Keeping your Senses Sharp as you Age

Your senses are your keys to the world. Through sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, you learn to navigate your way and understand your surroundings. However, as you grow old, your senses naturally weaken and dull. Luckily, with a few lifestyle changes, you can keep your senses sharp and age more gracefully.

Sight

Over time, your pupils are likely to shrink in size which results in losing some eyesight. Foods that contain Vitamin C, Omega-3 fatty acids and Zinc such as oranges, salmon and beans help preserve sight. You can also try using brighter light at home and wearing sunglasses when you’re outdoors to protect your eyes. Additionally, don’t be afraid to schedule regular checkups with your eye doctor.

Smell

Your sense of smell can diminish over the course of time. This is especially dangerous when you become unable to discern toxic scents such as gas, smoke or spoiled foods. To help, try identifying recognizable smells a few times throughout the day. You can also eat foods high in Zinc and stimulating foods such as curry, cinnamon, and spearmint.

Hearing

A loss of hearing is quite common among senior citizens. Hearing aids and cochlear implants can help in some cases, while more natural solutions include avoiding exposure to loud music and excessive noise and keeping the volume low when using earphones.

Taste

While it is completely normal to lose some taste buds as you age, most of it is a result of underlying conditions. Schedule appointments with your doctor to get regular checkups, and if you suspect some medication is causing your mouth to dry, ask your doctor for an alternative option.