Ageless, Timeless Fitness

From your 20s and 30s to your 40s, 50s and beyond… our bodies have changing needs as we age. Ew asks some of the uae’s top health, nutrition and fitness experts for their advice on growing older gracefully.

- Rachel Silvestri

According to the World Health Organisation, global life expectancy is now at more than 70 years old but with only 63 of them projected as being in good health. So what can we do to extend and improve the quality of those years? It all begins with establishing good health habits in our youth – and continuing them.

“Regardless of how old you are, some basic pillars remain as valid as ever: eat well, exercise enough and do not smoke,” says Dr Javier Magnago, specialist registrar at Dubai Hospital. “The last one is more relevant for women, as some studies have shown that female smokers were 25 per cent more likely than male smokers to develop coronary heart disease.”

So how do our bodies and our health change over the years? The UAE’s top trainers and nutritionists share their tips with EW for staying in top shape, whatever your age.

20s

What to eat: “These are the years when you reach peak bone mass,” says Sinead Scott, clinical nutritionist in Jumeirah’s Talise Fitness centre. “In this decade, aim for adequate levels of calcium and vitamin D daily through diet and supplements. This is the decade to learn to cook.” Emma Sawko, co-founder of Wild and The Moon, agrees: “When you don’t come home to a cooked meal every day, it’s easy to eat packaged food or order a takeaway. But eating healthily doesn’t have to be complicated. Throw a banana, a handful of greens, a few nuts and seeds and a little superfood in a blender for a delicious morning smoothie. Pack a salad for lunch, tossing a few greens, a can of tuna and a can of beans or chickpeas and drizzle with good olive oil. Steam veggies and fish at night.”