Three ways to fight the “inevitable” effects of aging
Three ways to fight the “inevitable” effects of aging.
What determines how you age? Is it how you look, how you act, or how you feel? Most people would likely say it’s a combination of all three.
Normal aging causes changes in your appearance, your behavior, and your overall mental and physical health. Hundreds of lotions, potions, treatments, and therapies are out there promising to fight the affects of aging, but what can you trust?
Instead of guessing at how you can fight the effects of aging, listen to what the experts have to say. Keep reading to find out the proven ways to fight aging in the way you look, act, and feel, so you can prove your age wrong today and years into the future.
Look Years Younger
Fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and sagging skin are all clear signs of an aging appearance. You’re never too young or too old to begin taking care of your skin. What you eat and drink have a big impact on your appearance. Load up on fruits and vegetables high in vitamins B and E. Include foods high in omega-3 fatty acids and other healthy fats in your diet.
To keep your skin from premature aging, one of the best things you can do is stop smoking or never start. Smoking not only increases your risk of all types of cancers and heart disease, but it also makes you look years older. Wrinkles, yellow teeth, and thinning hair are a few of the effects.
The sun’s UV rays also wreck havoc on your skin. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen any time you’re in the sun longer than a few minutes. If you wear makeup, opt for those that contain SPF for daily protection. If there’s one ingredient you should look for in an anti-aging product, it’s retinoid. A derivative of vitamin A, retinoids renew cells and increase collagen production to help keep skin looking young and radiant.
Don’t Act Your Age
Someone who is 50 years old can be mistaken for 90 based on the way they act. Stay young at heart by remaining active and social. Spend time with children, pass on your values to the next generation, and teach young people life skills.
Just because you’re retired doesn’t mean you get to sit around all day.
Volunteer, babysit the grandkids, exercise, travel, or find a hobby. Plan to spend regular time with family and friends. Go out to eat, see a movie, go shopping, or take a walk in the park together. Stay social by joining a club or religious organization. Hang out with people who make you laugh. All of these may seem inconsequential, but they keep you from turning into an old curmudgeon!
Feel 10 Years Younger
Your mental and physical health play a big part in how well you age, and disease can take its toll on your mind and body. While you can’t prevent every disease, there are ways to reduce your risk of illness.
Regular physical exercise is one of the best ways to fight aging. As your heart pumps oxygen-rich blood to your body, your cells receive valuable nutrients to stay healthy. At the same time, exercise keeps your heart and circulatory system in working order and helps you maintain a healthy weight to prevent obesity-related diseases. Joint problems, high blood sugar, age-related cognitive decline, weak bones, inflammation, a slowed metabolism, high blood pressure, slow reflexes, depression, and many other health conditions can all be treated or prevented to some degree through exercise.
Your diet is another big player in the fight against disease. Your daily diet should consist of whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. Avoid highly processed foods and foods high in sodium, added sugars, and saturated fats.
The final way to stay young at heart is by managing stress in healthy ways. Exercise, relaxation, and seven to nine hours of sleep each night are all important ways to keep stress and anxiety from damaging your health and to feel years younger than you are.
