The secret to senior health is proper diet and exercise.  A nutritional diet and physical activity can help prevent diseases such as cancer, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. A healthy diet also can help manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

As people get older, it becomes more important to exercise regularly. According to the American Heart Association, the inactive person loses from 3-5% of muscle fiber each decade after age 30. By the age of 60, they would have lost 60% of their muscle fiber. Muscle strength is increased by exercise.. It can help improve balance and coordination, and therefore help to prevent falls.

Organizations including the heart association advise that regular physical activity helps prevent bone loss (osteoporosis) and the risk of conditions such as heart disease, Type II diabetes, colon cancer, stress, and depression. In addition, exercise can help extend the lives of people with conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Having proper health can decreases chances for serious illness or death caused by infection. If a senior catches the flu, for instance, it can have more detrimental effects than in a healthier, younger person. When the SARS outbreak occurred in 2002 and 2003, clinicians expressed concern about the elderly Americans and again expressed the importance of diet and exercise. As people age, their immune system response weakens. Seniors need to be proactive in keeping their systems strong.

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