The Art of Growing Young with Lifeplus

You’re stressed from a long day at work, you get home and you feel tired, too tired to think aboutrnwhat to cook for dinner and too tired to contemplate doing anything productive. As we get older,rnour diet and nutritional intake needs to evolve with our age and with our bodies. You might findrndaily life more of a struggle than you did ten years ago. Whilst some things do remain constantrnwhether we are 8 or 88, for example drinking plenty of water, other needs should be addressedrnduring different stages of your life, it’s what we at Lifeplus like to call the art of growing young!rnAs we age, our body mass will see a drop which can affect our overall metabolic rate, thereforernadjusting our energy balance is crucial. Our bodies now require less calories and we should opt tornmake ‘nutrient dense’ choices whilst boosting our intake of fibre. Diet, nutrition, and overall mind-rnset play a large factor in how we age, and ensuring we live to our healthiest and happiest. So howrncan you practice the art of growing young?rnEat WellrnIt may seem obvious, but paying attention to the foods you put into your body is incrediblyrnimportant in maintaining good health. A healthy diet full of colour and variation is ideal. After all,rnvariety is the spice of life! For women going through the menopause, calcium intake and a high fibrerndiet become of significant importance. Foods such as soy, chickpeas and lentils are high in fibre,rnhealthy and filling too. Why not have a go at a delicious chickpea curry or lentil ragu? You might bernsurprised at how quick, easy and yet fulfilling these dishes can be. Whilst salt and fats should not bernavoided altogether, try and go easy on the salt shaker. Vegetarianism and veganism are on the risernworldwide, with medical experts and nutritionists proclaiming the health benefits of a diet that isrnlower in animal facts and processed meats. Preparation is key, use meal planners and recipe guidesrnto ensure you get the right balance of nutrients!rnStay ActivernStaying active and partaking in regular exercise is an important part of overall health and wellbeing.rnNot only does it help with your physical state, it can also help with mental health too. Beneficialrnexercise doesn’t have to include an expensive gym membership either, you can get enough exercisernby going for regular walks, cycling and even trying out some Pilates at home. Why not set yourself arnchallenge? Setting yourself goals can be a sure-fire way of keeping on track. Perhaps try a sport yournnever have before! It’s always fun to try something new, and you might even find a new favouriternhobby. If you live within walkable distance to work, why not ditch the car and commute on footrninstead? It may not seem like a lot but your efforts quickly mount up and contribute towards arnhealthier you.rnNutritional SupplementsrnEveryday our bodies use various vitamins, minerals, enzymes and macronutrients in multiple ways!rnWe often take this for granted, with our bodies doing all the hard work in the background whilst wernget on with daily life, but do you ever stop to think if you are providing your body with enough vitalrnnutrients? As time goes on, our bodies require different nutritional needs, and this is wherernnutritional supplements could help. Nutritional supplementation is the practice of getting to knowrnyour body’s needs and understanding your requirements at a more involved level. By understandingrnthis you can build a better picture of what your daily intake should look like, and supplement yourself where necessary. For example if you’re lacking in energy, you may need to look at your ironrnlevels and potentially take an iron supplement to help boost this.rnState of MindrnYour state of mind is a powerful tool, with the ability to control how you’re feeling both physicallyrnand mentally. A busy life can have detrimental effects to your mental health if overlooked. It’srnimportant to ensure you take time out to refocus and rebalance your mind. Yoga is a fantastic toolrnfor practicing mindfulness, and can also have a profound effect on your physical wellbeing too.rnNegative feelings and stress can have a hugely negative impact on your overall health, meditation isrnalso another highly effective method at encouraging sleep, lowering blood pressure and thereforernimproving your stress. If you’re feeling low mentally, don’t ignore it, stress is a killer and self-care isrnkey. With a little practice, becoming more mindful may well contribute to finding more peace ofrnmind.rnBy beginning with these steps, you will find yourself well on the way to growing young and feelingrnhealthier both inside and out. Our common sense approach to holistic wellbeing is both practical andrnaccessible, it may take time to perfect your routine but by just making little changes you’ll be makingrna bigger impact than you think. It’s the art of growing young!