One study that looked at the aging of women found a significant difference between recent years and before. Women seem to have been aging better in the past ten years than ever before. Researchers have shown that this likely resulted from increased opportunities for higher education, good-quality housing and more employment opportunities.
Aside from those factors, there are others that contribute to better aging:
- Eating healthier with more fruits and vegetables
- Staying away from high-fat foods
- Drinking plenty of water (at least 2 liters per day)
- Getting regular exercise (meditation is a good one)
- Doing something nice for yourself every week.
Healthier Diets
Healthy diets promote good cardiovascular health because they reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and increase HDL (good cholesterol). Keeping stress low also promotes heart health by lowering blood pressure and keeping your heart rate under control. In addition, the ability to remain calm allows for a better focus on taking care of one’s body. Finally, exercise reduces weight gain, which helps with bad cholesterol levels and reduces stress while strengthening muscles. Benefiting from these three outcomes also leads to longer life expectancy after menopause.
Stress-Management Techniques
Another significant reason for healthy aging is stress management. Stress inhibits the body from responding to disease. Therefore, women who manage stress effectively are better able to stay healthy and live longer.
Women in midlife can accomplish these things by making small changes in their lifestyles. For example, try eating a few fruits and vegetables every day, drinking plenty of water, taking time out for exercise and doing something you enjoy at least once a week.
Healthy stress-management techniques include yoga and meditation. These practices work with the body to reduce stress, which will help women age better.
When a person is more optimistic about life, he or she is more prone to healthy aging. Optimistic people tend to have fewer negative thoughts about themselves or their lives. This positive outlook allows them to enjoy life and live longer, healthier lives.
Women can also age better psychologically. Some women may have experience with mental health issues, but getting help for these problems will improve one’s health. Mental health therapy and counseling can help you face your emotions about aging. In addition, seeking out the right support when needed allows for better coping skills in the future.
More Exercise
Exercise reduces stress, prevents muscle and bone loss and is beneficial for long-term heart health. Stress-reduction techniques are also helpful because they reduce the anxiety that may be a cause of unhealthy behaviors. Yoga exercises slow down the aging process of the immune system so that it does not overreact to stress or illness. Regular meditation improves the immune response by reducing cortisol levels in the body.
Healthy Aging Through Positive Thinking
Ultimately, this leads to a more positive outlook on life. Positive thinking is something that will come with mental health therapy and counseling. People must be able to cope with their emotions if they are feeling down about aging. Optimism comes from seeing oneself positively in the mirror and having others affirm these perspectives. By overcoming some of their emotional struggles, women can become strong leaders who encourage others to age well.
Women are aging better now than ever before. This is because of new ways to cope with daily stress and anxiety, positive thinking techniques, exercise habits, healthy eating habits and coping skills for mental health problems. These small life changes will make all the difference between living a long, healthy life after menopause versus a short one.