How to Slow Down the Aging Process
Aging is a part of every human being's life. We start to age from the second we take our first breath. We grow and thrive throughout our youth and young adulthood. As we mature, we tend to build habits that either help to ensure our good health for the rest of our lives, or we develop habits that slowly deteriorate our bodies and minds. We can control the rate of deterioration by changing some of those habits and eliminating others.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Eating in today's world can be a challenge. You are tempted by foods that are quick and convenient. Your schedules limit the amount of time you have to prepare and enjoy your meals. Foods are loaded with preservatives and additives. Looking past the convenience, we have to re-teach ourselves how to eat properly. Good nutrients from good foods are the best way for our body's to assimilate what they need. Packing a lunch instead of frequenting the fast food places is a start to re-establishing a pattern of health eating.
Take a supplement designed exclusively for seniors to make sure you are getting the proper nutrients, vitamins and minerals. -
2
Exercising is another vital part of staying healthy. As we age, our muscles and tissues break down. Keeping them healthy is necessary to avoid broken bones and strains. The more you use your muscles, the stronger they will be. Strong tissues don't break down as easily. They also handle stress better and will withstand more trauma than weakend, unused tissue. Exercising for 30 minutes three times a week is an ideal program. Variety and comfort are two important factors. Do what you like to do and vary your routines so you stay motivated. Start slow and build according to your body and what it needs.
-
-
3
Protecting your skin is also very important. Your skin is the biggest organ of the human body. It can also be one of the most vulnerable. It is constantly being exposed to the elements. Wearing sunscreen when you are outside is necessary to protect your skin from melanoma and other skin maladies. Tanning beds are also hard on the skin. They break down the tender tissues faster in some cases, than regular sunlight. Using a natural moisturizer can help the skin from breaking down. Find a lotion that is made with water and essential oils. These won't dry out the skin like lotions with an alcohol base.
Moisturizing daily will prevent wrinkles and lines from forming on the face and will keep the skin soft and younger looking. -
4
Avoid tobacco and alcohol. Both have drying effects on the skin. As well as having chemicals the body does not need and can not use, they also deplete the body of necessary nutrients. Both alcohol and tobacco are known to be addictive. You may not be able to just walk away from either one. If you find you are having trouble quitting, seek professional help. Doctors, counselors, friends and family are all their as a supoort system. Talk to them. Enlist their help.
-
5
Stimulate your mind. Read books, articles, newspapers. Do puzzles of all kinds. Find things that you like to do and do them often. The more you use your brain, the sharper it will remain for longer periods of time. Avoid NutraSweet and other artificial sweeteners. Some studies have shown that because of their excitotoxin effects, they overstimulate the brain cells until they die. This in turn, leads to diseases like alzheimers and dementia.
-
6
Staying active and keeping busy are primary goals. Join a club or spend time with family. In today's economy, money is tight. You don't have to spend money to stay active. Volunteer your time where it might be needed. Hospitals, homeless shelters, animal shelters, and senior centers are always looking for volunteers. Broaden your horizons and meet new friends and you can even have fun doing it.
-
7
Getting enough rest is the final key. After making changes and trying new things, rest your mind and body and prepare yourself for the next day's adventures. Sleeping six to eight hours a day is adequate for some and not enough for others. It will be up to you to find out where you fall in the scheme of things. Try to rest without the aid of sleeping pills. Using sleep aids too much can cause dependency.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Know your body. Watch for signs that the aging process is starting to speed up. Take small steps to gradually bring it back under control
See your physician immediately if you come across something you don't understand or makes you feel uncomfortable.
