“Life begins at 40!”

“Forty is the new 30!”

It’s a great age to be—a phase when one has garnered enough wisdom and experience to appreciate life and its challenges. Forty seems to be that “Goldilocks” age when one is not too young nor too old.

Forty is also a very good milestone to check in in terms of our health. Around this time, we begin to notice the cumulative effects of decades of lifestyle, diet, environment, and genetics.

At this age, we begin to feel the nudging effects of aging—whispering to us, “Hey buddy, you’re no longer 20!” 

So, that said, here are things that happen to the body when it turns 40…

#1 Your Metabolism Slows Down

You used to snack on pizza, ice cream, and chips, flushing it down with ice-cold soda and it doesn’t even cause a dent in your figure.

You eat whatever you want and you burn it right off…sitting down.

You thought it would be like that forever. 

Fast forward 20 years and you’re now more circumspect when facing a buffet, wondering, “Anong oras na ba? Baka hindi n’ako matunawan…”

You’re more sober about what you put inside your body because you now believe that the wrong things can mess you up.

Recent studies show that just because you turned 40 doesn’t mean your metabolism suddenly changes. It’s the lifestyle and your activities that are the reasons for it.   

At this stage in life, your work probably involves a lot of sitting in front of the computer. Your body tends to be always at rest. So you end up putting on the pounds over the years.

So how do you cope?

Avoid being sedentary and be more intentional with your physical activities. There are daily things you can choose to do. For example, take the stairs instead of the elevators. Park your car at some distance and enjoy the walk. Clean your car instead of having it car washed.

Stay active and the pounds will likely stay off you.  

#2 Your Muscles Begin To Lose Definition

Two decades ago, you actually had visible muscles.

You didn’t deserve them, (because you haven’t seen the inside of a gym), but the muscles were just there. You were young and fit and had curves in the right places.

These days, you still have curves but they’re sloping in the opposite direction. Those muscles are still there, but they’re now hiding behind a few layers of fat.

What do you do?

Use those muscles!

Get off the couch and have a fitness regimen. Engage in physical activities that force you to exercise the different muscle groups. Physical activities like swimming, cycling, brisk walking, shadow boxing can be a fun way to wake up those sleepy muscles. Doing them twice a week will do good for your tone and definition.

Go for a protein-rich diet consisting of lean meats, dairy, legumes, vegetables, and nuts. These provide you with essential amino acids that maintain those guns.  

#3 Your Bones Start To Become Suspect

It used to be that you can play basketball all afternoon and not feel it in the evening. Today, you become very “musical” as bones begin to crackle and pop when you move.

Forty is not considered old, but folks at this stage can begin to feel the wear and tear of years past. You begin to have a collection of ointments.

Movements are not as fluid as before.

But don’t think that it will all be downhill from here. One can recapture past glories by engaging in walking, jogging, cycling, and even dancing. (Well, you get the idea.) Weight-bearing exercises can reactivate those dry joints and reclaim one’s healthy gait.

If you stay active, do regular exercises, and mildly push your limits, you can even be healthier and feel better than when you were 20.

Eat foods rich in calcium and Vitamin D like: milk, cheese, yogurt, salmon, tuna, and broccoli.

And hey, if you’re smoking and drinking, it might be better to give these a rest. Studies show that they negatively impact bone health.

#4 Hormone Levels Change

For men, testosterone begins to decrease at 40. This is the hormone that helps promote the growth and strength of muscle tissues and maintains bone density.

With decreased testosterone levels, men experience lower levels of sexual arousal as well as decreased sperm production.

Women also go through similar hormonal imbalances and experience something we call “perimenopause”—a phase before actual menopause. This is when estrogen and progesterone production decreases and results in irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and disrupted sleep.

These hormonal changes are normal markers for aging, but they can impact men's and women’s quality of life and relationships.

In addition to lifestyle modifications, there are other ways to address these hormonal challenges. Talk to your doctor for a more personalized approach to the issue.  

#5 Time To Take Cardiovascular Health Seriously

The circulatory system is one of the most important systems in the body, delivering life-bringing blood to the different organs and areas.

As we age, our blood vessels, especially the arteries, experience stiffening. They lose their natural elasticity. Over time, our arterial walls experience a build-up of fatty deposits, cholesterol, and other substances.

This narrows the passages and increases blood pressure. At 40 and above, the risk of heart disease and stroke increases. (Actually, because of unhealthy lifestyles, the trend is that cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks, and strokes have been occurring earlier in the life span.) 

In addition to the active lifestyle we’ve been advocating here, regular monitoring of blood pressure should be practiced. A heart-healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, (and less salt) should also be considered.

#6 Your Eyes Are Not What They Used To Be

You used to make out the tiniest details of any page without any problem. At forty, you feel like you need longer arms to make all the letters on the page align.

If you’ve been visiting the “Zoom” section of your phone or laptop more frequently, then chances are your vision is not what it used to be.

Over time, the lenses in our eyes become less flexible, and have trouble focusing on close objects. This condition is known as presbyopia. Along with a decline in our ability to see in low-light conditions (especially at night), sensitivity to glare, and blurred vision, they are a natural part of aging.

The quickest way to remedy this is by adapting glasses that make the whole world a brighter place. (A lot of frame styles and designs can make you look half your age!)

But before our eyesight deteriorates, we must not take it for granted and take care of our eyes in the best way possible. Follow the 20-20-20 rule which states that every 20 minutes, we must look away from the computer screen and focus on an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. 

#7 Your Memory Becomes Tricky

Our brains go through changes as we age. These affect our cognitive function.

One of the effects is memory decline, when we forget things like names, people, places, or events. But make no mistake, this decline is not a given. Cognition can get better over time. Many 40-year-olds can be as sharp or even sharper when they were younger.

The question then is that of practice. Parts of the brain that are continually being used get better over time, while others atrophy from disuse.

So if you’re continually stimulating your brain through reading, solving puzzles, learning a new language, or learning a new skill, you should be able to maintain sharp cognitive functions into advanced age.

Being 40 years old doesn’t mean it’s all downhill from there. But it does mean that we need to adopt certain changes in our lifestyle, diet, and behavior if we are to remain in good health.

BloodWorks Lab is your partner in monitoring you and your family’s health—offering checkup packages tailored for different ages.

We are your one-stop shop for all your medical screenings and blood test needs.

BloodWorks Lab was the first in the country to introduce the Anti Acetylcholine Receptor (lgG) Antibody Test and the Anti N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor (Anti NMDA Receptor) Antibody Test.  

Book your appointment today.

Our branches are in Alabang, Katipunan, and Cebu.