Tips for Healthy Cholesterol

Exercise Lowers Cholesterol
(photo by morguefile.com)

Are you trying to reach healthy cholesterol levels and postpone taking statins as long as possible?  Here are a few natural techniques that you can use for lowering your cholesterol.  They are all easy, and are certainly worth a try.

According to the RealAge website, in their article "Exercise and Cholesterol," combining daily exercise with a low-fat, high-fiber diet can improve your cholesterol levels within three weeks.

Aerobic Exercise Can Reduce Your Cholesterol

First, they emphasize that aerobic exercises, such as walking, swimming or cycling, can raise your good cholesterol (HDL) and lower your bad cholesterol (LDL).  It can also lower your triglycerides.  It is important to do the exercises every day, if possible.  Just taking your dog on a long walk a couple of times a day may make a big difference in your health.

Foods That Will Reduce Your Cholesterol

In addition to exercise and a diet that is generally low in fat and high in fiber, RealAge also recommends that you consume these 10 foods as an additional step in reaching lower cholesterol levels:  almonds, orange juice, olive oil, steamed asparagus, oatmeal, pinto beans, blueberries,  tomato products (such as tomato sauce), avocado and dark chocolate.

While you will still need to seek medical advice, and have your cholesterol levels regularly tested, there is nothing in this program that will harm anyone (unless they have allergies), and it is a healthy approach to getting lower cholesterol levels naturally.  As we all know, anytime we can improve our health and postpone taking medications, the better off we will be ... both medically and financially!

If you are looking for more health and retirement information, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

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Why You Should Join AARP

Long before my husband and I quit working, while we were still in our 50s, some friends suggested to us that we join AARP.  This is the American Association of Retired People. We thought they were crazy. We were still years from retirement, and could not imagine why we would need to join a retirement organization.

However, like millions of other Baby Boomers, as well as people who are older than us, we have discovered that there are many benefits to belonging to AARP. Their money saving discounts have more than covered the modest amount of their annual dues.

As a result, one of the first money saving tips I want to pass on to other Baby Boomers is that they should sign up for AARP as soon as they are eligible. AARP has negotiated discounts at hotels and tourist attractions. They also make it possible for you to use your AARP card to get discounts at Walgreens.

AARP will also send you emails and magazines with information about financial planning, fitness for seniors, heath facts, and more.

You can find out more about the member benefits that are available at AARP.org.  However, below is a list of some of the major discounts that you can expect to use when you sign up.

Examples of AARP Discounts for Members

Walgreens
1-800-FLOWERS
Kindle e-readers and e-books from Amazon
Denny's Restaurants
Ticket Masters
Papa John's
Regal Movie Tickets purchased online
Best Western Hotels
Budget Rent-a-Car
ADT Home Security

Other AARP Benefits

Of course, there are many other benefits that you will receive with your AARP membership.  Some of these are:

Medicare Supplement plan
Identity Protection Plan
Debt Consolidation Calculator
Rent vs. Buy Calculator
Mortgage Payoff Calculator
Roadside Assistance Plan

Whenever my husband and I purchase tickets to a tourist attraction, make hotel reservations, rent a car or do many other things, we always ask if there is an AARP discount.  Without a doubt, the discounts alone make our membership dues well worth it!

If you are looking for more retirement information, use the tabs or the pull down menu at the top of this article for links to hundreds of additional articles on where to retire, health information, financial planning and more.

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Best Employers for Workers Over 50

Cornell University
(photo from Wikipedia.com/commons)

Many good, reliable employees in their 50's and 60's find themselves in the uncomfortable position of looking for a new job.  Other older workers may have jobs, but feel they have been marginalized as they aged.  They crave new job prospects where they will be appreciated for the experience and knowledge they have to offer.

Once a year, AARP comes out with its list of the top employers of workers who are over age 50. Some of these companies offer health insurance for part-time employees.  Others offer on-site fitness classes.  One offers bonuses for employees in the form of gift cards.  All of them are considered good places for senior citizens to work.  Depending on where you live, you may be interested in seeing if one of these employers is right for you.

Best Employers for Workers Over 50 

Scripps Health in San Diego, California
Cornell University in Ithaca, New York
National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland
First Horizon National Corporation in Memphis, Tennessee
West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia
YMCA of Greater Rochester in Rochester, New York
Atlantic Health System in Morristown, New Jersey
Mercy Health System in Janesville, Wisconsin
Bon Secours Richmond Health System in Richmond, Virginia
The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, California

Since a large percentage of Baby Boomers are going to have to work until their late 60's or longer, there are many benefits to knowing the best employers in your community who are willing to extend job opportunities to older employees.

If you do not live near any of the employers on the above list, you should talk to your friends or contact the local senior center and ask about job fairs in your area.  In addition, you may want to contact retirement communities and nursing homes in your area.  Many of them are willing to hire older workers to help in their offices and reception areas. 

Just because you are no longer young, does not mean that you are no longer able to be a valuable employee.  In fact, as our society ages, the need for older employees will be even greater!

If you are looking for additional retirement information, use the tabs or pull-down menu at the top of this page to find links to hundreds of additional articles about where to retire, work at home suggestions, financial planning and more.

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Prevent a Broken Bone or Hip Fractures

You Can Protect Your Bones
(photo by morguefile.com)

Learning how to prevent hip fractures, as well as any other type of broken bone, is something everyone needs to think about as we age.  According to research published in JAMA, "The Journal of the American Medical Association," in 2009, there are about 300,000 Americans over the age of 65 who suffer a hip fracture every year.  Of these, about 20% to 30% of them will die within a year.  This is a pretty harsh statistic and the numbers have undoubtedly grown since this research was done.

However, as grim as these statistics sound, there are ways you can reduce the chances that you will fall, suffer a fractured hip, and destroy your health.  Below are some simple steps which everyone should take, beginning before they even retire.

How to Prevent Hip Fractures and Broken Bones

1.  Request a bone-density test from your doctor.  Not only has my doctor ordered these medical tests for me about every five years, I've even had these tests performed at free health clinics at my retirement community and senior center.  The test is completely pain free, and it is the best way to find out if you have started to develop osteoporosis.

2.  Get exercise.  Building up your muscles, improving your balance, and increasing your flexibility are all ways to protect your bones and decrease the likelihood that you will lose your balance and have a hard fall.  Weight bearing exercises, such as walking, are also good ways to strengthen you bones.

3.  Eat right and take supplements. According to a November, 2011 article in AARP Magazine, in order to stay healthy you should consume at least 46 grams of protein a day, as well as take in 12 mg. of calcium and at least 600 - 800 mg. of Vitamin D.  People who do these things are about half as likely to suffer a hip fracture.

4.  Have a fall-risk assessment and physical examination.  Talk to your doctor about your medications and dizzy spells.  Ask him if any of your medications could make your dizzy or create balance problems. Get your eyes checked regularly.

5.  Take a hard look at your home.  Do you have objects, electrical cords or rugs which could cause you to slip or trip?  Is your home well-lit?  Do you have grab bars in the shower and bath enclosures?  Do you put items such as your shoes away so you do not trip over them after removing them?  Setting books, shoes, or other items on the floor in areas where you walk could easily turn a safe area into an unsafe one.

6.  Do not take unnecessary risks.  Avoid walking on ice or walking up and down stairs without using a handrail.  My husband and I recently attended a play, and a woman fell down the stairs as we were leaving.  She was not using the handrail.  Do not take chances.  Fractures can happen to anyone.

Remember:  Preventing a broken bone is much easier than healing broken bones.

If you are looking for additional information for Baby Boomers, including about health concerns, where to retire, financial planning, Social Security, Medicare or more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

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Photo credit:  morguefile.com