By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern
This past September, my family and I had the privilege of celebrating my great-grandma’s 97th birthday with her. That woman never ceases to amaze me, at 97, she is still living on her own, is still as healthy and mentally sharp as ever, and is the biggest card shark I know. While I still have yet to learn her secrets to living such a long and healthy life, I do know that aging healthfully does require some specific actions from us in our younger years. Here are a couple of tips for setting yourself up for success when it comes to aging! 
While no one likes the thought of getting older, according to registered dietician Jill Fleming, it is entirely possible to grow old well, as long as you make sure that you are living a healthy lifestyle. She provides the following 10 tips to ensure that you age as best as you can!
- Exercise on a regular basis
- Eat well
- Stay hydrated
- Keep your brain strong
- Sleep well
- Stay social
- Limit stress
- Get some fresh air
- Think positively
- Stay on top of your health
These tips for aging gracefully are all relatively easy. And not only are these lifestyle habits good for aging well, but they are also very good for all stages of life. With that being said, there is no reason why we shouldn’t get a head start on keeping ourselves healthy and continue to do so as we age. While I still don’t know all of my great-grandma’s secrets, I know for sure that she does incorporate some of these lifestyle tips into her own life.
For more health-related articles, check out the Fill Your Plate blog!