A focus on your health and maintaining it as you age is a key to gracefully aging. This is particularly true for women. It is not easy for women to live a healthy life. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind as you age.

Lifestyle and diet choices should be adjusted to address common health problems faced by women, such as heart disease and loss of bone density and muscle mass.

The American Heart Association states that a healthy lifestyle and diet are the best tools to combat heart disease. Many women don’t recognize the signs and symptoms of heart attacks, as they can sometimes be more subtle than those experienced by men.

“Women need muscle, especially as they age. By about age 40, women gradually start to lose muscle mass,” explains registered dietitian, Marie Spano, MS, RD. “In general, it is recommended that 10-35 percent of your daily calories come from protein.”

Another health concern for women is their digestion.

Constipation is a common problem in America. More than 4,000,000 Americans suffer from it. Women and people 65 years and older are most likely to experience constipation.

Here are Spano’s top tips for women to maintain good health as they age.

* Reduce your risk of heart disease by practicing healthy lifestyle habits — exercise regularly, control blood pressure and cholesterol levels, eat well, maintain a healthy weight and don’t smoke.

* Make sure you get enough calcium, over the long term. Low calcium intake can lead to osteoporosis, low bone mass and increased risk of fractures. According to their age, women should aim to consume between 1,000 and 1,300mg of calcium each day. This makes calcium rich foods essential.

* Unless instructed by your physician, avoid diets that call for eliminating certain food groups completely; this can result in a nutrient deficiency. Healthy foods with sufficient vitamins, minerals, fiber are good choices when trying to reduce calories or dieting.

* To avoid digestive issues, drink enough fluids throughout the day to stay hydrated, exercise and eat fiber. Adults 50 and younger should consume 25-38 grams of fiber per day, and 51 and older should consume 21-30 grams. Fiber can help you stay regular, as women tend to be more constipated that men.

“Even women with healthy habits will sometimes experience occasional constipation. But it doesn’t have to interfere with your daily life. I recommend a product that contains a natural vegetable laxative ingredient, such as Senokot Tablets, which can be an effective choice to treat occasional constipation,”Spano. Log onto www.senokot.comGet more help with occasional constipation.