By Dana DeMercurio

Someone has to say it: People who constantly complain about growing older are often times fishing for compliments – among other things.  Sure, being 35 isn’t the same as being 25, but who in their right mind wants to relive their 20s? Hard pass.  There are some seriously great advantages to getting older, and just in case you can’t figure that out on your own, we are happy to spell it out for you.

Offending Those Older Than You: When a woman of 35 tell her coworker of 55 that she feels old, how do you think that 55 year old woman feels? We’re going to go with completely insulted.  Just imagine if the tables were turned.  Yeah, not a pretty thought. Don’t make any enemies in 2015 with vain comments like these. You’ve officially been warned!

Placebo Affect: “You’re only as old as you feel” has always held a lot of weight in our opinion, and the more you tell yourself you feel old, the more your body is going to respond to that negativity. Have a healthy mind and a positive self-image without age getting in the way.

Life Is Short: If you’re constantly worrying about being older, your life will pass before your eyes and you will inevitably look back and think ‘why did I waste my youth worrying about getting old?’ Don’t live with that kind of regret.  Live life knowing that aging is a natural and beautiful process which unites the human race.  Embrace your age at every stage in life, and find the blessings and lessons within it.

Don’t Kill My Vibe: A lot of women embrace their age and the natural aging process, yet when they get together with friends who only speak ill of it, it kind of puts a damper on the whole thing.  Sometimes the best thing to do is keep that opinion to yourself, as others might find it ridiculous and annoying.

Getting Older is AWESOME: Getting older means not making the same mistakes twice, being able to share your life lessons with your family, watching your children blossom into adults and having children of their own and sharing even more precious moments with those you love.  All of these are contingent on you growing older. Don’t forget how beautiful your future can be if you just simply let it happen.

The post Why You Should Stop Complaining About Getting Older… appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Old age is inevitable. All of us will discover one day that our bodies no longer move like they used to, and our health problems seem to increase. The new good news is that there are things we can do to live longer and take care of ourselves now, no matter what age we are. Incorporating healthy habits into our lifestyle can make the aging process easier and maybe even prolong life.

Women, in particular, have certain health concerns as they get older. Osteoporosis affects many women so it is important to get enough calcium through food or supplements each day. The Recommended Daily Allowance of calcium for women age 19-50 is 1,000 milligrams per day while the recommendations for those over 50 are 1,200 milligrams. Women can also integrate other healthy habits for strong bones like strength training, avoiding caffeinated beverages, and quitting smoking.

Eat the Rainbow

It is important for everyone to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables because those who do so have consistent low rates of chronic diseases. The popular adage is to eat the rainbow, meaning that you should incorporate lots of different colors or varieties of fruits and vegetables into your diets. Colorful fruits and vegetables contain critical nutrients and antioxidants that can combat the aging process.

Floss Daily

Oral health is a critical part of taking care of oneself. Good daily habits like brushing your teeth and flossing go a long way in preventing not only dental problems but many diseases. Flossing is especially useful for reducing bacteria in your mouth because too much bacteria can cause inflammation, enter your blood stream, and increase your risk of heart disease.

Get Your Omega-3s

Omega-3s are fatty acids found in different foods including dark greens, nuts, and fish. There are two types that are essential for optimal health and those are EPA and DHA. Omega-3s provide all kinds of benefits including lowering cholesterol, reducing joint pain and inflammation, improving depression, and protecting against Alzheimer’s and dementia. Omega-3s are found in fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines as well as Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, flaxseed, soybean, and walnuts. People who do not like to eat fish should consider taking a fish oil supplement.

Move

It is a well-known fact that getting regular exercise can prolong life and make the aging process easier. On the other hand, exercise is harder as we get older, and it may also be harder to find time to be physically active as circumstances change and other pursuits compete for our time. Do your best to make exercise a priority in your family and find activities that you enjoy.

Get Regular Checkups

One of the best methods for living longer is to get regular checkups at the doctor’s office. Preventative care can detect health issues before they become problematic and your physician can assist you in implementing lifestyle changes to address those.

Of course, it takes time and effort to implement some of these changes into your daily routine. However, if they help you and your loved ones to live longer and improve the quality of life, it will be well worth it.

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