Aging Untold: Why your metabolism changes as you age
(Aging Untold) — On this episode of Aging Untold, learn how metabolism changes with age and what may help support it.
Then, we share gentle ways to tell loved ones when time may be short, set boundaries and care for yourself.
Plus, a group of mall walkers is turning ’90s nostalgia into a fun way to stay active and build community.
Why your metabolism changes as you age — and what you can do now
Your metabolism is like the body’s “power plant” and every organ has its own, according to the Aging Untold experts.
“If you deplete that power in an organ that needs a lot, you’re going to start to see symptoms sooner,” Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, said. That is why changes in the eyes and ears show up in older people.
As people age, they gain fat and lose muscle. Muscle plays a role in how the body uses glucose, which provides energy, Rogers said.
How to talk about the end of life without feeling pressure to be strong
Some people who are dying get a moment to decide how they’ll say goodbye to the people they love.
Gerontologist “Sam” Cradduck says the person who is saying goodbye does not need to feel pressure to be strong and manage others’ emotions.
“You need to be getting the support that you need,” Cradduck said.
The people receiving the message are grieving because they are losing that person, but they have the opportunity to provide support for the person who is dying.
Aging well coach Katherine Ambrose said everyone is different in how they handle saying goodbye. She listed grief, unfinished business and relationships among the things a person may be dealing with.
This woman helps cemetery visitors talk openly about death
Laura Lyster-Mensh is a death doula at Historic Congressional Cemetery.
Her role at the national landmark in the heart of Washington, D.C., is to promote what she calls “death positivity.”
She helps visitors have healthy conversations about mortality.
These mall walkers are bringing a ’90s vibe back in Oregon
Every Sunday morning, mall walkers in spandex, neon and scrunchies gather for three and a half miles of power walking.
Krista Catwood started the group, the Food Court 5000, and said they’ve “become sort of B-celebrities” at the Lloyd Center mall in Oregon.
Catwood said she knew the activity had to be silly, social and shared with others.
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