When you discover the joys of being retired and the wonderful opportunities being retired offers you to experience so many new things you will want to have as long a retirement as possible. Not only a long retirement but a healthy one too so that you have as many years as possible to benefit from all that is possible at this stage of your life.
In order to remain as fit and healthy as you can be for as long as possible it is important to become aware of the healthy habits that you need to follow to achieve this.
You may have been someone who was fit and healthy during your working years yet so often the stress of the job may have meant that good intentions fell by the way and were neglected. Similarly in retirement you may intend to be as healthy as possible yet get into lazy habits without much effort.
Healthy habits may not be easy to maintain especially at first, but if you persist then you will have the benefits of remaining fit and well for longer. But it may take some perseverance until the habits become automatic and you do them without thinking.
What are the healthy habits you need to develop when you are retired?
Food
Concentrate on eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and eat as little as possible of pre-made food. Eat food in as natural state as possible keeping a balance between the different food groups. These are: low fat protein: meat, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, pulses and seeds as well as soya products such as Tofu; complex carbohydrates such as whole grains: wheat, barley, oats, corn, rice; and healthy oils, such as olive oil, in moderation
Exercise
Keep your joints and muscles active with regular walking, stretching, such as yoga, and any exercise which increases your heart rate such as swimming, dancing, exercising to music or tennis.
Fresh air
Get outside every day; take a walk around the streets where yo live and at least once a week venture further to the sea or into the country side where you can see birds and flowers and experience some connection with nature on a regular basis.
Poisons
Cut out anything which might be poisoning you and can control such as smoking, excessive alcohol or food additives. Only take prescribed medication and understand your options and possible side effects for taking or not taking it.