Fifty is the new 40, and 60 is the new 50 – or so we all hope! Those aged over 50 now make up 28 per cent of the New Zealand population.
Research led by Blackmores reveals the over-50s – the baby boomers – are highly focused on fitness and diet to ensure their well-being now and well into the future. The research also reveals they are most concerned about five health areas as they age: cognitive health, eye health, heart health, energy levels, and bone and joint health. So what can you do to keep fit and fabulous when you're over 50?
10 tips for the over-50s
- Eat a diet low in saturated and trans fats.
- Include healthy unsaturated fats from oils, spreads, nuts, seeds and fish.
- Minimise the amount of salt in your diet.
- Eat plenty of antioxidant-rich vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fruits, nuts and seeds.
- Prevent weight-gain by matching the food you eat with your physical activity.
- Stay active: aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day (the more the better).
- Enjoy three serves of calcium-rich, low-fat dairy foods daily for strong bones.
- Ensure you get your daily fix of vitamin D – from food and sunshine.
- Enjoy fish twice a week for omega-3 fats to protect the heart, mind, eyes and joints.
- Keep your mind active.
What's a baby boomer? Baby boomers are people born between 1946 and 1961 when New Zealand recorded a large spike in the birth rate after the end of WWII. More than one million New Zealanders were born during this time, and are now aged between 47 and 63.
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