Eat well to age well
Committing to a few simple practices can ensure we age healthily, writes Meera Murugesan
AGEING is inevitable but how do we ensure that the years are kind to us? With the decline in birth rates and a higher life expectancy, Malaysians are getting more concerned about what the future might bring if they do not start taking care of themselves.
Ageing is often associated with the deterioration of abilities and decreasing opportunities to enjoy a good quality of life. Hence, it is important for Malaysians to kickstart their healthy ageing journey early.
DO IT RIGHT
While we cannot stop ageing, we can take steps to ensure we age healthy, says Steven Chin, general manager / director of Herbalife Nutrition Malaysia. “Good nutrition is an essential component as it provides the body with what it needs to remain healthy,” he says.
Dr Hamid Jan Jan Mohamed, a member of the Herbalife Nutrition advisory board says there are a few important things to keep up with in order to age healthily, such as one’s general wellness, a positive nutrition habit and an active lifestyle. Having an active lifestyle is important in maintaining one’s body and health as we age, he explains.
“Additionally, having a healthy breakfast practice, such as reducing sugar and fat and consuming more grammes of protein and fibre for breakfast will result in one having lower blood sugar levels, and the tendency to be more satiated throughout the day,” adds Dr Hamid.
A healthy breakfast can also improve one’s performance during the day. It helps with cognitive function in terms of speed, concentration and problem-solving skills.
In addition, when one sleeps for eight hours or more, the body loses its nutrients and this can result in us becoming irritable when we wake up. Once the body is supplied with the energy it needs through good nutrition, we will feel more content and happier throughout the day.
According to the Asia-Pacific Risk Centre, Asia Pacific is the fastest ageing region in the world with over 200 million people being added into the ranks of the elderly (those aged 65 and above) from now till 2030. To uncover insights on attitudes and behaviours towards healthy ageing, Herbalife Nutrition conducted the 2018 Asia Pacific Healthy Ageing Survey with 5,500 people aged 40 and above from various countries including Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.
There were 500 Malaysian respondents who were part of the survey, all aged 40 and above and 76 per cent of them said that having a better understanding of the role of good nutrition in healthy ageing would help them make better nutrition choices, while 54 per cent mentioned that the ease of access to healthy ageing food options and products would help them make better nutrition choices.
Around 41 per cent of Malaysian respondents also stated that the availability of friends and family on the same healthy ageing journey would help them make better nutrition choices.
They were also aware of the importance of engaging in more regular physical activity to maintain health as one ages, with seven out of 10 respondents having already taken steps to be more physically active.
In the survey, Malaysian respondents also stated their definitions of heathy ageing with the majority (79 per cent) believing that remaining mentally active or alert as being the key factor.
Other definitions of healthy ageing which were stated included being physically active, not suffering from chronic diseases, not being a burden to their families and living a free and independent life.
Making better nutrition choices, going for more regular health check-ups, engaging in more physical activity and taking supplements that support healthy ageing were also identified as some of the steps towards ageing well.