How to Stay Young and Beautiful
There are some definitive tips and tricks to help the body cope with the aging process and secrets that can help you age with grace. When you think of aging, a few things may come to mind like wrinkles on the skin, gray hair and the need for reading glasses. There is no doubt that as we age our body goes through changes and begins to lose some of its spunk. But there are some age defying tips and tricks that can be done to stay young and beautiful.
Age Defying Tips and Tricks
Diet takes a huge toll on how we age. Our diet can either support us during the aging process or further harm us. Fewer calories are needed as the body ages. Both genders, 55 and older, need approximately 15 to 200 less calories on a daily basis than those younger than 55. This decrease in calorie needs is due to the decline in metabolic rate and also because most people have decreased physical activity. Also, there is a certain hormone produced by the thyroid that slows down metabolism. Studies showed that individuals who exercised more, ate less and cut calories showed lowered production of this T3 hormone.
As we age, our joints tend to lose mobility, our muscle mass decreases and we can lose flexibility in our ligaments. One way to combat this is to keep going with an age-appropriate exercise routine. Even if it’s only 30 minutes a few times a week, your workout routine will help improve circulation, increase muscle mass and promote more flexibility.
Skin health is a common concern because aging brings with it wrinkles and age spots. Without adequate water, the skin loses even more elasticity than is loss as we age. Proper hydration is essential and can help to prevent excessive wrinkles. Medical experts recommend drinking at least 6 to 8 large glasses of water a day. Some health experts even urge people to drink half their body weight in ounces of water per day. Because the skin also stops producing as much oil, it’s important to intake healthy oils on a daily basis.
Essential fatty acids are absolutely required for the health of all membranes in the body and are particularly beneficial to skin health. They can be found in walnuts, hemp seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and even in some green leafy vegetables such as swiss chard.
There is an important element that some people neglect to do as much, after leaving their schooling years behind, and that’s using your brain and boosting its cognitive abilities. Health experts urge individuals to keep challenging their brain throughout their life. Studies show a direct correlation between learning new things and better brain health as we age. Participating in things that challenge and stimulate your brain like word puzzles, hobbies, reading and taking classes will help to retain the ability to remember things.
Research has also suggested that staying socially active will help stimulate the brain and reduce stress levels.
Another element that helps the skin and the body in general are antioxidants. For the skin, antioxidants provide protection from free radical damage, thereby promoting greater elasticity and healthier collagen in the skin. Antioxidants can be taken in supplement form and are found in high quantities in certain foods. They play a role in anti-aging because they protect the body from free radical damage which can lead to disease and decreased immunity. Berries, sweet potatoes, broccoli, acai, citrus fruits and other foods are particularly high in antioxidants. These antioxidants support the aging immune system, thereby making it less prone to developing disease.
Antioxidants also protect and support brain health. Free radicals speed the aging process because they take a toll on the body, damaging tissues and cells. Antioxidants offer protection for the body, possibly deflecting age-related diseases and increasing longevity. There are many factors that create free radicals in the body and they range from certain foods to air pollution and life-style factors.
Stress is one factor that is responsible for creating free radicals in the body. There is proven research that shows that stress has an impact on the immune system, which can leave one susceptible to many different diseases. Practicing in daily stress-relieving activities such as exercise and certain hobbies can protect the body from some age-related problems. When stress is relieved, people sleep better and have an overall better quality of life.
Some important things to remember to stay young and beautiful are: to practice an exercise routine, eat well, drink plenty of water and laugh freely. Laughter stimulates the immune system, which is essential for health and longevity.
There are so many factors that have an impact on how well or poorly we age, but taking active steps can help to reduce problems that may arise as we age.
