 Health & Nutrition
Thoughts on
Aging
Healthy Aging focuses on the Positive
(2 minutes: 58 seconds)
 MP3 (audio
only)
Audio/Video Script:
Dr. LaVona Traywick
Assistant Professor - Gerontology
[Announcer] Welcome to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona Traywick,
Assistant Professor of Gerontology with the University of Arkansas Division of
Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
[Dr. LaVona Traywick] Aging is not all bad. Remember when you were 8 and couldn't wait to be 16?
Or when you were 50 and couldn't wait to be retired? There are positive
aspects of growing older, but you have to be the one to take personal
responsibility for your health ... be it physical, social, mental or
financial help.
Here are some Healthy Aging Mental Wellness Tips to help you focus on the
positive:
1. If you think old, you are old…so don't think old!
2. Exercise, exercise, exercise! Exercise is important for everyone,
including seniors, to stay healthy, exercise. Find opportunities to exercise daily. Make
exercise fun and do the things you like. You can always ask a friend to join you,
or join a local recreation center or fitness club.
3. You are what you eat. I bet you've heard that before. Cooking is one way to stay healthy and positive
and it can add meaning to life. For example, challenge yourself to find and
cook recipes that incorporate beans. One of the most nutritionally complete
foods available, beans are the only food that fit into two groups on the USDA
Food Guide Pyramid, both as a vegetable and protein.
4. Avoid depression. Activities, volunteering, socializing, hobbies, and
exercise help to discourage depression. If you feel depressed, don't suffer
with it alone. ASK FOR HELP!
5. Laugh out loud and laugh a lot. Laughter doesn't cost a cent, it is
highly contagious, and it is very good for your body and mind.
6. Money doesn't grow on trees. Examine your finances and set goals for
your financial future to help alleviate financial stress.
I bet you could come up with some other tips to
stay healthy and positive. Try writing them down and then do it.
I'm Dr. LaVona Traywick, and those are just a few Thoughts on Aging.
[Announcer] Thank you for listening to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona
Traywick. To learn more about this and other topics, contact your local county
Cooperative
Extension Service office.
Resource:
Healthy Aging 2009 (http://www.healthyaging.net/fitness.htm)
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