How To Slow Down and Reverse Aging Skin
What Causes Aging?
From the time you are born until the time you die, you are aging. Early in life, aging is exciting and celebrated. By the time we reach middle age, however, we start to look at aging a bit differently. Our skin loses its elasticity and our muscles lose tone and flexibility. We have a greater risk of chronic health problems. Our eyesight changes. Libido gets sluggish. The brain is a little less sharp, reflexes slower, and memories become fuzzy. Socially, looking old is simply not cool.
It’s pretty amazing to see how differently people age, though. There are 90-year-old people running around in excellent health and 50-year-old people who are riddled with poor health and look like they are in their 90’s. What causes people to age so differently?
All in all, scientists are not 100% clear on about exactly what causes the decay that occurs in the body as we age, however there are various viable theories and contributors to the ravages of age. There is a genetic link to the aging process that seems to impact the body’s regenerative and repair processes, slowing them down as we get older. Lifestyle and environmental elements also play a role in how our bodies age, which seem to play a big part in the differences that we see in people as they age.
While there is little that you can do about the genetic aspects of aging, you do have some control of the lifestyle and environmental contributors
5 Anti-Aging Tips You Can Use at Home
The effects of aging are more than skin deep. Aging impacts your whole body, so you will receive the greatest benefits from implementing a total body anti-aging strategy.
1. Ant- Aging Skin Care:
Let’s face it, we all want to look good and having healthy, youthful looking skin is a big part of that. You already know that exfoliating and properly moisturizing you skin is an important part of the battle against wrinkles. Ensuring that your skin gets adequate nutrients is another big piece. Your skin is an organ and it requires nutrients to function optimally. Collagen and elastin are the proteins responsible for keeping the skin firm and flexible (elastic). Eating a diet that is rich in antioxidants is a great way to improve the health of your skin.
A wonderful way to improve the health of your skin is to drink a cup of ginger tea with honey daily. Use fresh ginger and locally sourced honey. Ginger is rich in anti-oxidants and helps prevent collagen breakdown, while honey reduces inflammation and has anti-bacterial properties. It’s delicious and full of health benefits.
A great natural exfoliator is a sugar and lemon juice scrub. The sugar exfoliates the skin while the lemon juice adds nutrients and antioxidants.
2. Stress Relief For Younger Skin:
Stress has been linked to numerous chronic health problems including premature aging. Studies have shown that stress accelerates the decay of telomeres, which leads to pre-mature aging. Telomeres are found on the end of our chromosomes and they allow DNA to replicates itself. When your telomeres shorten from decay, the DNA can no longer divide. Reducing stress prevents the premature shortening of the telomeres.
While it is natural (and even healthy) to have small amounts of stress in your life from time to time, most of us walk around with intense levels of stress AND we often create more stress in our lives unnecessarily. If you want to combat the aging process, cut out the stress. Seriously.
If you are overwhelmed, it may be difficult to see HOW you can reduce stress in your life – everything seems to demand your immediate attention. The reality is that not everything is an emergency, so prioritize the demands in your life, get help where you can (don’t be afraid to delegate), and cut out the unnecessary stuff. Build in time for self-care, relaxation, and fun. Trust me, when you make time for you, the rest of it is much easier to manage.
You can also try some breathing techniques to reduce your daily anxiety.
3. Sleep Away Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Ever had a few sleepless nights? If so, you know that it takes its toll. Your skin tone changes, you get dark circles under your eyes, and you feel like you just got run over by a freight train. Your brain gets fuzzy, it’s hard to concentrate, and you get cranky. If you go too long without adequate sleep, you get run down and sick.
It’s not just a saying. Sleep helps your body look and feel healthier and younger, so getting enough quality sleep can reduce the signs of aging. Your body needs time to repair and restore itself, and it does much of that work when you sleep. Doctors recommend that you get at least six to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep each night for optimum health.
For some, that may be easier said than done.
Certain herbal teas are wonderful sleep aids and sipping a hot cup of tea makes for a delightful and relaxing evening ritual. Chamomile, St. John’s Wort, peppermint, lemon balm and valerian are all excellent for combating insomnia. Steep them in 8 ounces of hot water for 10 minutes, add a little honey if you like, and find a quiet place to relax and enjoy.
Here are some more tips and tools to help you sleep better.
4. Nourish Your Skin With Ant-Aging Food
Your body does an amazing job of absorbing the nutrients that we give it, regardless of whether we are giving it high quality, healthy nourishment or garbage. Just like a computer program, what you put in is what you get out of it, so if you are giving your body unhealthy food, your body will become unhealthy eventually.
To combat the adverse effects of aging, you want to be mindful about how you nourish your body. Key anti-aging food include those that are high in anti-oxidants like beta carotene, lycopene and vitamins C and E. Anti-oxidants neutralize free radicals. Free radicals create oxidative damage to your cell and have been linked to pre-mature aging and chronic diseases such as cancer. Boosting your anti-oxidant intake will help combat free radical damage in the body, improve skin health, slow the aging process, and increase your life span.
Cold water fish and colorful fruits and vegetables are great sources of anti-oxidants. Here are some of the best sources of anti-oxidants in foods:
- Blueberries
- Goji Berries
- Pecans
- Artichokes
- Dark Chocolate
- Kidney Beans
- Cranberries
- Pomegranates
- Kale
Boost your intake of these and other nourishing, high anti-oxidants foods will help you look and feel younger.
5. Sun Exposure for Younger Skin?
The sun brings us necessary nutrients like vitamins D and A, and some exposure to the sun’s UV rays is necessary for our health and well-being. Without sunshine and the nourishment it brings, we become depressed. Too much of a good thing, however, is not so good. So after you spend all that time getting your beach body, don’t forget to protect your skin.
As much as you may love the look of a “healthy” tan, you already know that too much sun exposure is dangerous. You’ve seen the former sun worshipers whose skin now looks like wrinkly old leather shoe. Too much UV radiation destroys the collagen and elastin in the skin, which increases wrinkles and dark spots. It also increases your risk of skin cancer. The damage is cumulative, so if you are not careful now, you will experience the effects later.
Sunscreen is recommended to help prevent damage, however many commercially available sunscreens are loaded with toxins that have the potential to be even more harmful to your body. There are other ways to enjoy the sun without overexposing yourself to the harmful rays as long as you are mindful (and let go of the need to tan). Look for safe, natural sunscreens that do not have toxins. You can even make your own sunscreen.
Cover your exposed skin when you are working or playing outside to minimize direct sun. Wears hats to shade your face and sunglasses to protect your eyes. Use umbrellas or canopies at the beach and picnics. Plan outdoor activities for earlier or later in the day when UV rays are lower, and pay attention to the UV index so you can minimize exposure when it is high.
Help your body age gracefully by focusing on total body health. Your body will feel better, your skin will look healthier and you will reduce your risk of chronic health conditions. Use these all natural anti aging tips to help you stay younger.
Health Coach Drew
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