BETTER ODDS

Trying to improve your health? Fight the tendency to list the things you shouldn’t do and instead focus on the things that you should. And if even that sounds overwhelming, plan on doing something—anything—to help kickstart your new lifestyle.

That’s right. Do something. Walk, run, dance, take a yoga class. Just get off the couch and do something. Instead of being resigned to living a life through chemistry, live a lifestyle that can help you feel better without increasing your meds. Of course, there are plenty of ailments that require prescriptions. We’re not talking about those. Instead, we’re talking about a tendency to self-medicate as we get older.

Is it possible to rely on too many medications as you age?

Are there ways to improve your health without or in addition to pills? The evidence and experts all point to yes. And before you start serving up excuses, remember that age, ethnicity, shape or size do not matter.

Shannon Denny, a wellness coordinator with a degree in exercise science from the University of Illinois and 30 years of experience helping people with their health, says basic human health, including diseases, can be positively impacted by exercise.

“We find this to be true with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, any circulatory disease, and autoimmune disease,” says Denny, who is the fitness specialist at Monarch Landing, an active adult living community in Naperville, Illinois.

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Massive benefits

Denny is not alone in her claims. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, simple physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. The list the CDC gives is impressive. Regular physical activity can improve your life in many ways, including:

• Controlling your weight

• Reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease

• Reducing your risk for type 2 diabetes

• Reducing your risk of some cancers

• Strengthening bones and muscles

• Improving your mood and mental health

• Improving your chances of living a longer life

In addition, the CDC says if you already have type 2 diabetes, exercise is instrumental in helping to control your blood glucose levels. “Even with cancer we find that exercise not only helps reduce the side effects of treatment but also helps to decrease the likelihood of having cancer,” says Denny. “Cancer hates oxygen and loves sugar. Exercise helps to reduce the environment in which cancer loves to grow. There is so much medical research saying that we should not overlook exercise in cancer prevention and treatment.”

Mind matters

Studies show that people who are physically active are less likely to experience a decline in their mental function and have a lowered risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

“Physical activity seems to help the brain not only by keeping your blood flowing but also by increasing chemicals that protect the brain,” according to the Mayo Clinic. “Physical activity also tends to counter some of the natural reduction in brain connections that occurs with aging.”

In terms of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, exercise plays a critical role in helping maintain gray matter and even to improve it, according to Denny. “It helps with typical cognitive decline associated with aging. The No. 1 way to maintain your gray matter mass is by exercising. There hasn’t been a drug yet that’s been able to help a brain from atrophying like exercise has.”

Exercise also helps improve a person’s outlook on life. According to CDC research, it can also reduce the risk of depression and may help you sleep better, which could help minimize the need for certain prescriptions or help them work more effectively. “Exercise is the most powerful component to mental health,” says Denny. “Even if people need to change their chemistry through medication, it’s not as effective without exercise.”

Eat right

Studies also show that nutrition plays a major role in the prevention of diseases. “We simply can’t overlook that what we’re putting into our bodies will either help us or hurt us,” says Denny.

Denny agrees that navigating the latest information on nutrition can be confusing, but there are some basic truths. “All experts would agree on keeping a diet full of fresh vegetables and some fruits such as berries,” she says “They supply most of our antioxidants and can help the immune system stay strong, which will in turn help us ward off many maladies.” Denny says experts also agree that reducing or eliminating processed foods can dramatically improve your health.

And don’t forget to drink your water. “Everything that happens in the body biochemically either needs the molecule H20 for the reaction or it needs to happen in the environment of H20,” she says. “When you’re short on water, you’re shorting yourself on necessary metabolic processes.”

Even if you want to commit to a few New Year’s resolutions for piano lessons? Again? Really? Make a bold statement by deciding to do the one thing that can help you live a better life in 2023 and beyond.