Healthspan isn’t just a gift for you. It’s something you can share with friends, family, co-workers…everyone in your personal sphere.
And it’s a gift that keeps on giving for years and years.
What is Healthspan?
Healthspan isn’t just living longer…it’s about being healthier during the time that you’re alive, so you can enjoy your life and do the things you enjoy doing.
To this point, medical science has mostly focused on increasing human lifespan or longevity. In other words, helping us live longer.
And those efforts have paid off. So much so that within the next 30 years, a full 25% of the U.S. population will be older than age 65. That adds up to about 90 million people.
To put this in perspective…when Social Security was first created in 1935, there were a total of 7.8 million Americans who were over age 65 (just over 6% of the total population).
For the 90 million people who will be over the age of 65 in thirty years, healthspan represents the difference between being healthy and active during those later years, rather than being bedridden and limited.
Given the choice, wouldn’t you rather spend your later years enjoying your life, rather than just being kept alive?
The great news is that no matter what your age, you can take steps right now to improve both your healthspan and your lifespan.
Eat Right
Within the U.S., we live in a culture that is awash with excess calories, unhealthy fats, and sugar. Unfortunately, these do not promote a longer healthspan or lifespan.
Studies done on “super agers”…those people in their 80s and 90s who seem to defy the effects of aging…reveal that they usually adhere to a low-calorie diet rich in whole grains, fruit, and vegetables.
What’s missing from their diets? Highly processed foods and foods that contain excess sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.
How does a low-calorie diet that is low in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats promote healthy aging? Here are just a few ways:
- A diet that is low in unhealthy fats and salt promotes cardiovascular health. This reduces the risk for stroke, heart attacks, and high blood pressure.
- A diet that is high in fruit and vegetables will also be high in antioxidants. Antioxidants reduce cancer risk and promote cellular health.
- Reduced sugar consumption helps to reduce your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
- Overall, this eating style helps to control weight gain in the form of fat.
Exercise Regularly
Another common lifestyle factor for “super agers” is regular exercise.
Some researchers think this goes back to early human existence, when people spent most of their waking hours hunting and gathering.
Today, most people spend a majority of each day sitting. This leads to weight gain, and it also contributes to lower back problems.
Regular exercise boosts your metabolism, and it helps to maintain muscular and skeletal health.
Get Tested Regularly
Depending on your current health and your family history, your doctor may recommend routine blood tests like a CBC (also known as a complete blood count), a lipid panel (to check your cholesterol levels), and a comprehensive metabolic panel (to check things like liver and kidney function).
All adults over the age of 45 should be screened for colon cancer. Colon cancer has been called “the silent killer” because symptoms don’t occur until it’s fairly advanced.
And while you’re at it…have your hormone levels checked. Your body loses its ability to produce important hormones with age. Restoration of hormone levels through bioidentical hormone therapy can help to preserve muscle, bone, and neurological function as you get older.
It’s Up to You
Ready to give yourself the gift of healthspan? Renew Youth can help with advice about supplements, lifestyle changes, and hormone replacement therapy.
For more information, call us at 800-859-7511 or use our contact form to set up your free 30-minute consultation.