Inactivity Is Directly Related To Low Energy
Modern life and its relentless demands causes our bodies to produce excess cortisol, which is a stress hormone linked to insomnia. With excess cortisol comes less serotonin, the neurotransmitter that regulates our sleep patterns. To sleep better, cortisol must be reduced and serotonin increased. The best way to accomplish this is through exercise. If one prefers to sit all day in front of the TV or computer, they might be up doing those things later than they’d like. The out of balance chemical levels will retaliate and result in a sleepless night. This is what causes most people to have a lack of energy during the day.
Physical activity helps balance cortisol and serotonin and these two chemicals have a lot to do with food consumption. People with higher cortisol levels tend to look for quick energy boosts that are easily found in foods that are high in sugar and fat. With low serotonin, cravings can be very hard to control. This, combined with inactivity, can bring about two important ingredients that can lead to overeating. In the short term, overeating will require a lot of precious energy for digestive purposes. It will also bring sugar levels on a manic up and down ride that will leave the body feeling depleted within an hour. Ultimately, overeating leads to weight gain, which increases fatigue by forcing the body to spend more energy for everything it does.
Low morale is also an ever present symptom of a lack of exercise. Through its impact on bio-chemicals, physical activity is known to reduce stress, depression, and anger. It simultaneously elevates mood, self-esteem, and energy levels. Comparatively speaking, sedentary people are therefore less likely to be emotionally healthy than active individuals. More and more research is showing that inactivity is likely to bring about feelings of emotional exhaustion, physical tiredness, and overall lousiness.
It’s especially important for senior citizens to keep a regular exercise routine. Many residential assisted living and assisted living for elderly facilities offer programs that are specifically designed to prevent seniors from entering into a non-active lifestyle.
Assisted living marketing services are provided by 800seniors.com a leading referral system in the assisted living industry. For more information, call 1-800-768-8221. Sky Palma is a freelance staff writer
Nutrition Is An Important Part Of Senior Living
Good nutrition is an essential part of keeping healthy. It gives our bodies the strength we need to stay active and if we do become ill, it helps speed thehealing process. Maintaining a proper diet can be hard, especially with the distraction of busy lives and convenience foods. A diet high in fat can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, some types of cancer and high blood pressure. Studies comparing the links between dietary patterns and health have found that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been associated with the prevention of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U. S.
Good nutrition, including a diet that is low in saturated fats and contains five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day is vital in maintaining good health. Fruits and vegetables (with the exception of avocados, olives and coconut) are naturally low in fat. A healthy diet can also help to prevent a number of other ailments that frequently affect older individuals. For example, making sure that you get enough calcium can slow the weakening of bones that occurs with age, thereby reducing the risk of fractures or breaks. Making sure you drink enough water and consume adequate amounts of fiber can help prevent constipation.
As you age you may notice a loss of appetite. Decreased appetite may result from a slower metabolism rate. As people age, most use less energy, or calories, than they did in younger years. That’s because many older adults live less active lifestyles. By age 75, about one in three men and one in two women do not engage in any physical activity. Being more active can improve the appetite, and exercise (even moderate exercise like walking) provides a variety of health benefits.
Regular physical activity greatly reduces a person’s risk from dying of heart disease, and decreases the risk for colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Physical activity also helps to control weight; contributes to healthy bones, muscles, and joints; helps to relieve the pain of arthritis; reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression; and can decrease the need for hospitalizations, physician visits, and medications. Many elderly people have great access to exercise programs at their local recreational and assisted adult living communities.
Finally, physical activity does not need to be strenuous to be beneficial; people of all ages benefit from moderate physical activity. Before starting an exercise program, you should consult with your physician. It’s important to start slowly and increase your activity gradually. The trick is to find activities you truly enjoy. This way, you’ll actually look forward to your daily routine. After a few weeks, it may even become habit-forming.
Adopting healthy behaviors such as eating nutritious foods and being physically active can prevent or control the devastating effects of many of the nation’s leading causes of death regardless of one’s age.
Assisted living marketing services are provided by 800seniors.com a leading referral system in the assisted living industry. For more information, please visit Centenarians or call 1-800-768-8221. Sky Palma is a freelance staff writer.