Anti-Aging Facts You Should Know If You’re Slowing Down

Reduce your sugar intake as it ages us tremendously both internally and externally. Sugar can cause an insulin spike in our body which can result in chronic inflammation in severe cases causing premature aging. Sugar also accelerates aging through a process called glycation in which the sugar in your bloodstream attaches to your proteins, forming harmful molecules, altering and breaking down your collagen. Therefore it is advisable to reduce intake of processed foods as they often contain high amounts of sugar, sodium, saturated trans fats and preservatives which bring no benefits to the body. 

A healthy diet consisting of many colorful fruits and vegetables, are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that can help the body to develop and fight free radicals from the inside out. Probiotics in fermented foods like yogurts, miso, kimchi, tempeh and sauerkraut are also very beneficial because those foods promote a healthy gut which support a healthy immune system translating to good skin. While consuming good fats like omega 3 fatty acids from fish or healthy monounsaturated fats from nuts or fruit like avocado improves blood cholesterol levels and decreases your risk of heart disease. 

If you struggle to meet the daily required nutrients intake, alternatively you can opt for supplements instead as there many in the market you can choose from.  

Smoking has been scientifically proven to accelerate aging. The nicotine in cigarettes causes narrowing of blood vessels in your skin therefore decreases blood circulation. This restricts supply of oxygen and important nutrients such as Vitamin A to your skin. Apart from effects of nicotine, there are more than 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke that also cause damage to the body’s collagen which can result in the skin losing its elasticity hence developing premature wrinkles and sagging. Smoking also drastically increases your risks of developing cancer especially lung cancer and other heart related diseases. 

Heavy drinking has been linked to liver damage, dementia and skin aging as alcohol infuses every cell, damages genes and inflamed liver. Alcohol has been known to dehydrate the entire body and often contribute to wrinkles, puffiness, dryness, purple capillaries and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of eyes) due to alcoholic liver damage.

Stress management also has a huge impact on how the body ages as researchers have found that stress shortens the body’s DNA telomeres- the protective caps at both ends of the body’s chromosome that helps maintain the integrity of the genetic information. As the telomeres get shorter, their structural integrity weakens, which causes cells to age faster and die younger. Studies done by Dr Owen Wolkowitz at University of California, San Francisco have shown that chronic stress linked to untreated depression, social isolation and anxiety attacks can accelerate premature aging, increase risks of chronic diseases and early deaths. Worry not, as there are many simple ways you can manage your stress. It has been proven that incorporating meditation, journaling, short walks in parks, hobbies like painting, reading or any other activities that relaxing and calming to your day to day life helps to reduce stress. If you still feel overwhelmed, you can always seek help by getting counseling or therapy sessions from trained professionals.