Efforts to keep healthy/living

Merlot, your turmeric recipe is much more exciting than mine.
I add yogurt(full fat or it doesn’t work), how boring am I?
I keep active, my weight is fine and am involved in a few things that keep me socialised.
However I think my genetic inheritance helps. Mum is 90, on no medication but I think she takes a multi vitamin tablet. She goes for a walk everyday and is off to bridge 4 times a week. She doesn’t eat fruit and hardly has any alcohol.
I drink, eat fruit take no vitamins so if I’m not as healthy as her in old age it’ll be the fault of the ?!!
I’ll let you know.

Yes, I am 60 in age and I feel relatively healthy by eating a balanced and healthful diet like leafy green vegetables, walnuts, blueberries and strawberries etc.

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The blood pressure tablets I was given made my mouth feel constantly dry, no matter how much I drank. Luckily I haven't had any problems for over a year.

I've always maintained a healthy diet, ( with the occasional packet of crisps ) and exercise portion control. I also take a multi vitamin/mineral, fish oil capsule, sustained release zinc & vit c and bee propolis ( my high blood pressure was causing the white of my eye to bleed and I remember reading a few years ago that surgeons use it to stem bleeding. It also boosts your immune system ). I have been asthmatic for over 60 years, so have to check ingredients to make sure I don't have anything with rapeseed in as it makes my chest wheezy.

librarylady sorry to hear about your husband. You are absolutely right, we often talk about this with my DH and yes a healthy lifestyle might help a 5% but the rest is up to your genes and above all your own personal luck.

About ten years ago I was struggling with knee pain so bad that I struggled to get upstairs on a bad day. At the time I worked in a school where the main building was three storeys with a two storey annex building so lots of stair climbing every day. A friend recommended aloe vera drinking gel with added glucosamine and chondroitin and I started taking it daily. In a very short time my knee pain was reduced to just the very occasional twinge. As a result I became more active which resulted in weight loss which in turn helped me become more active still. At first if I didn't take the gel for a few days while away from home I would suffer immediately so I knew it was the cause of the improvement.
I'm type 2 diabetic and on quite a bit of medication but the addition of a diuretic to reduce my blood pressure caused some weight loss from fluid from my legs which used to swell greatly in the summer. This made moving easier too.
Two years ago my kids bought me a fitbit and that has really got me moving and increased my weight loss so my weight is now about 3 stones less than at my heaviest. I'm amazed at the difference it has made. Now knee pain is a thing of the past - even if I skip the gel for a few days if away from home - and I have so much more energy. For anyone with joint problem I'd recommend trying the aloe vera gel. I registered as a distributor to make it easier to obtain but I don't sell it as a business, I just get what I need for myself. The company is 'Forever Living' who make lots of products containing aloe vera. Getting free of joint pain and becoming more active has completely changed my life although I could still do more and want to get my weight down further. I do take other supplements including cod liver oil, vitamin D, vitamin C and antioxidants. I also take co-enzyme Q10 as I am on statins and they are known to reduce your levels of that nutrient which tend to be lower as you age anyway. At 64 I feel fitter and healthier than I did 10 years ago so it can be done. Getting more active a little at a time can make a huge difference in the long term.

8th decade for me, having been a child immersed in a thick fog of parental smoke when a child and again when attending various functions as an adult. Genetics included faults that could not repair dna and a propensity to heart troubles

Organic as much as possible through most of my adult life. A positive and happy temperament, with the attitude that the body wants to heal itself and can do if given the correct nutrients and epigenetics. I know about health byw, trained a long time

Got to my 6th decade and decided that there were no more second chances, harder for the body to heal when it gets older. Most days then it is 7-12 a day for me and too much to physically eat so I make my own veg juice in a slow juicer, freeze portions, the juice tops my veg levels

Mildly active, allotment until recently and cycling a few times a week, enough to get slightly puffed but no exercise to strain my joints. D3, a large amount every day to get to the optimal level, having done the test from the US. Taken it for 9 years, also added k2 etc.

Careful but not obsessive with my food. No veg oils for years, except olive and rapeseed, bought in small bottles. I am not on any medications

It all started decades ago, books called we are what we eat. Also fats that heal, fats that kill

My doctor recommended Magnesium for restless leg syndrome and cramps, it works for me.
I also take MSM for arthritis pain and certainly feel the difference if I run out.

Five years ago I was due to have a knee replacement and this week received a hospital report saying I still have, 'severe osteo-arthritis in left knee' X-rays show no cartilage at all.
But I didn't have the op because when the date arrived, I had no pain in that knee.

I don't actually care if it's a placebo effect Gabriella (that's such a beautiful name) all I care about is being pain-free and MSM does that for me.

I have always had what is now called a healthy lifestyle: I'm a life-long swimmer, eat all the "right" things - although I don't subscribe to the idea that any food is intrinsically "wrong.
But for the very occasional health issue, usually minor, I have a very good, active life and only 2 medications at 72.

By contrast, my dearest friends, organic vegetable growers and very much into fitness and exercise both had stroke and cancers which killed them before they reached 70.
Luck of the draw and genes, I reckon.

Oh and btw, I certainly don't believe what I read in newspapers and magazines about vitamins as I know from my experience working as a journalist that pharmaceutical companies (and others with a vested interest) pay big money to the media to form our opinions.

That is so brilliant MooMOO. Great that you turned your life around and great that you have shared the fact with us.

I am greatful to be here, I am a recovering alcoholic and have been sober for 20 years. I know my body was abused by alcohol for a number of years and was relieved to know it is an illness. So no I didn't look after my body in the past. I now live in each day at a time and am so lucky to be able to look after my grandchildren 3 days a week which keeps me fit.

I'm almost 60, quite a lot overweight (but always trying to lose weight), have normal BP, normal blood sugar, low cholesterol levels, and I'm not on any tablets for anything.

I go to Salsa lessons every week, I do 3 Zumba classes a week, and I go to aqua aerobics once a week.

If I could lose a few stone I'd look and feel better, but at the moment I'm fit and well.

Agree with M0nica and Lazigirl, I have been lucky in getting to 70 without any health issues apart from my hypertension as mentioned in other posts, which is genetic. I have always ate healthily and walked every day because I enjoy doing so. I did have a spell of moderate drinking which eventually got out of control but I am now virtually tee total. I guess there is still an element of luck as with everything else.

Looking after yourself cannot guarantee you long life and good health, but it definitely improves your chances.

Longevity and many health conditions are mainly down to genes, but not being obese, binge drinking smoking and healthy environment help I'm sure. Some feel that supplements help them feel better, but they won't help you live longer that's for sure. I think it's important to socialise as much as you can because belonging to a group where you are supported and valued, does apparently help you live a more fulfilling life.

A very kind GNr has pm'd me details of a book which she has found helpful for core strength) which I need loads more of). It is Core Strength For 50+ by Dr Karl Knopf. I have downloaded it onto my iPad via kindle app. It looks very good. I am going to start the exercises straightaway.

Thank you GNr. You know who you are. ?

Gonegirl thank you for the link, I'll get that ordered
Merlotgran I've had a look at the cookbook, the recipes look delicious and frankly any excuse to have another one on the shelf is fine with me
Lilyflower the champers remedy is one that I might follow

I don't like organised exercise and cannot afford gym fees anyway. I walk at least five miles a day and do some tummy and other muscle exercises every morning.

I eat as healthily as I can and, being short, severely restrict my calory intake in the week. I take multi vitamins every day.

For mental health I read voraciously and do 'Daily Telegraph' quizwords and codewords most days. I listen to the radio and Radio Four dramas and I keep myself well informed about politics and other topics of interest.

I think the thing which has the most positive effect on my health is the bottle of (cheap) Champagne the DH and I share each Saturday.

Has it done any good? I'll ask the strange woman who looks out at me from shop windows.

I come from healthy background. Both my parents lived into their late 80s. I’ve never had the flu but I had breast cancer when I was 51. 3 surgeries for that then a spinal surgery then 8 years later cancer in my ureter. Lost ureter and kidney. I’m 62 this month and despite all that I still consider myself in good health. I eat well, take a couple of supliments. My downfall is exercise. Rubbish at that but I enjoy walking. I look ok but I can see the beginnings of a turkey neck

My dad passed away last at almost 104. He always kept his mind and body active. Ate whenever and whatever he liked and looked amazing, even up to his death. One thing he used to do every night before he went to bed was cut up and eat a piece of celery. I've been reading about the benefits of eating celery lately so may be I should try it. ............

Anja ?.

harri I remember hearing Karol Sikora (oncologist) on the radio saying that getting cancer was a lottery. You could modify your chances a little bit of being dealt the unlucky card, but never eliminate the risk.
For me, exercising and eating well isn’t so much about preventing an early demise, but about enabling me to enjoy the things I like doing for as long as possible. I want to fall off a cliff at the end, not progress slowly and miserably down a gradual slope, if possible.
Cancer is very tough, I know. But perhaps your healthy lifestyle has helped you survive.

I never used a car on a daily basis, walked everywhere and played badminton from youth until I was 61.
I had a good diet, didn't smoke and only drank in moderation.
I got cancer and I have had a pulmonary embolism.
I know several super fit athletes and cyclists that dropped down dead so being fit is no guarantee against early demise.

Bijou
Wonderful?

I think it’s great that so many on this thread are doing their best to stay fit and well. It’s up to us what we put in our mouths foodwise and vitamin wise. If you feel they are doing you good then that’s all that matters.

Attitude to life is important too. Negative attitudes towards life, other people and everything in general have been shown to be detrimental to physical health as well as mental well being, though it must be hard to stay positive with multiple health isssues.

I’m lucky at 72 not to be on any prescribed medication. I do have osteopenia but did have osteoporosis. The improvement is due to diet and supplements so that can’t be a placebo effect.