journalist Wies Verbeek (58). She feels more confident, she knows better what she wants and lives more in the present. She can go on like this for another 20 years. Preferably in as fit as possible, which is why she has read countless studies on aging.
You can rightly call her a healthy aging expert. “Did you know that hearing loss has been linked to dementia in several studies?” she asks. “If people start hearing less, they often postpone a visit to the hearing care professional. But a neuropsychology professor told me it’s important to be on time. You don’t prevent dementia with a hearing aid, but it reduces the opportunity.”
Verbeek is not a scientist, mind you, but she has spoken to more than eighty scientists and health experts. She has gathered all of her knowledge acquired in the book A little fun as you get older. She even flew to Japan to see how things are doing in the country of an aging population.
Measure your blood pressure in the supermarket
“There you can measure your blood pressure in the supermarket and there are dieticians in the fruit and vegetable department who answer questions about fruits and vegetables and give nutritional advice,” says Verbeek. The Japanese government has to do it, one third of the population is over sixty and this is a huge burden on health and care for the elderly. “The government is working hard on prevention and a healthy lifestyle is reflected everywhere in society.”
Verbeek also wanted to do prevention and asked his doctor if he could do a blood test to see how his cholesterol and blood levels were and if he could go to work if he wasn’t in order. “The GP asked: ‘Do you have any complaints then?’ I didn’t have it, I felt perfectly healthy. So he sent me away. It might make sense, if you test every group over the age of 50, you’re busy for months. And it’s expensive. “
But Verbeek also sees the benefits of preventative research: “If you know what your blood pressure is, if you are overweight or have high cholesterol, you can tailor your health plan. Healthy seniors ultimately cost the government less money.” He has verified this with the Health Council, but according to that organization, general health checks do not necessarily lead to health gains or financial gains.
Yet the government is certainly not stopped and there is a test at home in preparation for the early diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney damage. If the trial currently underway goes well, a national screening of the population between 50 and 75 years can be started in five years.
No guarantee
Meanwhile, Verbeek has already tried a wide range of tests online from drugstores, pharmacies and commercial organizations. He is not very keen on the latter. “Many commercial organizations are often not properly guided or the tests are not well thought out.” There are good tests. Verbeek recommends that you always look at a CE mark and the four figures attached. “Then you know it complies with European guidelines”.
These tests can provide insight into your values and lifestyle, but they do not guarantee healthier aging. It’s not always easy to change your lifestyle. “I have too much stress, I know and that’s unhealthy. But go ahead and deal with it properly. Anyone who eats too much also knows it’s unhealthy, but you don’t just have symptoms from one day to the next. The diet has changed.”
Perfect balance exercise
However, Verbeek hopes to create awareness with his book. Contains 101 facts and curiosities about aging. There is a lot to read about exercise and that, for example, two hours of exercise is not necessarily better than if you get up regularly and walk in one day. “It’s the little things that get a lot. For example, I make my phone calls on foot or standing up as much as possible.”
This suggestion may have been very simple. The following is known to fewer people: “Almost everyone sits down to put on socks and shoes. But it’s the perfect balance exercise for standing up. And people tend to lean on something when they get out of the shower. . What if I did it standing up? “
According to Verbeek, we make it too easy for ourselves without noticing. “But if you are given these kinds of suggestions, you can easily make other choices.”
Like ‘brisk walking’, for example, instead of just walking or running. “Now it’s a hype, but there are a lot of studies showing how good this way of walking is. It’s really just a good step and using your arms. Your heart rate goes up, but you can still talk. It’s just not good for preventing possible diseases. , it’s also good for your brain “.
The tips in Verbeek’s book range from nutrition, to memory training, to explanations of your hearing and breathing exercises. “Did you know that if you breathe through your nose you get a lot more oxygen than through your mouth? It also supports the immune system better and reduces the risk of apnea and snoring. You don’t always have to make big adjustments in your life for a big effect. An improvement can to be in something as small as breathing. “
Appearance decay
Verbeek can go on for a while. He eagerly picks up one tip after another. “The least fun part of aging is the outward decay, the sagging. But aging also has real benefits. I’m more confident. I started my own company and even wrote a book. Life has changed since I was 50. That’s why I’m looking forward to all kinds of complaints ten years from now and I’m doing everything I can to stay as fit and healthy as possible. “
Wies Verbeek’s aging book is now in bookstores and so is it on line to order.
Some tips highlighted:
- Potassium is good for blood pressure. By replacing common table salt with potassium salt, you not only increase your potassium intake, but you also decrease your salt intake.
- There are more than 350,000 health apps around the world. To measure your sleep, check your mole or monitor your heart rate. Want to know if your health app is trustworthy? Look at GGDappstore.nl
- Exercising, walking or doing some exercise before breakfast is very rewarding. It ensures better fat burning and gives you more energy.
Source: A little fun getting older
