What is Healthy Ageing?

Healthy ageing is a term we'll be seeing a lot more of in the coming years. It's a key part of helping people stay physically and mentally fit, for longer than ever before.

The World Health Organisation has declared 2020 to 2030 the decade of healthy ageing, but what does this term mean and should you get involved? Healthy ageing has been defined as keeping physically and mentally healthy, socially involved and independent as we get older¹. The UK, like most developed countries, has an ageing population and by 2040, nearly 15% of British residents will be 75 or over. We're living for longer than ever before and it's high time that people think about how they age².

Getting older is a fact of life, but few of us think about how physically and mentally fit we might be in the future. Everyone should consider what they can do to stay fit, strong and independent as they move through life; this is healthy ageing in a nutshell. Numerous factors shape how we age – mood, diet, lifestyle, sleep, work and social life all have an impact on our long-term health.

What's the best way to promote healthy ageing? According to Age UK, the British Nutrition Foundation and many other prominent groups, following a heart-healthy lifestyle can promote healthy ageing³. By taking care of your heart and circulatory system, you could dramatically lower your chances of developing diabetes and having a heart attack or stroke. The sooner you get into a healthier routine, the better chances are of living a long, independent life⁴. The Kwai Heartcare blog is a free source of heart-health information – read through our blog posts to discover interesting diet and exercise tips, supplement updates and the latest developments in heart care.

Forming and maintaining good relationships, be that with friends, family or others, is another important part of staying healthy. People with strong social connections live longer, healthier lives. One study of over 300,000 people found that those without strong relationships had a 50% higher risk of dying prematurely⁴.

Another crucial part of ageing well is keeping your brain stimulated and challenged throughout life. Filling out crossword puzzles, watching quiz shows on TV and taking up a hobby can all stimulate your brain and help you to relieve stress, a major risk factor for developing heart disease⁵. Keeping a positive mindset and dealing with stress, anxiety and other negative emotions can help you achieve a healthier body and mind.

Once we reach 50 years of age, most people begin to lower the amount of exercise they get each week. Age isn't a barrier to breaking old habits and adopting a healthier lifestyle; 'I'm too old' just doesn't cut it anymore! Take British centenarian Fauja Singh for example, who completed the Toronto marathon aged 100 in just 8 hours and 25 minutes⁶. He didn't take up running until he was 89 and currently holds a long list of world athletic records. It's never too late to change how you live and the sooner you start, the better the outcome.

Healthy ageing is more than a buzzword; it's a key global initiative that's supported by the World Health Organisation and implemented in countries around the world. Public Health England, the group responsible for managing the countries' health, have recently set an ambitious goal. They want everyone to add an extra 5 years of healthy, independent living on their lives by 2035 – this is a tough target to meet on time, especially given the recent COVID-19 pandemic⁷. Getting people to live healthier lifestyles involves all levels of society and government,  from individuals and local community groups to major organizations and the UK government.

Here at Kwai, we're firm believers in the importance of healthy ageing. Taking care of your heart is a vital part of staying happy and healthy throughout life. We've developed a range of heart-supporting supplements, thoughtfully formulated to provide your body with unique phytonutrients, organosulfur compounds, vitamins and more. Our natural garlic and black garlic supplements contain Allicin, a powerful molecule that helps to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, resist temporary stress and keep hearts healthy. We coat all of our tablets 60 times to produce odour and taste-free supplements that support a healthy diet and lifestyle. Always talk with your doctor before making changes to your diet and lifestyle.

1 https://www.who.int/initiatives/decade-of-healthy-ageing#:~:text=The%20United%20Nations%20Decade%20of,of%20older%20people%2C%20their%20families%2C

2

3 https://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/healthyageing/top-tips-for-healthy-ageing.html

4 https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/wellbeing/staying-healthy-in-later-life

5 https://www.rcn.org.uk/clinical-topics/older-people/supporting-healthy-ageing

6 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15330421

7 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/healthy-ageing-consensus-statement