Best at every age! 4 ways to slow aging

It’s only stating the obvious to say we are aging. But rather than go into denial — or worse yet — just give up and die before we’re dead, we have the opportunity to use the best information available to us to maintain and support a lifestyle of health and vitality. After all, a rich quality of life is the goal!

In the first post of my series, “Best at Every Age” I talked about how a positive mindset is key to cultivating a youthful outlook. My second post shared information about some important vitamins that stave off the damage of aging, and help us maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. In this post, I want to explore ways we can slow the aging process.

4 Ways You Can Slow Aging

As you get older, you’re bound to notice some signs of aging. One of the first apparent changes is that your skin starts to sag, dry out, and wrinkle. You may also notice weight gain, and might feel changes in your joints that could make it more difficult to maintain mobility and independence. You may also experience changes in your mental health.

Of course we can’t stop the aging process completely, but there are things we can do to slow it down so that we maintain our independence and live a full and happy life well into our senior years. Read on for 4 ways you can slow the aging process.

#1 – Make Sure You’re Getting the Right Nutrition

The earlier in life that you start supplying your body with good nutrition, the longer you can stave off the signs of aging. Nutrition is critical to helping prevent disease and increase longevity. It will also help you look and feel younger.

Antioxidants

It’s important to include as many antioxidants as possible your diet. Antioxidants help your body fight off the inflammation and environmental oxidation that accelerates aging.

Foods that contain high amounts of Antioxidants:
Blueberries
Broccoli
Greens, including kale, spinach, turnip, and mustard greens
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Apples
Red grapes
Beans

While the foods listed are especially high in antioxidants, antioxidants can be found in a wide variety of foods, especially fruits and vegetables. However, even meat, poultry, and whole grains contain some antioxidants. The more whole foods you eat, the better.

Avoid Processed Foods

On the other hand, processed foods contain little or no nutrition and often are high in calories from sugar, salt, and fat. Processed foods include white flour, white sugar, trans fats, artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners.

Processed foods cause inflammation, trigger weight gain, joint problems, aging skin, and increased risk of disease. You’ll experience better health and fewer signs of aging if your diet includes more unprocessed ‘real’ food, which are just foods closest to their most natural state.

#2 – Implement a Proper Skincare Regimen

Skincare is essential to slowing down the aging process. This is the first thing you notice and the first sign to others of your age. It’s important to note that good nutrition is actually the first step toward healthy, younger skin.

Exercise

Regular exercise can slow down aging and is actually good for your skin. When your body heats up, blood rushes to the surface of your skin to let heat escape. Increased blood flow to the skin rejuvenates your skin and helps it to get the nutrients it needs. Golfing, swimming, and bicycling are all great ways to get your exercise. Even just walking for 30 minutes a day will create a rejuvenating effect for the skin.

Hydration

Skin needs moisture in order to prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging. It’s critical that you keep your body hydrated by drinking enough water. Your body always distributes nutrients to vital organs first and then to the more peripheral areas of the body. If you don’t drink enough water, your skin will be one of the first places that gets deprived of water. Even minor dehydration causes the cells to shrink and can lead to wrinkles and dry skin.

Three Skincare Steps

Hydration comes from within the body, but you also need to add moisture externally to your skin. You’ll want to maintain a skincare routine that includes gentle cleansing, exfoliation, and moisturizing. You may need to cleanse your face only once a day if it gets drier. The best time to cleanse is at the end of the day to remove makeup, dirt, and oils that have accumulated throughout the day.

Exfoliation is also important. Exfoliating actually allows your moisturizer to penetrate more deeply into healthy tissue. Exfoliating with a scrub is called mechanical exfoliation, and helps to remove dead skin cells.

You can also use chemical exfoliation with products that contain retinols. These acids help to dissolve dead skin cells and are found in many anti-aging formulas. Look for a moisturizer developed for aging skin, and choose moisturizers with antioxidants and retinols to further slow aging. Additionally, moisturizing formulas containing hyaluronic acid attract moisture and ‘plump’ the skin, helping to prevent dry skin and adding a youthful glow.

Protect Your Skin from the Sun

Sun damage is one of the leading causes of aging skin and skin cancer. The younger you are when you protect yourself from the sun, the better. But it’s not too late to start protecting yourself from the sun, no matter your age. Look for products that contain at least SPF 15. These will give your skin protection from harmful UV rays in the atmosphere.

When you’re outside for long periods of time, look for areas of shade for protection, and don’t forget to reapply sunscreen. Wearing a hat and appropriate clothing will also protect your skin from sun damage.

#3 – Give Yourself a Mental Health Makeover

Many people battle depression as they age, but this shouldn’t be considered a normal condition. Some factors that lead to depression include chronic disease, social isolation, or death of a spouse or family members. If you’re struggling with feelings of hopelessness and sadness it’s important to seek help from a professional as soon as possible. There are many options to improve your state of mind and the way you feel.

Staying social is one critical element of good mental health. Joining groups that allow you to spend time with others is a great way to boost your spirits and provide you with positive mental health. Make it a point to participate in social activities so that you can avoid social isolation. It might also be helpful to seek spiritual connection through a faith community.

Beyond depression, seniors also experience mental health issues such as dementia, anxiety, and problems with sleep. Nutrition and exercise are critical for maintaining good mental health. Taking good care of your body from the youngest age possible is the best way to reduce mental health problems.

Self Care is Important

It’s also important to practice self-care and ask for help and support when you need it. For instance, if you suffer from a chronic disease, a support group may be able to help you feel better about your condition. Often people have the misconception that it’s normal to feel depressed or blue when they get older. As a result, they either don’t seek help or get misdiagnosed. Make sure that you don’t just dismiss your feelings as a normal part of aging.

Additionally, don’t be afraid to accept new challenges that require strategic thinking. Even completing puzzles can help you to stay mentally sharp.

#4 – Maintain Your Mobility

Maintaining mobility can be one of the biggest concerns as we age. You may be worried that you won’t be able to get around the way you once did. Some causes of mobility problems include muscle weakness, arthritis, vision problems, medications, heart disease, and balance problems related to stroke.

The more active you are, the more mobile and independent you’ll likely be as the years progress, and many mobility issues can be prevented by taking good care of yourself with exercise and nutrition.

It’s also important to treat vision problems. Sometimes just changing your glasses prescription or getting cataract treatment will enable you to increase mobility.

Stay Active

If you experience muscle weakness or balance problems you should always check with your doctor. An adjustment in medication could be all that you need. But if medication isn’t the problem, exercise could be the solution. Weak muscles can be strengthened. Even in your senior years you can begin a fitness routine that includes aerobic activity and strength training. Working your muscles will help to prevent fractures and allow you to move freely.

Make sure to talk with your health professional before beginning a fitness routine to make sure it’s appropriate for you. In most cases, you should be able to take a walk each day and as well as lift some light weights for your upper body. Joining a Zumba class or learning Tai Chi will give you the opportunity to socialize and stay active at the same time.

We Can Slow the Aging Process

Aging doesn’t have to mean giving up the things we love to do. Following the simple steps outlined above can slow aging and help us remain independent well into our senior years. It really is up to us to make the most of the life we’re given, and to be our best at every age!

Be Sure to Sign Up~

Before you go, click here to sign up! Subscribers receive post updates, direct links to my newest free printables and exclusive digital desktop images of each month’s featured printable. Digital desktop images are only available for the first month, so don’t miss out!

Is old age really in your head? Read my post to learn how a positive attitude can keep you young.

Learn about 5 key age-fighting vitamins that can help you stay younger, longer!

Check out my post to learn how pursuing a positive mindset will change your life. Includes a free printable!