Aging is going to happen whether you like it or not but how you age depends on your current habits. Many of us want to look younger than are age and while you can’t control your age, you can slow down the aging process by making smart choices as you get older.
People who age slowly have a zest for living, stay engaged and work actively to maintain their health. How you age is a conscious decision.
Things like exercise, diet, friendships and even our attitude can be just as significant as genetics when it comes to aging. Have friends who are aging gracefully and wonder how they do it?
Take a look at these everyday habits so you too can start adopting them.
1. Practicing Good Nutritional Habits
There are many ways to stay healthy, and your eating habits play a major role. You don’t have to become a health food extremist, unless that’s the way you prefer to eat. Many people in different cultures stay healthy by eating lots of fish with omega-3 fatty acids. These can also be found in flaxseed, tree nuts, tuna, sardines and chia seeds.
Omega-3s boost brain function, strengthen memory, fight inflammation and help to repair cell membranes. Many people who age slowly reduce their red meat intake, eat less food and maintain a regular eating schedule, which help digestion and circulation while fighting obesity and heart disease, digestive tract and kidney disorders.
2. Drinking Lots of Water
Healthy, active people tend to drink a lot of water. Dehydration can cause tingling in the hands, back and legs, constipation, headaches and other symptoms of aging. Doctors have recommended drinking eight glasses of water each day, but recent studies have shown that 11 to 15 cups per day are more beneficial for staying youthful.
As people grow older, it’s harder to digest food, and water helps stimulate the system, flush toxins from the body and increase stamina.
3. Showing a Positive Attitude About Life
People who stay more youthful as they age usually have a positive attitude. Theys enjoy each and every day by staying active, communing with nature, getting exercise and meeting up with friends for social events. You’ll find healthy people who walk daily in the park, jog, exercise and play team sports to keep their edge.
They keep close relationships with friends and family members, stay interested in other people’s successes and failures. Staying psychologically well-adjusted means showing love and empathy for friends, children, grandchildren and relatives. People who seem to age slowly continue to learn by reading, listening and interacting on the internet.
4. Paying Attention to Oral Health
You can stay younger by simply taking good care of your teeth. Good oral hygiene prevents cavities, gingivitis and mouth and jaw disorders. Some people have lost some or all of their teeth, but they stay younger by getting full or partial plates, implants and caps.
Using an electric toothbrush (I use this one), dental floss and a tongue scraper creates a cleaner mouth, which makes you feel and act healthier. Food tastes better and you’re more willing to smile with clean, healthy teeth.
5. Keeping a Healthy Interest in Sexual Activity
Now there are lots of practical reasons people let their sexual activity die as they age. Some men lose the ability to perform, and women can lose interest because of hormonal changes.
However, you can improve your sex drive. As long as your interest remains high for sex and/or romance, you stay more youthful. Sex triggers the release of HGH, or human growth hormone, which fights the symptoms of aging and increases youthful vigor. People who have regular sex look and feel five to seven years younger than those who don’t.
6. Keeping Skin Healthy
Yes, you need to take care of your skin and the best product to have in your skincare routine is sunscreen. You’ve probably heard about the dangers of UV light from the sun. Too much sun ages the skin, creates wrinkles and often triggers skin cancer. So wear a strong SPF sunscreen (at least 30) to protect your skin when exposed to the sun.
7. Staying Active in Community Affairs
People who age slowly take an active interest in their community, schools, local festivals and charities. Don’t lose interest in what’s going on in the world. You can do volunteer work, mentor young people and share your knowledge and spend time with people of all ages.
8. Adopting Healthier Lifestyle Habits
Health-conscious people recognize that drinking too much coffee or alcohol has health repercussions. Cigarette smoking can become the focus of everything you do – if you don’t find a way to quit. Nicotine, alcohol and caffeine become increasingly harder to process as your body loses some of its processing and recovery abilities. The toxins aggravate illnesses and inflammation and compromise the immune system so that you have less resistance to diseases and pathogens.
Cutting these stimulants and toxins out of your life (or reducing them significantly) provides an immediate boost of energy, improves your appearance and increases your sense of well-being.
9. Getting Restorative Sleep
It’s called restorative sleep for a reason. Many people have trouble sleeping as they get older, but people who age slowly get restful, healthy sleep. Good sleep depends on many factors, such as not eating too much before bed, watching too much television and drinking too many fluids. Following a regular sleep schedule is important, and getting enough exercise and physical activity during the day helps you fall asleep fast. The more deep sleep you get, the better you look and feel.
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