One Day or Day One. You decide.

As we age, it’s natural to think about how we can stay healthy and active for as long as possible. At Turnpaugh Health, we believe that everyone can age with health and vitality, and it’s never too late to start. In this article, we’ll explore the pillars of healthy aging and tangible takeaways for a long and healthy life.

Ask yourself one question.  How do you see yourself in 20, 30, 40 years?  What does your physical, emotional, and brain health look like?  Let’s work backwards.

The Four Major Age-Related Diseases

First, let’s talk about the four major age-related diseases: heart disease/atherosclerosis, metabolic disease (Diabetes), dementia related diseases, and cancer. These four diseases are responsible for the majority of age-related illnesses and deaths. The good news is that many of these diseases are preventable through lifestyle changes.

The Pillars of Healthy Aging

At Turnpaugh Health, we believe that healthy aging is about more than just adding years to your life. It’s about increasing your health span, or the number of healthy and active years you have. We want you to be able to be active for as long as you possibly can.  That is healthspan, not just lifespan.

The following are the pillars of healthy aging:

1. Exercise: Incorporating regular exercise into your routine can help improve cardiovascular health, maintain muscle mass, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Aim for a mix of strength, cardio, and flexibility exercises.
2. Sleep: Getting enough sleep is crucial for healthy aging. Sleep plays a vital role in repairing and restoring the body, and lack of sleep has been linked to an increased risk of age-related diseases.
3. Nutrition: A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases and support healthy aging. Aim to eat a variety of whole foods and limit processed and sugary foods.  You don’t have to aim for a certain “diet.”  Instead, focus on foods that fuel you and your body.  Every meal is an opportunity to fuel or fight future disease.
4. Stress management: Chronic stress can have negative effects on the body and increase the risk of age-related diseases. Finding ways to manage stress through meditation, yoga, or other relaxation techniques can help promote healthy aging.  We think therapy is an amazing tool, IV therapy, JOOVV, massage, acupuncture, reflexology, grounding and more.
5. Regular check-ups, supplements and medications: Regular check-ups and taking supplements can help ensure that you’re getting all the necessary vitamins and minerals to support healthy aging. Turnpaugh Health offers personalized health plans and supplement recommendations to support healthy aging.  Good medical care is always a good idea.  Find yourself a provider who works with you as a team.  Lastly, there is a time and place for medications.  This should be a last resort and not the first thing that you turn to.  Lifestyle modications can often help with many conditions.

Tangible Takeaways for Healthy Aging

Incorporating the pillars of healthy aging into your life can seem overwhelming at first, but remember, it’s one day or day one, and the choice is yours. Here are some tangible takeaways for healthy aging:

1. Start small: Incorporate one or two changes into your routine at a time, such as adding a 20-minute walk or swapping out sugary snacks for fruits and vegetables.
2. Find a community: Joining a fitness class or social group can help you stay motivated and engaged in healthy aging practices.  Community is necessary for longevity.
3. Seek professional help: Turnpaugh Health provides personalized health plans, nutrition coaching, and supplement recommendations to support healthy aging.

Dr. West is a pioneering figure in the field of lifestyle medicine, having joined the American Academy of Lifestyle Medicine since its inception. As a lead Nephrologist, she witnessed the detrimental effects of poor lifestyle habits on a daily basis. Upon joining THWC in 2015, Dr. West and Dr. Chris Turnpaugh set out to expand and elevate their cutting-edge Livegevity program, which represents the pinnacle of anti-aging medicine.

This program is a testament to Dr. West’s medical expertise and Dr. Turnpaugh’s extensive experience in functional medicine, and it goes far beyond conventional treatment modalities. The Livegevity program is an intensive coaching program designed to increase healthspan, not just lifespan, and help patients age gracefully. It is built upon the pillars of healthy aging, which include exercise, sleep, nutrition, stress management, and lab testing and supplementation.

At Turnpaugh Health, we understand that healthy aging is more than just adding years to your life. It is about living your life to the fullest with vitality, energy, and resilience. Our approach combines cutting-edge medical expertise with personalized care to help patients achieve their health and wellness goals. By partnering with our team of healthy aging experts, you can be assured that you are taking proactive steps to optimize your health and well-being. Join us on the path to healthy aging and experience the benefits of the Livegevity program, or simply follow along on social media.  Our mission has and continues to be education of our community and spreading the word about healthy living and healthyful aging.

Make today your day ONE!