Home Remedies to enjoy healthy living longer and strong

There is an adage that says, “Life begins at 40.” However, this is also often the time that the body starts to wear out, signaling the onset of life style induced diseases. With hectic schedules, inconsistent health-care patterns and unhealthy habits, most people are plagued by silent but life-threatening conditions such as Hypertension, Diabetes, Kidney disease, Arthritis, Inherited High Cholesterol, heart failure, chronic fatigue, Cancer, etc.

Researchers say eating healthfully and having an active lifestyle can support healthy aging. The best way to obtain the nutrients that are needed by our body is from natural foods; the way nature prepared them.

For body’s optimum health, good nutrition is absolutely essential. In all the food we eat, whether it comes from plants or animals, is slowing or preventing the development of disease. Some experts suggest that nutrients, particularly the antioxidants, can also delay the wear and tear of aging itself by reducing the damage done to cells.

Many practitioners of complementary medicine recommend the use of supplements, water, fruits, food, vegetables, roots, fresh air, exercise and sleep to improve healthful living and elimination of toxins. Proper diet is of much more value than medicine in the production and maintenance of good health.

Many of our most common and serious diseases are caused by wrong habits of eating and drinking, we eat too much and most of what we eat is poison to our system. Half of what we eat keeps us alive, and the other half keeps the physician’s pocket alive.

Here are a few common health problems you should watch if you are in your 40s and above.

HYPERTENSION AND CHOLESTEROL

These are two of the most common silent diseases among today’s population. If not well managed,, these heart-health indicators may slowly present a cumulative risk of developing into other serious problems such as heart attack and stroke. Regular heart check-up can help monitor and diagnose any complications, especially if you have a family history of coronary heart disease or stroke. It is commonly recommended you undergo cholesterol testing every 5 years after the age of 40. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) is when the pressure in your blood vessels is too high (140/90 mmHg or higher). It is common but can be serious if not treated.

People with high blood pressure may not feel symptoms. The only way to know is to get your blood pressure checked to be sure.

Very high blood pressure can cause headache, blurred vision, chest pain and other symptoms. Others may include dizziness, difficulty in breathing, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, confusion, buzzing in the ears, nose bleeds or abnormal heart rhythm.

Things that increase the risk of high blood pressure include: Old age, genetics, overweight or obesity, not being physically active, high salt diet, too much alcohol and tobacco.

Blood pressure is written as two numbers: the first (systolic) number represents the pressure in blood vessels when the heart contracts or beats;  the second (diastolic) number represents the pressure in the vessels when the heart rests between beats.

DANGERS OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Among other complications, hypertension can cause serious damage to the heart. Excessive pressure can harden arteries, decreasing the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart. The elevated pressure and reduced blood flow can cause; Chest pain, also called angina, heart attack, which occurs when the blood supply to the heart is blocked and heart muscle cells die from lack of oxygen. The longer the blood flow is blocked, the greater the damage to the heart.

Heart failure, which occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to other vital body organs.  Irregular heart beat which can lead to a sudden death. Hypertension can also burst or block arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain, causing a stroke. In addition, Hypertension can cause kidney damage, leading to kidney failure.

Prevention

Life style changes can help lower high blood pressure and can help anyone with hypertension. Stress management is also important.

WHAT TO DO:

Eat more vegetables and fruits, lower the amount of salt in your diet, sit less, be more physically active, which can include walking, running, swimming, dancing or activities that build strength like lifting weights

Get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity. Lose weight if you are overweight or obese. Take medicines as prescribed by your health care professional. Reduce stress, emotional factors play a role in blood pressure·

Keep appointments with your health care professionals. Quit alcohol and tobacco (smoking).

HOW TO NORMALIZE HBP 

One of the steps your Doctor may recommend to lower your high blood pressure is to start using the DASH diet.

DASH stands for dietary approaches to stop hypertension (High blood pressure). The diet is simple. DASH is an eating plan rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, potassium, magnesium and fiber, which on the other hand, may help control blood pressure because it has less sodium(salt) and sugar than a typical carbohydrate meal. It cuts out dessert, sweetened beverages, fats, red meat and processed food.

DASH DIET TIPS

Add more vegetables and dry beans to your diet, add a serving of vegetables at lunch and at dinner, add a serving of fruits to your meals or as a snack, drink water, low fat or skin dairy products instead of full-fat or cream.

A TYPICAL MEAL PLAN

Breakfast:  First thing before meal

Take some water preferably one litre of water thereafter, take blended portions of big onion, cucumber, 4 fingers of banana, 1 ball of beetroot, small size of uncooked sweet potato, 6 cloves of garlic and one spoon of uncooked soya bean powder.

Lunch: Cooked food made of either cocoyam or plantain or local rice in small portion or beans. But take cucumber after each cooked food in between meal; paw-paw is a good option too, water melon or pineapple.

Dinner:  Salad made of Cabbage, one avocado pear, two fresh tomatoes, cucumber, onions with three table spoons of coconut oil or extra virgin oil.

– Eme Arthur is a home remedy researcher on healthy living.