We had a great Hawaii Afternoon Tea on June 28, 2017 at the Oahu Country Club. Our speaker, Valisa Saunders MN, APRN, GNP-BC Gerontological Nurse Practitioner at The Queen’s Medical Center spoke on “Nutrition as we Age”. Below is a short recap of what we learned. Join us at our next event!

Americans are living longer than ever. One desire we all share is to feel good and stay healthy so we can live independently and enjoy life. This brochure can show you how good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle can add vitality to your years and help you reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases.

How to Stay Healthy:

You have the power to improve your health and reduce your risk for cancer and other diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and osteoporo- sis. If you already su er from these diseases, you can still improve your health by making healthy choices.

1 Focus on Plant-Based Foods

2 Choose Healthy Protein Foods at Every Meal

3 Choose Mostly Whole Grains

4 Eat Healthy Fats

5 Replace Salt with Healthier Flavorings

6 Limit Alcohol

7 Use Supplements Wisely

8 Pay Attention to Common Drug Interactions

 

Keep Your Weight in Balance.

Carrying extra pounds can slow you down and increase your chances of developing cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and joint problems. Eating too many calories and not being physically active enough can lead to weight gain, which itself increases the risk of colorectal, endometrial, post- menopausal breast, pancreatic, kidney and esophageal cancers. Obesity also heightens risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure

Be Physically Active:

It’s never too late to reap the benefits of physical activity. Studies show that people can increase strength and independence with strength training and balance exercises at any age. Muscle mass and strength decline more rapidly as people age. at’s why it’s best to try a combination of strength training exercises for 20-30 minutes three times a week and aerobic exercise like walking, which raises your heart rate, at least 30 minutes per day.

 

Eliminate Tobacco:

Don’t smoke or use tobacco in any form. It is the main cause of lung cancer and also contributes to cancers of the mouth, throat, pancreas, cervix and bladder. Even if you’re a long-time smoker, you can still benefit from quitting.