So Are You Aging Faster Than You Should?
We age… That’s inevitable. Two things we can do about this though; first, try not to speed up the process with bad habits. And second, make good lifestyle choices to age as healthfully and gracefully as possible. Yes, I encourage every woman to embrace the process and love every little change that occurs as days pass. Because these wrinkles will be a sign of all the good laughs and moments you had, and these fine lines on your hands are talking about all the effort you made to be the successful person you are today. Just take extra care of yourself and do your part to keep the youthful look for as long as possible. After all, if there is anything we can do to prevent premature aging we will gladly do it, right?… Here are some things that contribute to how fast we age.
1 || Your Eating Habits
Processed foods, red meats, and white bread cause inflammation in your body which can lead to skin flare-ups and wrinkle formation. As we always say, you are what you eat. That said you should know that healthy food choices have a great effect on your body as they support cell renewal, boost energy and mood, and improve your brain health.
Following healthy eating habits will decrease the risk of degenerative diseases as we age. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamin C, zinc, beta carotene, and other nutrients that will boost your immune system. Fish is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, and whole grains which are packed with anti-oxidants, in your diet promote healthy skin and reduce wrinkles.
2 || You Don’t Bother Exercising
Do not ever underestimate the effects of exercising in the long term. If you are a gym addict like myself then you can see clearly how exercising boosts your energy and supports a healthier immune system. It also increases the levels of healthy hormones such as testosterone, lowers cortisol levels, improves mood, and controls blood pressure. Building muscle strength is one of the best things we can do for our body to improve its production of growth factors, increase sensitivity to insulin, and reap brain-boosting benefits.
Additionally, research shows that cardiovascular disease rates are higher in people who do not consistently exercise.
3 || What About Your Sleeping Patterns
The quality of your sleep has a great effect on how fast you age. The function of sleep is to defend against oxidative stress that is linked to damaging our skin cells and aging them. And oxidative stress is on an increase in our daily lives from environmental damage like sugar, pollutants, pesticides, smoke, drugs, and excessive sun exposure.
Slowing down the aging process includes maintaining the brain health that you get from a good night’s sleep. The inflammation from oxidative stress can cause brain fog, fatigue, joint pain, noise sensitivity, headaches, and a lowered immune system. It also affects your skin. That’s why fighting oxidative stress by following good sleeping patterns allows your body and mind to thrive.
4 || Skipping Skincare
Even if you are a huge fan of natural beauty you still need to care about your skin. A good skincare routine will slow down the aging process and will help you age with grace. Make sure to cleanse, moisturize and protect religiously with products the suit your skin type and needs. Your skin will thank you later…
5 || You Stress So Much
Stress, worry, and anxiety are the biggest culprits of aging. Studies have shown that long periods of stress can actually alter your DNA! Yep, you heard it right… It causes premature aging by shortening the length of each DNA strand. Now that we got so many reasons to be stressed over from social media, emails, social isolation, and the current pandemic situation, you need to find a healthy way such as working out, yoga, paint, cook or maybe have a walk around the town to release stress. Try to let go and not overthink situations you can’t control. Everything is gonna be alright and as it meant to be at the end of the day.
6 || You Don’t Drink Enough Water
From boosting energy and balancing hormones to cell renewal… Water is life. Drinking enough amount of water daily helps you get rid of toxins by sweating urinating, and pooping which aids your body to function healthfully and naturally.