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50 Health Tips Every Person Over 50 Should Know

Staying healthy as you age is of utmost importance. Your body has gotten you this far, let’s make sure it keeps going for the next five decades! With that in mind, here are some tips to help you make the most of your health now and in the future.

1.  Indulge in bitters to keep your liver healthy. Your liver can always use a little extra help. Use artichoke, dandelion, and chicory roots to make a tincture. Take a drop every day to boost your liver health.

2. Keep your memory sharp. Worried about your memory? Take American ginseng every day, either dried and powdered or in tea form and your mind will be sharper than ever.

3. Eat more cinnamon. Did you know that cinnamon makes it easy to manage your blood sugar levels? It increases insulin sensitivity and makes your body process carbs a little slower.

4. Use a salt substitute. Skip the salt and use herbs like dried celery, oregano, or thyme to add some flavor or add a squeeze of lime. Salt can cause hypertension, so you really need to keep your heart protected.

5.. Use a sugar substitute. Replace sugar to stay healthy! If you normally take sugar in your tea, try lemon or honey instead. For coffee, switch the sugar out for cinnamon or nutmeg.

6. Increase your protein intake. Protein is particularly important to those over 50, so make sure you add in some extra to each meal.

7. Eliminate inflammation. Feeling some pain from inflammation? Include a little turmeric in your daily diet to naturally reduce arthritis pain.

8. Try something new. Learning new skills keeps your neurons firing and can help keep dementia at bay. Plus, it’s fun!

9. Grow some plants. Did you know that plants can reduce stress levels and improve your heart health? Consider starting a herb garden, or adding a few house plants to your space.

10. Protect your gums. As we age, gum health becomes more and more important, so rinse with oregano or peppermint tea to help eliminate bacteria.

11. Get your vitamin D. You may not have time to lay out in the sun, but spending time outdoors will increase the amount of vitamin D you absorb. It can help your bones stay strong and boost your immune system.

12. Never stop hydrating. Water can be boring, so add some chopped up fruit or a squeeze of citrus. Hydrating properly will keep you looking younger for longer.

13. Add leafy greens to your diet. Leafy green plants like spinach, kale, broccoli, and even lettuce, will help you stay regular and reduce the risk of a number of health issues, including diabetes and bowel problems.

14. Get enough sleep. Sleep is very important, no matter your age, but even more so after you turn 50. Proper sleep helps you maintain a healthy immune system, proper weight, and reduces the risk of cognitive issues. Try drinking chamomile tea at night to help you sleep.

15. Add probiotics to your meals. Taking probiotics is an excellent way to keep your gut in good shape. Sauerkraut, yogurt, and kimchi are excellent sources of probiotics.

16. Go for a walk. If you walk daily, you’ll lower your risk of having heart problems.

17. Get dirty. Did you know that skin to soil contact can actually help prevent depression and make you feel amazing?

18. Eat more garlic. Garlic is a great source of probiotics and is also helpful in boosting your immune system.

19. Beat menopause. For women who are dealing with the effects of menopause, black cohosh can be useful in reducing those issues.

20. Avoid prostate problems. Taking saw palmetto extract is a good idea for men who are seeing issues with their prostates.

21. Eat plenty of calcium. Broccoli, dairy products, and spinach are a few good sources of this essential bone builder to prevent osteoporosis.

22. Upgrade your mental alertness. Feeling fuzzy? Take some Ginkgo Biloba to spark your brain.

23. Eat more potassium. Bananas, dark leafy greens, and papaya can help you reduce the amount of muscle loss that occurs with age.

24. Make your own kefir or yogurt. Not only is it fun to grow your own probiotics at home, but you can also tailor them to your own tastes.

25. Sip aloe vera. A little aloe in your daily glass of water can help keep your digestive tract on track.

26. Eat six small meals. As you age, your digestion changes, so you will probably find that eating several small meals is easier on your body than three large meals.

27. Use aromatherapy. You can use your own herbs to spice up your life or calm it down. Smell peppermint for some pep and lavender to relax.

28. Help someone else. Just the act of helping someone, whether in person or online, via donation, volunteering, or something else, can help boost your mental health.

29. Munch some almonds. These tasty nuts are great for lowering cholesterol and are packed with nutrients, to boot.

30. Eat more berries. Blackberries, blueberries, and cranberries contain Anthocyanosides to help you keep your eyesight as perfect as possible.

31. Make some tea. Echinacea tea is a great way to strengthen your immune system and avoid getting sick with colds.

32. Soak your nails. Make horsetail tea and soak your fingernails in it to help strengthen them. This works with hair, too!

33. Eliminate infections. Untreated infections can cause a lot of problems, so consider taking fresh oregano or an oregano tincture to help keep infections away.

34. Look younger with face masks. You can make your own mask with equal parts activated charcoal, yogurt, and turmeric, with a splash of witch hazel. Leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse it off to see a younger-looking face.

35. Boost GI health. As we age, our GI tract can become a little sensitive. A cup of ginger or peppermint tea each day will help keep tummy issues at bay.

36. Eat more rosemary. Rosemary is the herb to reach for if you want to make sure your iron and B6 levels are high enough. Adding it to your meals is the simplest way to do this.

37. Drink golden milk daily. Mix your favorite kind of milk (nut milk works fine), heated, with a tablespoon of turmeric and a little honey to reduce inflammation and arthritic pain.

38. Treat your skin issues. Do you have patches of dry skin, eczema, or other issues with your skin? Try rubbing a little evening primrose oil on the areas that are affected to get your skin back to normal.

39. Stay regular. If you need some help with regular bowel movements, you definitely want to add flax and chia to your diet.

40. Treat your wounds immediately. If you get a small cut or another injury, you need to take care of it quickly to avoid problems. Tea tree oil is a good thing to have on hand for insect bites or cuts, as it prevents bacterial growth.

41. Keep your mood elevated. It’s easy to drift into thinking negative thoughts, but with a little effort, you can stay happy and healthy. Try taking a bath or facial steam with lavender or peppermint to boost your mood.

42. Spice it up. Adding cayenne pepper to your chai or food will improve heart health and give your immunity a little boost.

43. Drink green tea daily. Green tea is a pleasant drink that will also help you stay energetic and healthy, plus it’s better for you than coffee.

44. Ingest more collagen. You can add collagen powder to your drinks, but it’s also possible to drink bone broth for a more natural option to improve your skin.

45. Get rid of excess liquids. Do you deal with bloating or edema? Drinking parsley tea (a handful of parsley in a cup of boiling water) or just eating it raw can help increase urination.

46. Take your medications on time. If you have to take medications, set an alarm to ensure you take them on time for maximum benefits.

47. Use ginkgo more often. Gingko made into a tea can help boost your libido.

48. Clean your teeth. Poor dental hygiene can result in heart disease, strokes, and Alzheimer’s among other health issues. Chew mint leaves to help with breath and to keep your teeth healthy.

49. Get those checkups. You may not want to go to the doctor, but it’s more important now than ever.

50. Laugh every day. Laughter really is the best medicine, so go ahead and use it. Read a funny story, watch a comedian, or spend some time with a child.

Aging can be tough if you’re not prepared for it, but by following these tips, you can stay healthy and active for years to come.

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I am shocked and greatly saddened by some of this advice, since it is outdated and proven ineffective! Do NOT use a salt substitute: your body needs healthy sea salt or pink salt for good health! Do NOT try to skip calories by using a sugar substitute: these chemical concoctions train you to crave more and more sweeter and sweeter foods and beverages! Cut back on sugar by using raw organic honey or real maple syrup. Eating more smaller meals simply makes your digestive tract work overtime, making it impossible to use up extra calories (they go into storage), eliminate more toxins (they also go into storage), or heal damage from oxidative stress (like eliminating skin tags). You may, in fact, benefit from eating only one or two meals a day, within a shorter time frame–or eat all three meals within an 8-hour window, and let your digestive tract rest and heal. Eating a fermented food daily will protect you from viruses and other pathogens, supply enzymes and probiotics, balance the pH of your bodily fluids, and keep your digestive tract moving smoothly.

Cathie, I could not have said it better myself!

Sage advice

My message Is a response to Cathie……..I wholeheartedly agree about no sugar and using honey or maple syrup. This is Sage advice. Allowing the body time to rest from having to digest food is sage advice. Almonds are so contaminated these days due to mono farming that we can no longer trust this food source. “Lost Herbs” you ha e raised a few excellent points as well. Thank You for the article.
The comment made about Cathie being more concerned with weight loss was extremely unkind and those types of ugly comments need to be removed. It wasn’t necessary. Everyone can share without dragging down the communication

Hi Selina,

Thank you so much for your comment and for your feedback as well.
We will take it into consideration.

God bless!

Cathy, I am greatly shocked and saddened by your response. How very disrespectful, close-minded, and unappreciative you are of valuable information that we wouldn’t otherwise have the good fortune to be exposed to. Readers should be allowed to form their own opinion, yes, but in a positive light. You could have worded your response more favorably.

I Strongly agree with your opinion, Pamela. I am so grateful for “The Lost Herbs”page. We have to learn to make our own choices, what could work for us and pick up the specific things – not to judge.

I actually would avoid using the pink Tibetan salt as it contains a lot of iron. Here is a link about the dangers of iron supplementation….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrPbAXCNitY

Are you overweight? Once your stomach has shrunk then you should be over the hump and then your body will react accordingly.

How big are your dishes. Portion control is important. I’m now using the bread & butter plate and the dessert bowl for meals. Since my stomach shrunk (I was massively sick, no food for a week), I’m keeping the weight off. Even the luncheon plate is too big.

Honey and syrup are sugar. You really get educated about nutrition.

Clearly you didn’t read the words about sugar substitutes. She did NOT suggest artificial sweeteners. Her suggestions were sound. Also, there is no single plan for every body.

Hi Gab,

Thank you so much for your comment.
We truly appreciate your kind words.

God bless!

Cathie Ochoa. Her advice was very safe and helpful. I care fir my 95 year old mother who is on no medications. Walks and swims. She can not physically eat a meal big enough to keep her small body happy for more than 2 hours or so. The 5-6 meal plan for the elderly is a proven way to get nutrition digested. We are not talking huge meals. The off time meals can be as simple as a piece of fruit or nuts or hummus and crackers. And a glass of kefir or buttermilk. You look in your photo to be quite young so you probably need to be more concerned with weightloss than getting more protein or nutrition in. As was said in previous comments everyones body has different needs!

Hello Elaine, I’m 65. I’ve lost over 50 pounds since January.

congrats on your weight loss!!!! tell me how you did it, what worked for you! hope you continue to enjoy good health….

Good for you. I am on the other side,I need to eat several meals a day to maintain a decent weight. I’m in my seventies and appreciate all the info I get from this sight.

Hi Elaine,

Thank you so much for your comment. We really appreciate it.
Every body is different and reacts different, depending on the lifestyle.

God bless!

I’m a publisher in Charleston, SC and I love this encouraging article. Would like to run it in our magazine with your permission. Contact me to discuss further.

Hi Lori,

Thank you so much for your comment and for your offer as well.
Please check your personal e-mail address, as we are willing to contact you.

God bless!

Thanks for sharing. I love the emails about all the plant advice. I try making my own natural medicine for me and my family when sick or to prevent sickness. I have the book and it is by far the best plant book I have!

Hi Crystal,

Thank you so much for your comment.
We appreciate your dedication and your passion for herbal healing as well.

God bless!

I’m a medical provider and I find most of these suggestions spot on with functional/ integrative medicine . Thank you for your great up to date recommendations., especially salt substitute recommendations as it’s effective as a natural intervention for lowering blood pressure.

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