What supplements really matter over 60
With proper care for your physical and mental health, people over 60 can be as active as they want – and importantly, now have the time available to participate in all of the activities they want.
While each of us ages differently, what we all have in common is that what we did during our younger years plays a major role in our life as we get older. So while we all need to take extra care of our health and wellbeing while we get older, some of us are going to have to deal with some extra challenges as a result of some not-so-good decisions earlier in life.
What type of changes can you expect to happen to the body after 60
Both males and females will experience impossible-to-miss changes in their health, both physically and mentally.
One of the very first things that people start to notice is the slowing down of the body’s metabolism. This, combined with less physical activity, means it’s much easier to put on weight.
It is important to carefully select the types of food you eat to make sure that the nutrient intake is sufficient, without consuming excessive calories. This is especially important for people with conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
At the cellular level, as we age, our cells are more prone towards becoming inflamed. Cellular inflammations may manifest in conditions like osteoarthritis, IBS, dermatitis and other skin issues.
Maintaining a good circulatory system is also paramount, not for your physical health, but also for the mind. Making sure that our brain receives enough blood flow and oxygen helps with maintaining alertness, memory and concentration.
I always believe that the best way to get our nutrients is from wide range of fresh foods, however it is almost impossible to have the perfect diet every day. With advancements in science and technology, many of these nutritional needs that are not fulfilled from our daily diet can be supplemented.
The most important thing in selecting health supplements is that we only take what our body needs. More doesn’t always mean better, as a matter of fact, in this case, more can potentially be harmful.
As we age, our digestive system and our body’s ability to metabolise nutrients is no longer its peak, therefore taking unnecessary or non-absorbable supplements will over load the work and functions of our organs such as kidney and liver.
Omega 3 fish oil is a very basic but important supplement as it helps with circulation as well as reducing inflammation. Most people do not eat fish often, and even when they do, the risk of heavy metal contaminations from seafood is quite frightening. Fish oil is derived from the tissues of oily fish and unfortunately fish absorb lots of bad things, including chemicals. This is why many people opt to consume omega 3 fish oil in tablet form instead of eating a lot of fish.
A good, potent antioxidant – which is 100 per cent natural – is activated phenolics, which is derived from Australian apples. This supplement keeps the body healthy at the cellular level, which is essential because healthy cells means a healthy body. Activated phenolics has a high absorption rate, because what counts is not what is measured and stated on the label, but what our body can actually absorb and utilise. As an expert in antioxidants, I strongly believe everyone should take antioxidants every day because they help to mop up free radicals around the body. Free radicals cause cell damage which causes cancer, inflammation and other chronic diseases. Anything we can take that keeps our cells healthy is an important part of our diet and helps to keep healthy.
Fibre supplements such as oligospectine are also very useful to maintain a healthy digestive system. Not only does it help to optimise nutrient absorption, but it helps with regularity as well as overall health – after all, around 70 per cent of your body’s immune system is from the digestive system.
Those who have specific diets such as vegetarianism or veganism may need supplements such as B12 or an amino acid complex. Similarly, people with health conditions or who are on certain medications may need more specialised supplements, so it’s best for you to discuss this with your health professionals.
Health may not be the MOST important thing in life, but being healthy enables us to attend to all the important things in life, such as our family, our loved ones and living life.