You are as old as you feel, goes the saying. There’s a lot of truth in this and age is nothing but a number for people who maintain a youthful state of mind. In fact, experts point out that rather than worrying that age is catching up with you, making a few positive changes to your lifestyle and cultivating healthy habits can help slow the effects of aging to a great extent.
- Don’t let stress get the better of you. Find time to relax and be happy. Find happiness in the things around you and practice stress relieving activities like meditation and exercise.
- Oxidative stress – the imbalance between the production of free radicals and the ability of the body’s antioxidants to fight their harmful effects through neutralization – causes age-related disorders and diseases. Fight oxidative stress by choosing foods with nutrients that support antioxidant defense, such as, beta-carotene (orange, dark green produce) and vitamins C (citrus, broccoli, berries) and E (almonds, sunflower seeds).
- Sugar consumption speeds up aging and is believed to reduce longevity. So cut your intake of sugar.
- The appearance of your skin does matter when it comes to looking young. Keep your skin soft and hydrated by drinking lots of water and using high quality moisturizers.
- It is believed that raising your eyebrows more often may cause forehead lines, one of the visible signs of aging. So try to avoid this.
- Getting enough sleep is important. Sleep allows the body to rest and refresh itself, rejuvenates the skin, and restores energy levels.
- Wear sunscreen when you go as the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun can damage your skin, cause wrinkles, and make it age faster.
- Habitual smoking can make you look older than actually you are. Avoid exposure to secondary smoke too.
- Studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acid can actually slow down the aging process. Fish, and many nuts and seeds are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, so include more of these in your diet.
An article in the Daily Mail reported on a study which found that people who think of themselves as old and frail are more likely to give up activities which could help to keep them young such as socializing and taking regular exercise. So cultivate a positive attitude, get together with friends and loved ones whenever you can, and involve yourself in activities that can help you stay fit, mentally alert and youthful.
