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Have you noticed that every magazine you pick up lately has advertisements for the many ways we can look younger than our chronological years? There are ads for injections and creams to remove our wrinkles, surgery to zap away our fat, and hair dyes to cover every bit of gray. It’s as if aging is something to be ashamed of; something we should hide—and fight—every step of the way. But aging is inevitable! The alternative isn’t one I would like to choose. We should be proud of the years we accumulate. They are accompanied by wisdom, experience, and greater insight. Growing old, I'm on board with. But looking old? I'm not so hot on that idea yet. Although anti-aging cosmetics and procedures may have a place in your overall routine, there are plenty of natural ways to slow the aging process. We shouldn’t forget that the true key to looking younger is feeling younger. There is nothing that ages an individual more quickly than illness, pain and stiffness, or chronic stress. Therefore, much of what we do to take care of ourselves on a daily basis will also help us keep a youthful appearance. Here is a rundown of the many things you can do that won’t cost (or hurt) too much, but will make you feel vibrant and strong. Let’s be proactive in our approach to aging and grow into our later years gracefully and beautifully!
Adjust Your Mindset: YOU Control How You Will Age
Much has been written about the power of nutrition to ward off illness, boost the immune system and enhance your complexion. Real food tend is more beneficial to your body and skin than supplements are, and eating a wide variety of super foods increases your chances of absorbing the most nutrients possible. If maintaining healthy skin is your concern, foods containing vitamins A, C, and E, and polyphenols (antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory properties that protect and benefit the skin) should be part of your daily diet. Here are some examples of deliciously colorful foods that provide these key nutrients:
Get Your Beauty Sleep. Experience a night of insomnia or stay up into the wee hours for any reason, and you’ll probably notice signs of sleep deprivation in the mirror the next day. Bags under the eyes and pallor to your skin can definitely make you look old and tired. Repeat this night after night, and the chronic sleep deprivation will age your body from the inside out. Most of us don’t get enough sleep, and that plays a significant role in our appearances. Individuals who get less than 6 hours of sleep a night may be at an increased risk for viral infections, heart disease, obesity and stroke, with an associated decline in mental functioning to boot. If your lack of sleep is due to your desire to get more done each day, think about the time you waste due to fatigue interfering with your efficiency. Adjust your attitude and your habits, and begin working to get 7-8 hours of sleep a night. If your lack of sleep is due to insomnia, a snoring partner or other nighttime disturbances, some simple lifestyle adjustments might help. Reduce afternoon caffeine, kick the dog out of your bed, or keep a pad by your bedside to write down things you need to remember in the morning. If that doesn’t work, talk with your physician to rule out sleep apnea or other medical conditions that may be preventing you from getting the rest you need. Calm the Years Away: Deep Breathing, Meditation and Yoga Chronic unmanageable stress wreaks havoc on our bodies and makes us feel old before our time. It’s been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and skin inflammation. Stress has also been shown to suppress our immune system, making us more prone to illness and disease. Anything you do to manage and alleviate stress will have a positive impact on how you look and feel as you age. Setting aside a few minutes each day to be quiet, center yourself, and let your worries drift away is smart medicine. Make deep breathing exercises or meditation a part of your routine. Yoga has the added benefit of not only calming the mind, but also keeping the body flexible and strong. Take Care of Your Smile. Most people don't take the time to connect the two, but the health of your mouth can also affect the health of your body. Individuals with gum disease are more prone to heart disease and lung problems. For people with diabetes, treatment of gum problems can also help control blood sugar levels. And nothing can make you look older than yellow, stained or missing teeth. Make twice-a-day brushing and flossing a regular part of your daily routine. There are excellent whitening toothpastes and strips available over the counter, too. Schedule a professional cleaning with your dentist at least twice a year. And if you are already experiencing cavities, bleeding gums, or loose teeth, consider implants. A periodontist (a dentist who specializes in the treatment of gum disease), can restore you with a younger smile, fresher breath, and overall health. Protect Your Skin (and Eyes) from the Sun Nothing ages the skin faster than sun overexposure. Collagen, the structural protein of our skin, breaks down in response to UV radiation. The sun also increases the production of free radicals, which damage cells and break down collagen as well. Although sunscreen offers some protection, many people apply too little of it—and not nearly frequently enough. Aside from being a fashion accessory, sunglasses will protect the health of your eyes and will help prevent the wrinkles that accompany squinting at the sun. Purchase sunglasses that provide 99-100% UV protection for both UVA & UVB rays. And protect your skin from exposure by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, longer sleeves and other sun-shielding apparel. Don't Neglect Your Ears Our ears contain tiny hairs that vibrate in response to noise. This then excites the auditory nerve, allowing us to hear and interpret sounds. However, too much vibration due to excess exposure to very loud noises frays those hairs, and could lead to hearing loss over time. By all means, enjoy listening to music--but turn down the volume. You should still be able to hear outside noises above the music in your ears. Wireless headphones have saved my marriage, since my husband loves to stay up way later than I do watching movies. But if I try to talk to him and he can’t hear me, I know they are too loud. If you work in an environment that exposes you to constant loud noise, or you love a good rock concert, consider using earplugs or sound-reducing headphones to muffle the sound. Nothing will make you feel old faster than not hearing the conversation around you! Stop Smoking and Limit Alcohol. Smoking can accelerate the aging process and shorten your lifespan (and quality of life) considerably. Decreased lung capacity, emphysema, and heart disease are all associated with smoking, not to mention the detrimental effect it has on your looks. Smoking correlates to wrinkles around the lips, yellowing of the teeth, and aging skin. If you want to look younger, feel younger and live longer, give up smoking! Alcohol is another vice you should consider giving up to look and feel more youthful. One alcoholic drink a day for women and up to two daily for men (4 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of spirits) may have beneficial effects on the heart, but the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reminds us that chronic alcohol consumption can result in premature and exaggerated aging. Over time, excessive alcohol consumption negatively impacts almost every physiological system in the human body. So if you enjoy the occasional drink, go ahead and partake. But if you overindulge too often, cut back.
Your Brain: Use It or Lose It |
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Health & Wellness Articles › Look as Good as You Feel10 Natural Ways to Defy Your AgeSkip the Gimmicks to Look and Feel Younger Than Ever-- By Ellen G. Goldman, Health and Wellness CoachSparkPeople advertisers help keep the site free! Learn more
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About The Author
Ellen Goldman
Ellen Goldman has bachelor's and master's degrees in health and physical education. An AFAA-certified personal trainer and certified wellness coach, she is also the founder EnerG Coaching, LLC. Through one-on-one and group sessions, Ellen helps individuals make positive lifestyle changes, lose weight, manage stress and attain work-life balance. Visit her at www.EnerGcoaching.com. |
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Member Comments
While I don't doubt that healthy elders in excellent physical condition can be afflicted with unpredicted health obstacles/disease
s, I *do* think that part of the point of treating yourself *well* with the exercise and quality foods (if you can get them, and have the education to be aware of what your healthy choices are), is to be able to enjoy what is your life with as little pain as possible. - 12/29/2012 6:59:10 PM
As we age and get into our 50,s 60's, 70' and older, certain uncontrollable things occur within the body on the inside and the outside.
1. We lose more muscle and maintain more fat so weight trainning helps slow this process. Hopwever, if you have Osteoporosis( brittle bones) weight trainning could triggor a fracture. Perhaps walking for an hour would be better.
2. As for the face this is what happens no matter what you eat; don't despair because there are surgical and non-surgical options to help restore a youthful look.
A. The fat under the eyes starts to travel downward creating naso-labial folds( deep creases on either side of the nose)
B. The upper eyelids start to droop because the skin is less elastic. The lower eyelids can develop under eye bags for the same reason. Make-up applied correctly can create an illusion to counter this effect. Apply a light concealer or make-up in the depressed areas and a darker make-up on the pouch( raised areas). The effect will be to raise the depressed circle under the eye and depress the puff. However, eyelid surgery can be done on an out patient basis:it is painless and takes about two weeks to heal, meaning that the bruised areas go away in that period of time. Otherwise the stitches are removed in about 5 days and you will look 10 years younger. The cost for this procedure is about $2000.
C. Wrinkles appear on the forehead, sides of the eyes and upper cheeks. The chin may develop little pin holes. This can be treated with Botox and creams that have Retin A
in therapeutic quantity like Atralin, Tazorak and the like. Applied to the wrinkled areas they halp Collagen grow. Collagen is the substance that is the framework that hold the face together. It is the lack of Collagen that produces many of the signs of agi... - 12/29/2012 10:28:06 AM
However, I will say that for someone to have died of breast cancer at the age of 75 is pretty darn strong (physically and emotionally). Had she not lived a healthy lifestyle, she probably would have passed away sooner. So, controlling what we consume and how we live does make a difference.
- 12/29/2012 4:16:02 AM
While exercise and positive thinking are fine things, they can't stop our bodies from developing a huge range of problems that can shorten or radically limit our lives. Yes, being slim and fit can HELP, but they can't eliminate inherited, infectious, or spontaneous disorders.
It troubles me when articles like this one suggest "if only you'd done more you wouldn't have cancer/parkinsons
/arthritis/de
mentia." Sure, healthy living CAN make the difference, but blaming folks for these disorders as if they could have prevented them if only they'd tried harder is, I think, a disservice. - 11/26/2012 9:08:43 AM