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HOW PLANTING A TREE COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

December 3, 2018 3 Comments

I spent a day planting trees last week. It was an uplifting experience with a HUGE number of healthy ageing benefits. In fact, I think it could be top of the charts for age-well activities – see below!

I volunteered at the Woodland Trust’s First World War Centenary Woods at Langley Grove, Surrey. Each tiny sapling was carefully planted by hand, then tucked into a protective tube and firmly staked. It was surprisingly hard work, but wonderfully energising to be out in the fresh air and open countryside knowing that the trees we planted will still be standing in 100, 200, 300 years’ time: a fitting tribute to the men who fought for our freedom.

Six ways tree-planting helped me age well:

STRESS-RELIEF: spending time among trees has been found to reduce feelings of anger and depression, as well as lowering  levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Too much cortisol can damage the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, leading to cognitive decline. More on this here

IMMUNE SYSTEM BOOST: Crucial at this time of year. Even a 30-minute walk in the woods can strengthen immunity. A study in Japan found that forest visits had a long-lasting influence on immune system markers. You can read more about it here

GUT BUILDING: getting down and dirty in the soil does wonders for our microbiome, exposing us to beneficial bacteria which builds our own internal gardens. And recent research suggests that microbes found in forest soil act as natural anti-depressants.

EXERCISE: an obvious one, of course. Walking to the wood itself and the physical work out afforded by planting was great exercise. There was lots of bending and stretching, and digging trenches to plant the saplings was a great way to firm up those pesky triceps and avoid bingo wings!

A SENSE OF PURPOSE: volunteering, and ‘giving back’ has been shown to reduce rates of cancer, heart disease and depression. It’s also a great way to meet new people and learn new things. I’m no gardener so had to learn a lot about trees in a short time!

TACKLING POLLUTION:  the more trees there are in the world, the less pollution there is. Poor air quality is responsible for over 6 million premature deaths a year, making it the fourth deadliest health risk after smoking, poor diet and high blood pressure. More here

Do share this post with the gardeners in your life, so they know how beneficial it is!

CHRISTMAS DISCOUNT!!

WHAT: I’m giving a talk about keeping well in the run up to Christmas, and the importance of a strong immune system as we age.

WHEN: Saturday December 8th1400 – 1800

WHERE: the Health Bloggers Community Christmas Market for Health & Wellness Lovers, This Time Next Year, 80 Ruckholt Road, London E10 5FA

THE DISCOUNT:  the usual price is £10 (+ booking fee) but I’m able to offer our lovely followers a 20% discount, using the code HBCxLP.

Here’s the link to book tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hbc-christmas-market-for-health-wellness-lovers-tickets-51072734925

There will be lots of delicious, healthy foods to test and a great goodie bag to take home.

Please do come and support me – it’s the first time I’ve spoken in public about The Age-Well Project. I’m super-excited and rather nervous!

Susan

 

photo: Andreas Krappweis

 

  • Conditions: Ageing, Alzheimer's, Anxiety
« VOTE FOR US IN THE UK BLOG AWARDS (PLEASE!)
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Comments

  1. Diana Studer says

    December 4, 2018 at 9:43 pm

    Wish I could be there!

    Please – for the benefits of sauerkraut, does it need to be eaten cold as salad?
    Or is warmed as a vegetable still beneficial??

    Reply
    • Susan Saunders says

      December 12, 2018 at 3:51 pm

      We eat it as a condiment – you only need a tablespoon. Warming could destroy the beneficial bacteria, so room temperature is better.

      Reply
      • Diana Studer says

        December 21, 2018 at 9:42 pm

        Thank you.
        When is your book due?

        Reply

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Welcome to The Age-Well Project

Welcome to The Age-Well Project!
Here you’ll find easy changes for a longer, happier life. We’ve immersed ourselves in the science of longevity and distilled the research to make it work in our everyday lives. You can change the way you age: here’s how.

Favourite Posts

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HOW HAVING A DOG CHANGED MY LIFE

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SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, SADNESS AND BRAIN-BOOSTING BISCUITS

WHY ‘INFLAMM-AGEING’ COULD START IN THE GUT AND HARISSA-ROASTED VEGETABLE SALAD

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THINNING AGEING HAIR – WARM CHICKEN LIVER SALAD

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The Age-Well Project blog
What do you want to achieve for your bones?’ T What do you want to achieve for your bones?’ 

This interesting question came from Rebekah Rotstein, who has worked with the Royal Osteoporosis Society and is founder of movement system Buff Bones @gotbuffbones when Susan interviewed her for The Power Decade. 

We thought the answer was that we wanted them to be dense, because that would protect them in the years ahead. Rebekah invited us to view this another way, ‘Your goal is not just to have high bone density,’ she explained. ‘Your goal is to not fracture and to live a full, independent life. You do this by strengthening your bones and body. But you also need to maintain and improve your balance and responsiveness to avoid falls because falls lead to fractures.’

We’re big fans of the ‘brushing your teeth standing on one leg’ trick to add extra age-well benefits to this most regular of tasks by improving balance. When we do it, we can feel movement – and a bit of a wobble – in our feet. Rebekah explains that this movement is also a form of calibration, helping us maintain balance. She urges us to try this barefoot because, as we age, we lose dexterity in our feet: we want to be able to feel the messages they’re sending us.

There’s more on better bone health on the blog - link in bio

#longevity #womenover50 #agewell #ageingwell #agingwell #longevityblog #healthblog #agewellblog #over50bloggers #womenover50 #healthspan #womenover60 #postmenopause #postmenopausalhealth #bonehealth #osteoporosis #osteopenia #balance #buffbones
Beans for breakfast?! Yes please. On a recent trip Beans for breakfast?! Yes please. On a recent trip to Jordan, Annabel started her day with foul, made from fava beans. 

The Jordanians mash the cooked beans and serve them warm from a swan-necked vessel using a Harry Potter-ish long-handled ladle.  The beans are then drizzled and scattered with various spices, sauces and olive oil. 

Full of protein and fibre, it’s a great way to start the day. The (super-simple) recipe is on the blog, link in bio 

#longevity #womenover50 #agewell #ageingwell #agingwell #longevityblog #healthblog #agewellblog #over50bloggers #womenover50 #healthspan #womenover60 #postmenopause #postmenopausalhealth #breakfast #breakfastrecipes #favabeans
Grab some GABA! This neurotransmitter is linked to Grab some GABA! This neurotransmitter is linked to better sleep and mood - but needs progesterone to produce it. This is why post-menopausal women are more likely to experience insomnia and anxiety. 

But there are actions we can take to produce more GABA naturally. Save this post for future reference and check out our GABA blog post - link in bio

And save this for future reference 😊

#longevity #womenover50 #agewell #ageingwell #agingwell #longevityblog #healthblog #agewellblog #over50bloggers #womenover50 #healthspan #womenover60 #postmenopause #postmenopausalhealth #GABA #neurotransmitter
A three-page interview of Annabel in today’s @ob A three-page interview of Annabel in today’s @obsmagazine extolling the benefits of walking, and of being outdoors. Just in case you’ve had your fill of the coronation… ´Walking is freedom, an escape for the mind and the body.’ 

Hear hear!
Launch party for The Power Decade! Wonderful to se Launch party for The Power Decade! Wonderful to see so many of our favourite Age-Well people (and books!) there 😊
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