Healthy Ageing
Life beyond 65 can be full of happiness. We may begin to cut back on paid work and if we are lucky, we can use our spare time to get out and about in the garden, on our bikes, or tramping through the bush. We may have grandchildren to care for and a heap of other interests that we can now enjoy. Increased life expectancy, new connections and better health in these years often brings with it greater positivity and fulfilment.
There are of course physiological, social and psychological changes that come with ageing. These may deplete our energy at a time when we most want to live life to the full! Naturopathy can help you to ‘connect the dots’, finding causes for any health imbalance. At Louella Natural Health, I work in a holistic way, treating the mind and body, with an aim to bring back balance. After careful consultation, your treatment plan gives you lifestyle and dietary advice, herbal or nutrient supplementation, in line with any other medications that you are taking. My aim is to support your body’s capacity to heal.
So, What is ‘Health’?
The World Health Organisation defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental/cognitive, and social well-being, rather than merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.
In 2022, a systematic review grouped healthy ageing into several categories. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8821855/
This study identified the determinants of healthy ageing:
The report concluded that healthy ageing appears to be the result of all these determinants being optimized:
Physical activity, diet, self-awareness, outlook/attitude, life-long learning, faith, social support, financial security, community engagement, and independence.
Community engagement and social support came out top, together with physical exercise and a positive attitude. Maintaining social connections has been proven to be one of the main ways to keep young. We are social beings and surrounding ourselves with friends and family is a great way to keep our brains active. Taking up a new hobby, like salsa dancing or playing a musical instrument, helps to form new neural pathways and keeps regenerating the brain.
Maintaining a healthy body and mind are key in our later years. Digestive health becomes more important, as we need optimum digestion in order to absorb nutrients for energy, to fight disease, for our bones and joints and for brain and cardiovascular health. Some medications can upset our digestive system and reduce nutrient absorption. At Louella Natural Health, I work with these medications and focus on your gut health, in order to make sure that you are getting the very best from your nutrition.
Let me guide you to your healthiest and best life!
Louella
