Actress Sunwoo Yong-yeo preaches health over wealth for older adults

Actress Sunwoo Yong-yeo, the "it" girl of 1960s Korean cinema and TV, is making a splash on YouTube as a guru on aging. Korea Times file photo

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Veteran actress Sunwoo Yong-yeo, who is enjoying a second heyday as a YouTube icon for aging, is on a mission to remind people of what really matters when you are over 80.

Recently, on her YouTube channel, she shared her thoughts on stock investments. When asked whether she invests in stocks, she jokingly said, “Not stocks — breakfast."

“You might make a lot of money from stocks, but you have to worry every time prices go up and down.” The 80-year-old added, “At this stage, I don’t envy people who are very rich or extremely famous.”

Instead, she said, “It’s important to invest in your health.”

What should people focus on to stay healthy and active in old age?

The actress focuses first on balanced, protein-packed meals.

As people age, digestion can weaken, leading some to eat poorly. Many people in their 70s and older also lack a steady income, which can result in cutting back on food expenses. However, since muscle loss accelerates in old age, it’s actually more important to eat properly.

Actress Sunwoo Yong-yeo at the beginning of her career / Korea Times file

Regularly consuming protein-rich foods like beef, pork and chicken helps prevent loss of strength. If meat is hard to digest, alternatives such as eggs or tofu — as well as other plant-based protein — can be helpful.

Seafood is also a good option. Sunwoo previously mentioned enjoying octopus ceviche while shopping at a department store. According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, octopus is high in protein and low in fat, making it easy to digest and beneficial for maintaining muscle health. About 100 grams of octopus contains 15 to 18 grams of protein and roughly 80 kcal.

Exercise is essential, but keep it light to go easy on the joints

Exercise is crucial for maintaining muscle and preventing insomnia. Even in old age, moderate strength training helps preserve physical fitness. Avoiding exercise due to low energy can lead to muscle loss, which in turn weakens bones.

To protect joints, low-impact activities such as walking or swimming are recommended. Combining these with moderate strength training can also help improve sleep.

Quality sleep does miracles

Many older adults struggle with sleep, waking frequently at night or having difficulty falling asleep. Poor sleep quality can worsen overall health, reduce digestion and even contribute to cognitive decline.

A study by a research team at Mahidol University in Thailand, published in a medical journal, found that muscle-strengthening exercise was the most effective way to improve sleep quality in older adults. To avoid injury, it’s recommended to learn proper techniques from a trainer.

This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.