Is “aging well” all about the genes, or is there really a “fountain of youth” out there? Aging happens, but the process can indeed be slowed through a healthy lifestyle and positive thinking. Check out how you can prevent and slow premature aging without trying to hard.
1. It is all about your attitude
First, I am going to ask you to adjust your attitude about aging. By itself, the idea of age should be considered a triumph, because you are getting older and more wiser. But you don’t necessarily have to look or feel your age. When that starts happening, age becomes more than a number. You pin fear, doubt, and misgivings to yourself. Rather than brooding over a number, do something about it.
Let me remind me of the 70 year old male and female bodybuilders, centenarian yogis, and 80 year old mountain climbers. They all have something in common: healthy, active lifestyles.
2. Channel it into eustress
I know, stress is sadly unavoidable in today’s world. All of that stress amounts to an overloaded, unbalanced physiology. Too much cortisol, the stress hormone, can cause skin breakouts, balding, autoimmune disease flair ups, and excessive shifts in weight. Sleep disorders, too, can be sourced to stress and anxiety. All of this inner turmoil is not kind on your system.
The best way to reroute that distress is to channel it into eustress, the good kind, by working out, participating in meditation or yoga classes, doing something creative like painting, taking a walk, going on vacation, or anything that you would categorize as self-love.
Read also – 6 Instant Ways to Calm Down When Anxiety Hits Hard
3. Ditch smoking and drinking
Excessive smoking and drinking stirs up some serious havoc in your body. Smokers often develop leathery, wrinkly skin and yellowed teeth. Drinking too much, too frequently could result in toxicity, jaundicing your complexion and giving you bloodshot eyes.
Sure, have a glass of wine or beer. Small quantities are actually great for you. It’s when you overdo it that alcohol becomes a problem. But if you smoke, quit. Seriously.
4. Shy away from sun damage
You need to absolutely protect your skin from the sun every single day. Whether you are gardening in partial shade or running along a beach in scorching heat, the need is the same. Although the sun gifts us a generous portion of vitamin D, the UVA and UVB rays damage layers of the skin, not just the surface.
Also, not to harp on the subject, but you really should be cautious when laying in a tanning bed, too. Prevent sun damage by wearing moisturizer with at least SPF 30. You can also functionally accessorize by using a parasol or a hat for shade.
5. Prevent dehydration
When you don’t drink enough water, you’re basically depressing yourself. Even with the beginning of dehydration, brain function drops. Excessive dehydration causes your skin to lose elasticity and makes your joints feel brittle.
The easy fix is to carry a bottle of water with you wherever you go. Buy a decent thermos that will keep cool for hours. It’s one of the best investments for your health that you can make.
6. Get moving
I talked about it before, but sitting is killing you. Sitting causes premature muscular degeneration, weakened joints, shorted ligaments, and unnatural spinal curvatures. Inactivity lowers your basal metabolic rate, and it even hampers your ability to breathe deeply. Get moving. Choose activities that are fun, and do them often. Even walking for 30 minutes a day can increase metabolism and strengthen bones.
Read also – 5 Healthy Foods That Increase Inflammation
7. Change diet
Everyone knows the dangers of poor nutrition, so I will not get into that. What important is knowing that not all foods are created equal. Fruits and vegetables have phytonutrients that prevent oxidative stress on your skin and internal organs, keeping them functioning more efficiently as you age. Lean proteins aid in muscle repair and growth. Healthy fats prevent dry, flaky, crepe-like skin and dandruff. A balanced diet regulates hormones too.
Aging is a natural process, but it does not have to be a destructive process. Staying healthy, active, and hydrated are pivotal in prolonging your youth. Lastly, have fun and live each day to its fullest. When you are happy, your inner child comes alive.