When one thinks of aging gracefully, some eminent figures come to mind, the likes of superstar Jennifer Lopez, who, even at the age of 46, still looks remarkably young and is full of life.

It’s true people age differently, and this depends on a whole lot of factors; for example, a 24-year-old could easily look like a 35-year-old and vice versa.

Maintaining a great body even at the age of 40 is the dream of many women; however, achieving that look takes more than just a couple of fitness routines. According to experts, you must be fit physically, as well as mentally.

Experts also consider other factors, like belief in one self and your attitude towards life.

In her book ‘French women don’t get facelifts: The secret of aging with style and attitude’, Mireille Guiliano points out that the most important aspect when it comes to aging gracefully is attitude.

She lays it out that, truly knowing yourself is integral to aging well, being comfortable in your skin and processing a healthy, non-delusional and uplifting attitude toward your own aging is an essential element.

"If we are going to maintain our aging, when we grow older and look in the mirror, we need to see ourselves as we truly are on the inside and the outside. A lot of us are kidding ourselves, we are not seeing the current us, we often see who we were or we are blinded by who we want to be or who we think we are,” Guiliano writes.

"I can sometimes see the advantages of each culture sharply and share what seems to work well and not-so-well-with other women, take facelifts and other cosmetic surgery procedures, we don’t have the same resources but we can have the same basic attitude; being comfortable in our own skin,” she adds.

Maintaining a healthy you as you age

According to Dr Wilbur Bushara, a medical practitioner at Herna Medical Centre, when one starts to age, risks of certain health conditions tend to increase and, therefore, for one to keep healthy, they have to take great care of their diet.

He cautions that when one is above the age of 40, it’s always wise to get regular checkups for conditions such as blood pressure, vision problems, body weight, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar.

"A diet high in fruits and vegetables is vital in keeping you fit when aging, exercising regularly can also help in maintaining fit muscles and keep the strength in tact as one gets older,” Dr Bushara says.

He says women tend to be susceptible to certain diseases as they age, such as breast cancer and cervical cancer, among others, therefore going for regular screenings is recommended.

Kicking out certain habits like smoking and drinking are sure ways of having a healthy body when one is aging, Bushara points out.

"Emotional health is as important as one’s physical health, therefore taking care of your inner health matters too.”

Robert Mugabe, a trained reflexologist, says that women above the age of 40 need regular care for them to keep both their minds and bodies healthy.

Mugabe says, "We receive lots of female clients who are 50 years old and above and their lives improve for the better when they start on our sessions.

"Reflexology can be of great importance, especially in the circulation of blood, as this prevents instances of blood clots amongst other conditions. It also eases the nightmare of aching joints.”

"Most women experience backaches, abdominal pain and the ordeal that comes with conditions such as menopause, stress related issues when they are aging, and all this is dealt through massage and reflexology sessions,” he adds.

Massage and reflexology not only heal physical pain but also relax one’s mind and this helps people feel better.

According to research done by WebMD, the changes one goes through as they get older depend on a number of things, including family history; for instance, if your family members have health problems like high blood pressure or diabetes, then one may have a greater chance of having those problems.

The research cites the fact that changes as you get older are usually gradual, things such as metabolism get slow over time, and how much and well you sleep also changes.

Most vital organs gradually become less efficient with age, the kidneys are less able to keep enough water in your body and the heart can start to show signs of wear and tear. So as one gets older, it’s important to be physically active, drink plenty of water, and choose healthy foods.

Dr Nereida Correa, a gynecologist at Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, says that women have a limited amount of estrogen once they go through menopause, and once they are estrogen-deficient, they’re at risk of heart disease.

She also says that as the skin ages, it has less ability to produce vitamin D in response to sun exposure, but women can boost their vitamin D intake by consuming four 8-ounce servings of low-fat dairy products every day.Besides dairy products, calcium can also be found in cereals, soy and rice, vegetables and fish.

Low levels of vitamin B12 tend to occur in women as they age, women who don’t get enough of B12 can experience fatigue, weight loss, poor memory, dementia and depression.

The recommended daily amount of B12 is 2.4 microgrammes daily for adults, and the vitamin can be found in foods such as fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and fortified breakfast cereals.

The secret to looking young and vibrant

55-year-old Eva Gara could easily pass for a woman in her late thirties. She says that age doesn’t matter but, rather, how one feels is what enables them to look and feel young.

She says that the secret to looking young lies in staying fit and watching what she eats.

"I try to stay fit by two things mainly, my mind and my mouth, once I have those two in control the rest is easy. I do short walks every day, dance when I can and stay active throughout the day,” she says.

Gara says that keeping company of young people also does the trick for her.

"I love being around younger people, they give me energy, all this is a conscious effort that has become a habit. Now as for watching my mouth, it’s basically what goes in and what comes out. If I eat and drink sensibly I don’t worry much about calories and I am happy.

"As for what comes out, I try to avoid saying hurtful things because they come back to haunt you which leads to bad mental health and it flows down to the body. So I try to think and feel healthy, but best of all, I believe that there is God above who loves me just the way I am,” Gara says.

Kevina Nyirarukundo is approaching her 50s yet she is always mistaken to be a sister of her 27-year-old daughter because of her youthful appearance.

She attributes her never changing physique to her simple lifestyle and the positive attitude she always has towards life.

"I don’t drink or smoke, I rarely eat oily foods and I think this has helped me a lot in keeping me fit. I can’t say I work out a lot but I am a busy woman and I’m always active. I guess this is what keeps me looking young,” she says.

She advises women, especially those that are 50 and above, to always go for medical checkups to keep healthy.

Women should also not pay attention to matters that stress them because that will give them a calm mind and, in the end, they will enjoy their life as they walk on the ageing lane.editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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How can one age gracefully?

Stella Muteteri, call centre manager

It’s true that some people aren’t into looking old when they are in the later stages of life, thus, they try very many things to look younger. I don’t see any better way to age gracefully than having a regular workout plan, and most importantly, maintaining a healthy diet so as to stay healthy and in good shape.

Chantal Zuba, event planner

Contentment is the key to ageing gracefully. It doesn’t matter how many issues you have, be contented with your life. The first thing is to embrace your age and love yourself, be satisfied with what you have and how you look. Contentment will enable you to live joyfully, and eventually, ageing won’t look so bad, in fact, you might just like it.

Faith Gatera, customer care agent

I look at ageing gracefully as a choice a person makes. The most important thing is to have a positive attitude towards your age and embrace inner happiness. Eating healthy, drinking a lot of water and doing sports will greatly facilitate the journey; however, the drive to ageing gracefully is only successful when the right attitude is applied.

Christine Mukarusina, pharmacist 

Ageing comes with duty; take time to look after yourself well, that is, by living a healthy lifestyle. Also, engage in things you love to do; for instance, hobbies like swimming or travelling, perhaps even doing things you’ve always wanted to do but never found the time. Join an association of people with the same attitude and passion for a smooth sail to ageing.

Compiled by Dennis Agaba