Kate Walsh’s Tips for Staying Healthy and Aging Gracefully

Kate Walsh Shares Her Tips for Staying Healthy and Aging Gracefully

Recently, I went to Ground Central Coffee Shop for an afternoon date with actress (and fellow New Yorker) Kate Walsh. I sipped the new Ensure® Max Protein drink while Kate revealed her secrets for staying healthy and aging gracefully.

She talked about her 2015 surgery and how discovering a benign brain tumor prodded her to focus more on her health, especially her diet. It’s no surprise then that she decided to partner with Ensure® Max Protein to inspire other adults to take a long hard look at their overall health, diet and the amount of protein they’re getting daily. I’m sharing Kate’s tips for staying healthy at any age.

Eat well.

Eating well on the go is a never-ending challenge. When your workload is out of control and you have no time to grocery shop or prepare meals, it’s easy to turn to Seamless or the corner bodega for a quick bite to eat, but that’s not always the healthiest option. While New York has some of the tastiest takeout food on the planet (pizza, I’m talking about you), what we order often lacks the nutrients we need to look and feel our best. Eating enough fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats can contribute to optimal health, mood and even our personal and professional success. What’s the essential nutrient that should be part of every meal we eat? Protein. (up next)

Perk up with protein.

Did you know that more than one in three adults aren’t getting the protein they need daily? I was shocked to learn that as we age, our bodies need even more protein than they did when we were younger. We should be aiming for 25 to 30 grams of protein per meal. Generally, those adults who consume less protein have lower Healthy Eating Index scores. That means that if we’re not getting enough protein, we’re probably not getting enough of the other foods (mentioned above) for a well-balanced diet. I know that I don’t take in that many grams each meal, but I do know that I am most productive and in the best mood when I eat high-protein foods. Otherwise, I tend to be hangry, and that’s no fun.

Eating enough protein every single day isn’t as simple as it sounds, but we can grab a boost from Ensure® Max Protein. The just-released protein drink is available in two flavors: Milk Chocolate and Café Mocha. I sampled the Milk Chocolate, and it tasted pretty close to chocolate milk. I did not detect any funky flavor whatsoever, and I’m pretty picky when it comes to tastes, especially all things chocolate!  I can’t speak for the Café Mocha as it was too late in the day for me to have caffeine (the 100 grams make it ideal to replace your morning cup of Joe), but Kate was drinking a big cup and said that she loves the taste.

What I love about Ensure® Max Protein is the availability – you can buy it through Amazon or Target or other places online (if you don’t have much time to shop) and you can take it with you wherever you go. Mix with water and drink it warm or cold – I recommend pouring it over ice. One serving of the beverage contains 150 calories, all nine essential amino acids, 1 gram of sugar, 22 vitamins and minerals, and 30 grams of protein. It’s suitable for lactose intolerant and gluten-free. And the retail is just $2.50 per serving.

Drink tons of water.

I swear – staying hydrated is the key to youth. When I drink enough water, my skin looks so much better – I appear rested, refreshed, and look younger. Kate mentioned that she drinks water with lemon all day long. In fact, she had a large bottle with her.

Are you getting enough water every day? Probably not. If you’re not drinking at least eight glasses a day, you need to hit the water cooler. I recommend always carrying a water bottle with you wherever you go. I like to keep one with me in my city bag. And luckily in New York, you can buy bottles in bodegas and on street corners. Plus, our tap water rocks.

Stay active.

Of course, exercise only increases our chance of staying healthy, fit, and younger-looking, but that doesn’t mean that you have to live in the gym. Personally, I am not a gym person at all. I prefer to be out and about walking in the city and putting in miles there. That’s one of the reasons I love living in NYC – I can walk everywhere. I also do exercises at home. Kate explained that she mixes up her exercise routine, which includes walking a lot and working out with weights. No matter what you do or how often you exercise, any activity is better than none at all. And you have to find out what works for you. Just get off the sofa!

Meditate.

Meditation has been proven to reduce stress. In reality, it’s nearly impossible to meditate and not relax. Try meditating for 10 minutes in the morning and starting your day off  right. And if you think you can’t spare 10 minutes, you can wake up five minutes earlier and take a shorter shower. 🙂 There’s your 10 minutes for meditation.

Get plenty of rest.

How much sleep do you get a night? Probably not as much as your body needs. Compromising the amount of sleep you get will take its toll on your health eventually, which is why you’ll usually hear eight hours as the recommended amount. Kate says she needs eight hours. Personally, I can survive on six, but not every night. I’m much more productive with seven hours, and if I consistently get eight hours of sleep per night, I have tons of energy and need to eat less too. Sleep deprivation is known to cause stress and weight gain, as well as make you look tired (hello, dark circles), so getting enough shuteye is vital to looking good and feeling great.

Many thanks to Kate Walsh for sharing her tips for staying healthy and aging gracefully.

This post was sponsored by Abbott Laboratories, the maker of Ensure® Max Protein, a leader in health and wellness for more than 45 years. Ensure® Max Protein is a meal supplement and not a meal replacement. This new protein drink is for anyone with a busy lifestyle and ideal for New Yorkers on the go. Thank you for supporting the brands that support this blog.

Also, healthy fast food in NYC (it does exist!), and how to get healthier in New York.

Posted on May 3, 2018