Feature <strong>Raffles</strong> HealthNews a healthy alternative to red meat. It also contains omega 3 which protects the heart. Planning your meals As we age, there is an increasing need to watch our diets more closely than before. Our diet may be restricted due to our health conditions. As an example, people who have high blood pressure should not be indulging in foods that are high in salt. The Health Promotion Board recommends lowering our salt intake to less than one teaspoon per day. Foods from resturants and hawker centres are generally higher in salt. · One serving of vegetables = 3/4 cup of cooked vegetables · One serving of protein = 1 palm sized piece of lean meat/fish or chicken “While it is more convenient to eat out, it is harder for you to watch your diet. This is because we have more control in the use of ingredients when we cook ourselves. You are also more likely to be tempted by food you should not be eating when you eat out due to the wide variety available,” said Ms Kamdar. It is thus important for you to plan your meal. “Buying ingredients that make up a healthy meal will ensure that you stick to your diet plans. Try not to eat out more than twice a week and always choose a restaurant/food centre where you can request for less salt to be added! If you have to eat out, you need to practise discipline and not be tempted into eating something that you know you should be abstaining from,” Ms Kamdar advised. It is also important to learn to read the food labels so that when you are shopping at the supermarket you will be better at looking out for hidden sources of salt! Annual <strong>Medical</strong> Check-up Many of us put off visiting a doctor till we exhibit symptoms of being ill. However, a regular check-up with the doctor is advisable once you are in your late 40’s. This is largely because silent diseases such as hypertension and hypercholsterolaemia tend to be present at this time. You should also go for health-screening every year. Regular health-screening and medical check-ups help in early detection and management of illnesses. Timely intervention in the form of treatment can save your life! Aspirations Mentoring The life lessons you have gained over the years are valuable. By pouring your experience into a younger person’s life, you can make an impact to the next generation and do things you were not able to accomplish in your own life through another. To allow you to do so, Mr Ng said, “it will be good to take stock of your own life and “weed” out what is necessary and important from your responsibilities and routine. Time-management is easily understood but practically, difficult to enforce. Try to find what may be fulfilling for you and see if your responsibilities and constraints allow you to pursue meaningful goals such as mentoring.” The balance between work, family, recreation, personal solitude, rest and exercise is very difficult to achieve. Some people may not even have the opportunity to consider some of these aspects as work and/or family may dominate most, if not all, their time and resources. Hobby Just like mentoring, having a hobby helps you build depth in character. It could be something simple, e.g. sports or cooking. You can learn life skills through these activities. If you are struggling with this, Mr Ng has this advice for you. “Ask yourself: WHY Do you have a choice If so, then what kind of “trade-offs” are you willing to make for this to be possible. If you feel that you do not have much of a choice, then try to find ways to cope with the pressures that you are facing.” Dreams If you think age would rob you of your dreams and aspirations, you will never be able to achieve them. Remember - one is NEVER too old to have dreams and aspirations! “However, you need to temper your aspirations with some down-to-earth reality checks.” Said Mr Ng, “for instance desiring to train for the Olympic games and coming out first in the 100m race is likely to be close to impossible as we age.” Set realistic expectations and goals and learn to be content with what we have and who we are, this is a very important outlook for healthy emotional and psychological ageing. Health financing As one age, health problems become more of a reality. However, you can have enough to pay for your healthcare needs. Mr Steven Tan, Sales and Marketing Manager, International <strong>Medical</strong> Insurers has this to share with those who are worried about healthcare financing in their golden year: A “Hospitalisation shield plan is a must since you have little savings to cover your medical expenses. The premium could be paid from your children’s Medisave account. By getting an additional rider, any deductible and co-insurance of the hospitalisation bills could also be covered. In this way, you do not have to worry should a medical need arise.” HN Personal hygiene Is it really true that the elderly tend to have a kind of body odour due to their age According to Dr Teo, the answer is a firm ‘No’. “Body odour does not have a special predilection for the elderly. It arises due to apocrine secretions from certain glands in the arm pits,” said Dr Teo. Since age is not a factor, do something about this problem if you have it. As with people of all ages, regular body hygiene will help to reduce body odour. Deodorants may also mask the problem.
<strong>Raffles</strong> HealthNews Feature 19 Years Ditch off Your Actual Age Hands up if you want to be younger than you really are. <strong>Ageing</strong> may appear inevitable as your chronological age (i.e. the number of candles on your birthday cake) can only increase with time. However, you can look and feel younger than what is indicated on your cake. Let us show you how. years years years years years years years years years years years year years
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