An aging face is like a map with markers on it. But most people don't want the world to know just how many markers they've passed, so they begin the task to stop, or slow down, the aging process. Aging occurs from accumulated damage to the cells and tissues in our bodies as a result of day-to-day living. To stop aging now, it is vital to first prevent cell damage and then hold aging at bay through a consistent healthy lifestyle.
Prevent Aging
Step 1
Stop smoking. Smoking is the single biggest health risk. Not only does it cause lung cancer, mouth cancer, heart disease, emphysema and many more diseases, it also damages and ages skin with its harmful chemicals.
Step 2
Eat a healthy diet with at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, a moderate amount of starches and meat and a minimal amount of fats, salt and sugar. Fruit and vegetables provide anti-oxidants and vitamins that protect your body from free radicals.
Step 3
Exfoliate skin daily to encourage cell turnover, and use an antioxidant cream to keep skin firm and prevent free radicals from breaking down your skin's collagen and elastin.
Step 4
Use sunscreen and a retinol lotion or serum daily. Both can prevent wrinkles from forming. UVA and UVB rays damage skin cells and cause premature aging.
Healthy Lifestyle
Step 1
Get enough sleep. A National Sleep Foundation poll found a link between the quality of life and health in older adults to the amount of sleep they get, according to HelpGuide.org. Those who sleep seven to nine hours a night are likely to have a more active, positive life.
Step 2
Reduce your daily caloric intake. This goes hand in hand with losing weight, if you are overweight. Research at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center suggests that caloric restriction without malnutrition can delay disease and aging, according to Discover Magazine.
Step 3
Get 20-minute sessions of exercise three to four times a week. Exercise helps prevent high blood pressure, heart disease, depression and a host of other diseases. It also makes you feel better physically and psychologically, thanks to the endorphins exercise releases into the brain.
Step 4
Find a good balance between the six connected principles for leading a healthy life: emotional, intellectual, physical, social, spiritual and vocational wellness.
Tips and Warnings
- Aging is a natural process, so don't be disappointed in yourself when those first few wrinkles or gray hairs start becoming pronounced.
Things You'll Need
- Exfoliator
- Antioxidant cream
- Sunscreen
- Retinol lotion or serum
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