Aging is certainly something that no one really looks forward to. Your back aches just a little more, you can’t seem to eat everything that you once were able to without gaining a few pounds, your memory might not be as sharp, and oh, those wrinkles. While those are all bound to happen at some point, there are ways to slow down that process a bit and have you looking and feeling younger. With just a few lifestyle changes you can help protect your body from aging and enjoy aging slowly and gracefully rather than fast and abrupt.
Floss & Brush Your Teeth
Oral health is a big contributor to looking and feeling younger. You don’t often see a young kid with yellowing teeth, so why should yours have that little tint of yellow? Flossing and brushing your teeth every night and morning are extremely important for your health and appearance. Flossing removes bacteria that turns into plaque and eventually tartar. If tartar builds up, it not only discolors your teeth but can ultimately result in tooth decay and loss. We’re pretty sure having missing teeth isn’t the best way to look younger.
Improve Your Posture
A poor posture can be a big sign of aging. As people get older, they tend to slouch by rounding their shoulders and back due to their muscles becoming tight and weaker. As this is certainly a part of aging, there are ways to slow that process down and prevent your back and shoulders from slouching. First of all, it is important to stretch regularly. Stretching your back, legs, and shoulders will help keep your muscles from tightening and give them the range of motion they need to stand up straight. You should also be strengthening your back muscles to make sure it can support a straight posture. You can use weights or do isometric exercises to build up those back muscles and ensure that you have great posture for years to come.
Protect Yourself from the Sun
Sun spots, wrinkles, and discoloration are all results of sun damage, and quite frankly, they make you age a lot quicker. Fortunately, you can slow down that aging process by protecting your skin from potential sun damage. Applying sunscreen should be a part of your daily routine, even if it looks cloudy outside. Make sure to lather up your skin in sunscreen wherever your skin may be exposed to the sun. Don’t forget your hands, as they are common body parts that are often forgotten and tend to show aging easily. And if you plan on staying outside, bring a hat and some sunglasses! Every little bit helps and you will thank yourself later when you don’t have as many wrinkles or dark spots on your skin.
Exercise Regularly
Exercising regularly is a big component to looking and feeling younger. It will give you energy, boost your brain cells, and keep your muscles strong and healthy. If that doesn’t seem like enough to make you look younger, then you may want to know that exercising even produces substances that help slow aging skin, making your skin look and feel more elastic – something that would resemble skin of someone much younger. On top of that, you will boost your metabolism and feel nice and fit when you wear those skinny jeans that show off your best assets.
Eat Healthy
Eating healthy is one of the most important things you can do for your health and for looking young. By having protein and nutrients such as fish, fruits, and veggies, you can literally see the difference in your body from head to toe. Eating healthy not only reflects on your weight but can even show in your skin, hair, and teeth. Junk food that is greasy like pizza and fried chicken can cause your skin to be oily and even breakout, but healthier food will help improve your skin by making it soft, subtle, and blemish-free. Plus, it will help improve your hair by making it silky and strong. Eating greens also helps your teeth because the fiber in it prevents plaque from sticking to the enamel. Fun fact: strawberries are a natural teeth whitener.
Watch Your Salt Intake
While many people like adding salt to their food for taste, it can cause a lot of harm inside and out. Salt retains water, which can lead you to looking and feeling puffy. This certainly shows under your eyes, not just from a bad night’s sleep. By avoiding sodium, your skin will not appear puffy and you will be doing your heart a big favor.
Catch Some Z’s
Getting enough sleep is important to looking and feeling your best. Bags and discoloration under your eyes are linked to lack of sleep, which is one of the reasons sleep is so important. While you sleep, your body repairs itself from the day, including its skin. Deep sleep is linked to cell and tissue repair, giving your skin that extra boost. Collagen is also produced while you sleep, which is how your skin fights those wrinkles. One thing to note is to try to sleep on your back. Sleeping on your stomach or side can cause wrinkles when your face is squished up against your arm or pillow.
Skip the Heat
Youthful hair has shine, bounce, and is breakage free, and you certainly can’t achieve that if you are constantly frying your hair with hair dryers, flat irons, and curling irons. The heat from those hair tools damage your hair, making it look dull and causing it to break. Try to go without using that blow dryer or flat iron every once in a while to save your hair from damage. You just may be surprised at how much stronger and healthier it looks and feels after not using those hot tools as often.
Posted in Replenish Your Mindset, Replenish Your Purpose and tagged
