Vitamin D Importance, Aging Can Be Fun

VITAMIN D: My sources say the hottest new healer now is Vitamin D, yep that same ole vitamin that is called the “sunshine” vitamin. Lack of this sunshine vitamin is linked to cancer, heart disease and diabetes--and at least one third of the population does not get enough. So, how do we go about getting enough of this little jewel?

It is hard to get enough D through food, since there just isn’t much out there except in mushrooms that are rich in D. Fatty fish such as salmon can provide some Vitamin D but when it comes down to it, ole sunshine is the real source. Okay now you say, well what about skin cancer dangers? Well just like anything you can get a good safe dose with 5-10 minutes of midday(10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.) sun on your arms and legs. This will provide you about 3,000 IUs of D to a light-skinned Caucasian. Getting that amount 2-3 times a week is enough for most, but those with a big deficiency may need it daily. Adults up to age 70 should get 600 IUs of vitamin D a day, and those over 70 should get 800 IUs a day. Vitamin D is also available in supplements; however, before getting alarmed check with your doctor to see if you have a deficiency.

UPSIDES OF AGING: Sorry I didn’t realize there was an upside to aging but as I experience this every day and realize that it is inevitable I really enjoyed this information that makes some good points on the positives of aging. For many elders, it says, life past 70 is better than they imagined it to be. It’s filled with challenges but lots of new horizons. Here are some points that were given by a noted gerontologist: ATTITUDE-If your attitude is that you’re still good, you still enjoy life, there’s still purpose in your life, you’ll do well. GREER POINT-now the secret to this is to position your self where you can feel this way. If you hang around aging people who do not feel this way then you are doomed. You must figure out a way to stay in the “main stream” of life, and that is easier said than done for many. EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITIES-Each decade and each age has opportunities that weren’t actually there in the previous time. They have been joys in each stage of lie. The thing is, people are so afraid of getting old. Don’t worry about it. It’s an adventure. GREER POINT-couldn’t agree more with these statements; however the key to having this feeling and attitude is maintaining good health. So, nutrition and exercise is a key ingredient to being able to maintaining a good attitude. Your health is your true wealth!!! YOU HAVE SAGE ADVICE TO GIVE-As experienced people of this world, part of the aging process should be the ability to share this with younger people. As you age you gather knowledge and experience that should be worthwhile to the younger generation. GREER POINT-While the accumulation of knowledge and experience is correct the ability to share it with the young is more challenging than one might think. Depending on the culture you are in determines how much you can really share. In the culture I happen to be in, which is the one I know the most about, the young do not have the same respect for the elderly. Sometimes they feel you are in the their way to success or they do not have the patience to sit back and listen. With the new electronic means of communicating it has changed our world to instant and continuous communication that many times leads to not getting things done. When I go out to dinner with people in the 25-40 age groups I find that the first thing they do is pull out their cell phones and then they start texting. When I am out with people in my age group 65-75 you never see their cell phones since they communicate the old fashion way, with their minds and mouth.

The real key to healthy, happy aging is to feel good in the age that you currently are. Never wish to be younger but to be healthier as the years go by. Then you have the knowledge and experience to share this with whom ever may want to listen.

Mike Greer