Gut health gets more important with age, and board-certified physician Dr. Rhea Rogers says it rests on four components: fiber, hydration, prebiotics, and postbiotics. That means beans, whole grains, plenty of water, and foods that feed the good bacteria already living in your digestive tract. No subscriptions, no miracle powders. If your digestion has gotten fussier over the years, this is the short list worth starting with.
Relationships are changing too. Some married couples are now choosing to live in separate homes later in life, and gerontologist Sam Cradduck says a shared life matters more than a shared address. Aging expert Amy O’Rourke’s advice is straightforward: work through the logistics, finances, schedules, and expectations, before making the move. Two houses can work. Assuming the details will sort themselves out usually doesn’t.
There’s also a community angle worth your attention. In South Carolina, trainer Lexi Arnold’s women’s self-defense class is filling up in record time, with a focus on fighting instead of freezing. And in Baton Rouge, the Security Dads have mentored high school students since 1993, forming after a student was tragically shot and killed on campus. Their leaders are now in their 60s and 70s, and they’re looking for new members. Plenty of local groups here on the Suncoast would welcome the same kind of commitment.
What’s one small change you’re making for your health this month? Let us know in the comments.
