Without surgery or medicine- How to LOOK young all the time
Without surgery or medicine- How to LOOK young all the time


 How to Look and Feel Younger Than Ever


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!




Protect Your Skin 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.



What You Are What You Eat

 Much has been written about the power of
nutrition to ward off illness, boost the immune system and enhance your
complexion.  Real food 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:


• Vitamin
A: Sweet potatoes, broccoli, leafy greens (such as spinach and kale), red,
yellow and orange produce (such as cantaloupe, carrots, bell peppers), and
asparagus

• Vitamin
C: Red bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, pineapple, kiwifruit,
oranges, and cantaloupe

• Vitamin
E: Nuts and seeds, vegetable oils, tomato products, and spinach.

•
Polyphenols: Green tea, cocoa and dark chocolate.



Exercise formula all the time

There are
three types of exercise that can keep you looking and feeling young.

• Aerobic
exercise increases circulation throughout the body and strengthens the heart
and lungs.  It aids in digestion, helps
us reduce anxiety and stress, and enhances the quality of our sleep.
Weight-bearing aerobic exercise, such as walking, jogging, hiking or dancing,
can even slow bone loss. 

  • Strength training has been shown to build
bone mass, which helps to prevent and slow down osteoporosis.  Building muscle mass keeps us strong and revs
the metabolism, which helps to maintain a healthy body weight and youthful
figure.  Strength training keeps us
limber and improves balance, preventing debilitating falls and fractures. Ultimately,
it keeps you independent and capable of more things even as you get older.

  • Lifestyle activities, such as golf,
gardening, bowling, tennis and ballroom dancing involve both physical and
mental stimulation, keeping both our bodies and minds young. In general,
experts agree that the more you can move--even if it's not as intense as
traditional forms of exercise--the better off your body and your mind will be
as you age.



Adjust Your
Mindset all the time

Research
has found that the most serious aging occurs at the cellular level.  Many of our lifestyle habits such as
exercise, nutrition, stress management and sleep will enhance the body’s
ability to repair the cellular damage that is inevitable as we get older.   Traditional medicine focuses on treating
illness to prolong life. But many healthcare professionals want to shift that
focus to preventing disease in the first place. 
We want to not only add years to our life, but life to our years.  Disease occurs when we fail to keep our bodies
and minds active; it is not an unavoidable result of getting older. Arthritis,
osteoporosis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and even
dementia often occur because of the accumulation of unhealthy lifestyle habits
rather than as a result of years ticking by.

 Much of what you decide to do on a daily basis
will not only prolong the length of your life, but the quality of those years
as well.



Get your good
Sleep everyday

 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.




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



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!





