Herbs and Natural Supplements to Keep Senior Citizens Vital and Active

Many think that the mark of youth is all in the face. Many young people worry about the societal markers of aging like sagging skin and weight gain. These are legitimate concerns and should be watched and attended to throughout all phases of life. There are however other parts of aging that many of us don't think about unless we spend time with an elderly person. I worked with elderly people for a short time as a home care provider. I provided cooking, cleaning, errand work, shopping and driving services for them. Spending time with elderly people; going with them to their medical appointments; and helping them to remember to take their medicine brought a whole new and additional thought process to my mind when I thought about aging.

Many of us don't think about the physical vivacity of our body. When you think of an older person that is vibrant and youthful; someone like Jack Lalane might comes to mind. He's spry and very active well into his old age. And if we think about it we realize that we can have the best plastic surgery and beauty services available; yet our age that is not shown on their face can be shown in the way we carry our body or the lack of spryness in our step. Therefore I think the ideal plan for aging well should encompass physical beauty; internal health and physical and mental vitality and agility.

Regular exercise is a very important factor in staying active well into old age. Jack Lalane is a strong advocate for juicing. Fresh raw fruit and vegetables whether consumed through juice or just consumed as a meal contain vital youth giving nutrients. In addition to these great things there are some supplements that help with the aging process. I'm sure there are many more then I've listed; but these will definitely keep someone concerned about their aging body on the right track.

A general multivitamin geared towards the nutritional needs of senior citizens is always important. Never take vitamins on an empty stomach as this can cause an upset stomach.

Colloidal silver is something that everyone should have on hand; not just the elderly. But the elderly especially are susceptible to cold and flu season just as small children are. Their immune systems can be compromised by many factors including stress and health issues. Colloidal silver has considerable antibiotic benefits. It prevents the cold and flu and infection by any sort of pathogen; bacteria, fungus and many viruses by suffocating these harmful entities on contact. Of course this should not be taken in excess. For treatment of sickness take 1 teaspoon/day held under the tongue for 30 seconds and swished around for 10 seconds then swallowed taken 4 times a day. For maintenance during cold and flu seasons, 1 teaspoon once a day is sufficient. Colloidal silver can also be used on the skin to rid it of bacteria caused by cases of bedriddence and non-activity.

Turmeric is another supplement of use to seniors. It is also naturally antiseptic and antibacterial. It is anti-inflammatory so therefore very good for arthritis. Eaten in conjunction with cauliflower it helps to prevent prostate cancer as well.

Fiber comes in many forms and very helpful in keeping the older body healthy. I prefer to eat fiber from food sources rather than to take a supplement; but there are many good supplements available these days. I enjoy eating any of the many versions of Fiber One cereal as most of them provide a large amount of your daily need for fiber. Much disease is said to start in the colon; so keeping as clean of a colon as possible will not only provide you with energy but will cut out much of the excess sludge that can cause health issues down the line.

Pure virgin coconut oil is highly helpful for people of all ages especially the elderly. Virgin coconut oil is in a word amazing. It is really one of the most amazing foods in the world. It has been known to reduce the risk of many major diseases. It prevents the flu in the winter months and boosts immunity. It enhances metabolism. It contains a healthy fat that fights heart disease and hardening of the arteries and so much more.

Another supplement that can help with many issues older people face such as heart burn; indecision and improper digestion of food are digestive enzymes. They will help keep your system in balance and help your food digest properly and be utilized properly. I also believe they help boost immunity. I like papaya enzymes myself.

Last but not least is glucosamine and chondroiton. This supplement needs to be taken for a short time in order to build up in the system and for you to see results. But this is a popular supplement for the elderly because it lubricates the joints and helps with issues such as arthritis and flexibility.