How to be a super ager and live life to the fullest

Forget anti-ageing, it’s time to embrace getting older. Follow these simple tips to become a super ager so you can live your best life for longer.

People are living longer than before, so you want to make sure you do it well.

Here’s how to become a super ager and make the most of your years.

Eat well, move your body and know your risks

While Dr Sally Cockburn emphasises there is no one-size-fits-all approach to staying in tip-top condition into old age she says diet and exercise certainly help.

Dr Cockburn believes that understanding your personal risk factors – especially family history – can also help you later in life.

“The best plan going forward for maximising health is not necessarily about taking vitamins you may not need or having a barrage of tests that aren’t specific to your risks,” Dr Cockburn says.

“It’s about understanding your risks.

“So, for example, if you have a close family history of bowel cancer you might bypass the initial federal government-supplied test for hidden blood in poo and go straight to colonoscopy.

“Do you have a family history of heart attack? And do you smoke? Because risk factors can be additive. It’s about personalised medicine.

“There’s no question diet and exercise works for everybody, but if you’ve got risk factors on top of that, there’s a special path for you that your GP can help you map out.”

That being said, there are some simple strategies for looking and feeling good that you can also implement at home.

• Growing old: How to embrace ageing as a natural part of life

Look as young as you feel

From injectables to laser and ultrasound technologies, there is a swag of options to shave years off your face.

Medical Aesthetic’s Zena Dammous believes you don’t have to take an all-or-nothing approach to fighting the hands of time.

With or without more invasive measures, Zena says drinking lots of water, taking fish oil supplements and a good quality skincare regime help lay the foundation for healthy skin.

“An Omega 3, 6 and 9 supplement helps to support healthy quality oil production in the skin,” Zena says.

“In turn, good quality oil production reduces dehydration, which is a leading cause of the signs of ageing.

“Remember it’s not how much water you drink, it’s how much your skin retains.”

• Keep your wits: 5 easy ways to boost brain health

Stay eagle-eyed

Read a good book in a well-lit room rather than scrolling your smart phone late at night.

Studies show that screen time places undue strain on our eyes.

Another good way to maintain your sight is to wear sunglasses when you are outside.

“And make sure you go to your optometrist regularly to get your eyes checked for more than just reading,” Dr Cockburn adds.

Look after your hearing and balance

Listening to loud music at clubs or through your headphones can cause long-term damage.

So, turn it down or wear ear plugs while spending time in noisy environments.

Of course, ears aren’t just responsible for sound, they also help us to maintain balance.

There is evidence to suggest that standing on one leg for more than 10 seconds a day is a good way to improve balance and flexibility.

Keep a sharp wit

Being able to gloat to friends and family about your Wordle score isn’t the sole reason for playing it each day.

There is research to suggest that assembling flatpack furniture, crosswords, jigsaw puzzles and games such as Scrabble help keep minds more agile.

Dr Cockburn says another good way to help preserve your cognitive function is to spend time with friends and family.

“Socialisation is so important,” she says.

• Life goals: 5 ways to boost your “healthspan”

Move it or lose it

Keep moving to stay mobile for longer.

That’s the advice from Community Moves Health and Fitness founder Van Marinos, who adds resistance training, yoga and Pilates are especially beneficial.

“Regularly engaging in physical activities that force us to use our muscles and take our joints through full, yet controlled, ranges of motion are extremely important and beneficial,” he says.

“Movement helps flush our joints and the structures surrounding them with blood and nutrients that help maintain proper function as well as improving the feedback loop from our joints to our brain about the level of control we have at a particular joint.

Nutrition to maintain healthy organs

It goes without saying that smoking, drinking to excess and a diet of fatty, processed foods are detrimental to your organs’ long-term health.

Instead, try eating a balanced diet, with plenty of fresh leafy greens (which slow cellular ageing), fish (full of omega-3 fatty acids to reduce risk of heart disease), berries (containing phytonutrients to help fight disease) and legumes (a great source of fibre for bowel health).

Oh, and you can still enjoy the odd indulgence because studies show red wine and dark chocolate (in moderation) are good for your heart and cholesterol.

Written by Siobhan Duck.