One thing they need to add is that they want to be the healthiest and fittest one hundred- and twenty-year-olds that ever walked the face of Mother Earth.

Generally, two concepts on aging exist.

1. Usual Aging
2. Successful Aging

Everyone will love to age successfully BUT it takes effort and preparation. One cannot just “walk” into successful aging but surely if you walk the path of least resistance, you are more likely to go along the path of Usual Aging that is if you get the privilege and honour of living to a ripe old age.

USUAL AGING

• Gradual decline in physical abilities especially from decreased physical activities
• Gradual memory loss
• Decrease in social engagements
• Increased risk of age-related diseases and their complications

SUCCESSFUL AGING

• Positive mental health and wellbeing
• Active engagement in life
  • Work
  • Hobbies
  • Social activities
• High physical activity
• Low risk of disease and disability
• Resilience and able to adapt quickly

Factors that set the tone for successful aging

• Genetics – you may have wonderful genes but if environmental factors stated below are abandoned, you may erode your chance of aging successfully.
• Lifestyle Choices
  • Diet- at least one meal a day should be as close to natural state as possible. Load your meals with fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts.
  • Exercise – the wonder pill that signs our cheque for successful aging
  • Stress Management – learn to enjoy life, explore nature and the world and simply LIVE
• Social Connections – another longevity pillar. Humans are social beings, and we all need a friend or two we can confide in and spend quality time with.
  • Spend time with people your age, people older and many far younger
• Access to healthcare – having access to a good, reliable healthcare system goes a long way to keep us alive and healthy. Dental care, eye care and hearing are very important as well.
• Personal attitudes and resilience
• Making sure you have hobbies, a kind heart, the life of the party (laughter) and give back to society.
• Engage your brain often and feed it with the Mind Diet as often as possible.

The choice lies in your hands; will you age successfully so that you can do more of the things you love, enjoy your family and friends and impact several generations while being independent? Alternatively, you may make your doctor’s office your social centre, feed on pills and require help for even the minutest of things.

AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)

Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel

Health Essentials Ltd (HE&W Group)

(dressel@healthessentialsgh.com)

*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in Exercise Therapy, Fitness Nutrition and Corrective Exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’

Thought for the week (1) – “The aging you want tomorrow begins with the choices you make today.” What choices are you making? Time to reflect.

(2) – “No one should face breast cancer alone”