Deteriorating eyesight

Why it happens

Around 40-45 we develop a new mannerism – pulling our head back while peering at the paper or brochure held at arm’s length. It’s called presbyopia, it’s normal and there’s nothing we can do to prevent it. From adolescence the lens in our eye slowly thickens and becomes less flexible making it more difficult to focus.

What to do

Visit the optometrist regularly to monitor eye health and vision changes.

Buy reading glasses if necessary.

Eat plenty of yellow and dark green fruit and vegetables such as corn and spinach.

Hot Flushes

Why it happens

Hot flushes are likely caused by the drop in oestrogen levels that starts in a woman’s forties. It’s thought that this oestrogen drop upsets the hypothalamus which acts like the body’s thermostat…

What to do

Keep cool and relaxed. Smoking, alcohol, caffeine and spicy foods can all trigger hot flushes. The jury is still out on whether soy reduces hot flushes; some studies show a positive result, others show no effect. But there’s no harm in including some soy foods in your diet. Try tofu, miso, tempeh, soy milk or soy and linseed bread.

Talk to most people over 40 and you’ll hear the same comments: “I just can’t eat, drink, run, stay up all night, read the fine print like I used to”. Youth is forgiving but after 40-something years of moving, breathing, digesting and gravity, our body starts to show signs of wear and tear. We’d expect it with any other machine. But most of us are still shocked when our body can’t keep up with what we think it should do. Some desperately grasp at supplements or surgery to retain their youth while, at the other extreme, some passively resign themselves that their bulging tummy and shrinking calves are just part of getting old. Aging happens. But how fast it happens is up to us.

Over the next few posts we’ll look at some common problems that hit the 40-something age group.

Middle age spread

Why it happens

Hormones, hereditary and lifestyle are the culprits in middle age spread. For women, the years leading up to menopause see a gradual drop in oestrogen levels. Oestrogen encourages fat to be stored around the hips and thighs but with less oestrogen fat tends to accumulate around the tummy. We transform from ‘pears’ to ‘apples’ – just like the men.

“Hello, you want sit here for nice dinner?” Two young Thai men beckon us towards large low tables where holiday-makers recline on triangular cushions as they eat dinner. We had already eaten there, under the stars with the waves lapping literally at our feet. Amazing setting, OK food.

Tonight we are flip-flopping in our jandals down Koh Samed beach, around the rocks, through to the next beach to Jeps Bungalows. The food here is fantastic. The menu offers every cuisine but we turn straight to the Thai dishes. What shall we eat tonight?