HEALTH/WELLNESS

I became a vegetarian in 2016. I was living on a farm, and most of the younger farmworkers were vegetarian. I was slightly overweight, but that wasn't the reason I decided to try it. I developed arthritis in the joints of my hands in my 30s, particularly affecting my thumbs. I had chronic neck problems that exacerbated in my late 30s, diagnosed as bone spurs from arthritis, and eventually required cervical spinal surgery. It slowly progressed over the next 25 years to most of the joints in my body. 

I have been writing a piece for work on how our perspectives and attitudes on historical events change over time. It applies to the narrative we present to the public, but I’ve also been thinking about how it applies to me as I age. I have definitely “softened” with age. I think we all do. What do I mean by “softening”? 

It seems the catchphrase today is “mindfulness.” But what exactly is mindfulness and what is a mindfulness practice? How can mindfulness help us as we age? I was reminded of this blog last week when I was evacuated due to a wildfire. The fire came in fast and we were given 15-20 minutes to evacuate last week. We’d been told a couple of hours earlier about the fire and advised of the possibility of evacuation. However, when the order was given, I was surprised at my reaction. I experienced fear, anxiety, extreme sadness, and emptiness. Instead of being grateful for my safety, and the kindness of a friend who took me in, my reaction was anxiety. Instead of being grateful for all the fire personnel who put their lives on the line for my safety, I turned inward. I caught myself quickly and fought back hard to regain some balance.

A topic of great concern as we age is our cognitive decline. What we hear about most is dementia and Alzheimer’s disease because of their prevalence. But what happens to our brains as we age? As with other physical changes, our brains shrink, especially in the frontal cortex. What is the function of the frontal cortex? It’s part of the brain that affects our motor skills, judgment, abstract thinking, creativity, social appropriateness, emotions, personality, self-control, muscle control and movements, memory storage, and attention. That is an overwhelming list of brain-declining functions we may experience as we age.

Silver Chats is writing a two-part series on dietary supplements. This is part 1 of the 2-part series. Estimates are that more than one-third of Americans take dietary supplements. They are a part of my daily health regime. Do you take them? How do you choose which ones to use and purchase? To begin our journey through dietary supplements, let’s explore what they are, their differences, and how to choose them.

Silver Chats is writing a two-part series on dietary supplements. This is part 2 of the 2-part series. Estimates are that more than one-third of Americans take dietary supplements. They are a part of my daily health regime. Do you take them? How do you choose which ones to use and purchase? To begin our journey through dietary supplements, let’s explore what they are, their differences, and how to choose them.

Is it a fact or myth that we can’t control our weight as we age? Are we resigned to having thick middles and weak muscles? Are our days of svelt bodies past? I was overweight entering my 60’s but lost 40 pounds, so I know it’s possible. But I’ve also noticed a decrease in my strength. Can we combat these changes associated with aging holistically? Silver Chats believes we can.

I love eating. I love food. I love international cuisine. I show my family I love them through food. I am an emotional eater. I reward myself with food. I eat when I’m having a bad day. I eat when I celebrate. I comfort myself with food. Instead of drugs or alcohol, I anesthetize myself with food. I cook or bake. Often, food is how I express gratitude, love, and appreciation. I spend hours scrolling recipes and saving them on my phone. I have a running grocery list of ingredients for recipes I’ve saved. I plan my weekly meals and always have food prepped and ready in the refrigerator. It is the focus of my attention daily. My relationship with food is not based on sustenance alone; it is much more. Does this sound familiar?

September 16, 2024
There are so many sources of information available to us nowadays. Many retirees spend hours each day scrolling the internet and looking for ways to improve their lives, stay young, and be healthy. Endless ads for products and services offer miracle cures, focus on specific areas of health and wellness, and promise a youthful appearance.

August 26, 2024
What do you know about fasting? If you are like me, I thought it meant going without food, starving and tired, and being hangry. Yes, I said hangry. When I’m hungry, I get cranky. I’ve skipped meals accidentally or fasted for premedical testing, but never for health benefits. Many of our attitudes around food and eating are built on societal norms and have no scientific basis. The idea of eating three meals a day has only been around for two centuries. It has never been a biological mandate. Then we added snacks between these meals, all while sitting in front of the TV. We wonder why 73.6% of Americans are overweight (CDC), and 41.9% of those are obese. That translates to 1 in 3 adults being overweight and 2 in 5 adults being obese. This high food consumption, coupled with sedentary lifestyles, is the root of obesity and chronic illnesses. I find these statistics staggering, showing an epidemic-level health crisis. But what if there was a natural way to counter obesity and chronic illness and live a longer, healthier life? Fasting may be the answer.

It took me many years of trial and error to figure out my physiology and what my body needed for better health and wellness. The choices, recommendations, and guidelines for age-related diet, exercise, and mental well-being didn’t work for me. I did my own form of biohacking, not giving it a name. I experimented with exercise, foods, sleep, supplements, stress levels, spirituality, and lifestyle. What I discovered is a correlation between my holistic aging practices and biohacking for longevity.

Silver Chats explores what happens to our five senses as we age. We all know that our perception and connection with the world is through our 5 senses. What we see, smell, touch, taste, and hear form the basis for our learning, quality of life, and our ability to adapt. Our nervous system receives and processes information through the sensory organs of the eyes, nose, skin, tongue, and ears.

If you're like me, you are bombarded with choices of anti-aging topicals, from face creams and serums to miracle creams for crepey skin on arms, thighs, and buttocks. I have gotten sucked into fad creams that offer unrealistic results and spent an inordinate amount of money on them. The draw of having youthful skin that has fewer wrinkles, more moisture, and fewer age spots from a cream that is applied topically sounds fantastic. A serum that could be applied at night and you could wake to a smoother, tighter face would be miraculous. But are there products on the market that meet these claims? Is there validity to products marketed as miracles for anti-aging skin? How safe are these products, and what exactly is in them? Silver Chats did the research, and here’s what we discovered.

Proven Relaxation Techniques to Benefit Aging
May 27, 2024

There is probably no time in our lives when learning to relax is more important than when we age—transitioning from a lifestyle of working and raising families to a less busy, less hectic lifestyle calls for adopting new habits. Life changes that include health concerns and cognitive decline are a new kind of stress we develop. Including relaxation techniques to help both physically and mentally is part of holistic aging practices.

Why Chase Youth In Aging
April 16, 2024

There are now 56 million people in the United States over 60. That’s one in six people. Stanford University says that 60% of this population will live past 80. That is a staggering percentage of us moving into aging. Those numbers reinforce the need to address holistic aging and the practices that ensure ageless possibilities.

The Wisdom of Aging Gracefully
April 1, 2024

We would all love to think we are aging gracefully. But are we? What is your self-image, and how do you feel about growing older? Are you taking the steps for self-care necessary to age gracefully? Aging gracefully isn't about youthful appearance. It's not about grasping onto what was but embracing what is. It’s about acceptance, lifestyle choices, and adapting to the changes that accompany the aging process

The Benefits of Massage Therapy in Aging
February 19, 2024

There are many reasons why people seek out massage therapy. In my 8 years of practice, I find most of my clients are looking for relaxation, pain management, injury prevention, and/or injury treatment. Massage is a wonderful modality that can meet and surpass all of those goals. Its healing benefits can be measured on the physical, mental, and emotional scales. 

Get A Move On!
January 16, 2024

Let’s chat about moving. Not from your home, not from your friends and family. I'm referring to that chair, couch, desk, or bed you sit, or lie in most of the time. Did you know that 6 or more hours a day of sitting or lying down are “requirements” for a sedentary lifestyle? That's a shocking fact! Unfortunately, in this information age of technology, that is an easy requirement to meet. TVs, computers, smartphones, and retirement all promote long periods of inertia.