In most Western countries aging does not come with great connotation. Aging is what everyone in the West wants to avoid. Not because it is inherently bad, but because of what it means in our society.
Here are 13 tricks to reducing the effects of aging, avoiding the wrinkles and inflammation, and feeling great:
Focus on your diet
It is the tip no one wants to hear, read, or face in reality. But as it goes, diet is the #1 method for reducing the effects of aging. What substance makes you age the quickest? Sugar. Try dropping the sugar and adding in more vegetables to your meals. Your skin will thank you later.
>> The ultimate 3 week diet plan. How to shave off 20lbs in less than 3 weeks.
Find ways to reduce stress
Did you know that chronic stress actually strips away the protective coating of your DNA? Guess what happens when the coating goes…so do you. Find ways every day to reduce stress, and this problem goes away. It could be taking more time for yourself, or scheduling breaks during work to just breath.
>> Try these tricks to reduce stress
Exercise more, but not too much
While too much exercise can actually make you age faster, just the right amount can actually be beneficial. When our bodies don’t get enough exercise, the structure of our cells, muscles, and tissues become weak. This, in part, also lowers our immune system. People with weak immune systems are more likely to age faster.
Stop smoking
This is partly a no-brainer, but it needs to be said. Studies done on the rib cartilage of smokers found that aging was doubled with those who smoked compared to those who did not. Not only that but smoking, without fail, is linked to lung cancer and suppresses the immune system. Chronic smoking should be avoided if you want to look younger.
Get more sunshine
Vitamin D that we get from the sunshine regulates over 124 genes in our bodies. These genes that code our DNA also affect hormones. If you want to stay younger longer, controlling these hormones will help you express the good parts of these genes more. Spend more time outdoors when the sun is out. The more skin you have exposed, the more Vitamin D you can absorb.
Choose face creams wisely
While face creams and vitamin pills are great precautionary measures for good health, too much of these synthetic compounds can overload our bodies with toxins. Next to smoking, there is no faster way to cause aging than toxicity. Ensure that anything and everything you put on your skin is made with all natural ingredients.
Reduce alcohol consumption
Alcohol is like sugar for adults (although they use that too) when we are stressed. While the occasional drink is fine, drinking alcohol more than three times a week has been shown to cut down the life expectancy of people by 5 years, and yes this does include wine.
Make more time for family
Much of the stress we feel from work, financial problems, and the like stems from a lack of connection with our loved ones. These connections can literally improve our immune systems. When people don’t feel they belong or cannot connect with others, this only makes it harder for the immune system to kill off daily pathogens.
Eat more dietary fat
Some time ago dietary fat was thought to kill us faster. Now, it can actually prolong your life. Studies done on patients who consumed more dietary fat (butter, cheese, coconut oil, and nuts/seeds) were found to have younger rib cartilage than those who did not.
>> 9 Reasons To Use Coconut Oil
Have more sex
While this might come as a surprise, sex can actually improve your immune system. Sex releases hormones that help the body feel a belongingness, as well as the same chemicals that make you happy after you achieve something, or have some sugar. More sex, more years.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Piggybacking off of reducing stress, getting upset over the little things in life only increase worry and prolong immune system repair. While it might not seem like much, our immune systems are constantly battling to stay strong. Forgetting the milk at the store isn’t worth the worry.
Engage in more meaningful conversations
Stoking the brain juices with a good conversation has been shown to release hormones similar to those triggered by sex. Keeping your brain sharp is a great way to reduce brain and skin age all at the same time.
Reduce your exposure to chemicals
This can be one of the hardest ones to control as our air is constantly being polluted. If you have the means, try to live in areas closest to beach or forests. This is where the cleanest air is. If you can’t do that, do your best to improve your cardiovascular system with exercise.
For more information on how you can slow the effects of aging I suggest you check this out…
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