Anti-Aging-Tips

Anti-Aging-Tips for the Mind

I think we'd all agree that the brain is pretty much the most complex organ in the human body.

It produces our thoughts, memories, feelings and experiences of the world.

As we grow older, each of these processes can be affected, but how that happens isn't completely understood.

For example, many post-menopausal women say they have difficulty concentrating, yet scientists aren't entirely sure whether or not the growing forgetfulness is a sign of aging, an effect of reduced estrogen, the result of stress, or a bit of each.

Many of the ways we age are determined by genetics, but researchers now know that lifestyle choices, for example, what you eat, how you exercise, whether you're able to relax, can help minimize these effects on the brain.

It’s pretty clear that keeping your mind active, whether by dancing or working on crossword puzzles, can help your mind stay sharp.

It also helps to get a good night's sleep (often easier said than done, certainly if you're experiencing menopause-related night sweats, for example), as fatigue is known to make concentration more difficult.

Mind to body techniques such as yoga and tai-chi can help you feel less frazzled and/or stressed.

And while a poor diet can have detrimental effects on memory, a healthful one can certainly be of benefit to the brain, in other words eating healthy certainly won’t hurt.

And finally one more anti-aging-tip for the mind, exercise, particularly the kind that gets your heart rate up, would also be beneficial for keeping your brain at its best because getting your heart rate up, moves more blood through your system (of which obviously your brain is an integral part) and I’m sure we can agree that more blood to our brain is a good thing.

Anti-Aging-Tips for the Skin

Here’s the bad news.

It's inevitable…skin ages, collagen production slows, and elastin, the substance that enables the skin to spring back into place, has a bit less snap.

Although we can't turn back the hands of time, there's plenty we can do right now to keep our skin looking and feeling radiant and supple.

While creams, serums and supplements promise to erase wrinkles, lighten age spots, and sooth age-related dryness, experts say the simplest (and least expensive) way to keep your skin healthy and younger looking is to stay out of the sun.

In the event you must be outdoors, use adequate sunscreen, even if you've been less than sun-smart in the past, to prevent further damage get on the sunscreen program now.

What we eat also has an impact on how well our skin regenerates itself.

Antioxidant rich foods, such as colorful vegetables and berries, have been shown to help protect against sun damage at the cellular level and can slow the aging of cells.

It’ll also help to stop smoking.

This would be at the top of anyone's anti-aging-tips list.

But, you knew that, right?

Time and again, research shows that people who smoke tend to have more wrinkles than non-smokers of the same age, complexion and history of sun exposure.

This may be because the chemicals or carcinigens in cigarettes play a role in damaging the elastin in our skin.

If you're bothered by visible signs of aging, such as age spots and fine lines, modern treatments can help resurface, peel and restore skin to give it a smoother and refreshed appearance.

A consultation with a dermatologist can help you sort through the numerous options, as well as monitor any suspicious-looking spots.

Anti-Aging-Tips for the Body

I think it’s obvious that aging affects every aspect of our body, from our organs and bones to our muscles and joints.

Contrary to some opinions, that doesn't mean our physical health has to nosedive as you and I get older.

Taking pro-active steps to boost our well-being can bring dramatic payoffs well into our future years.

Start with exercise.

An active lifestyle can help you maintain strength, flexibility, endurance and balance and let you age gracefully.

Strength training is especially important for women, whose bone density peaks in their early thirties and declines sharply after menopause.

Not only will exercise help make your bones stronger, it’ll also increase muscle mass, which in turn boosts metabolism so you burn more calories at rest.

That's good news for avoiding the age-related weight creep that plagues many women.

While younger females gain weight on their thighs and hips, older women are more likely to bulge around the mid-section.

The effects of this extra abdominal weight show up not only in the mirror but also in the form of increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, blood pressure, and many other illnesses.

What you put in your mouth matters, too.

Filling up on so-called "empty calories" like refined carbohydrates taxes your body's systems and actually saps your energy reserves.

So eating plenty of whole grains, lean proteins, and fresh fruits and vegetables will help to enhance your overall health.

And don't forget to safeguard yourself by getting an annual check-up from a qualified health practitioner.

Your check-up should include a full blood workup to measure total cholesterol, levels of good and bad cholesterol, and triglycerides.

And, depending on your age, a pap smear, mammogram, bone-density exam or thyroid test may also be of benefit.

You should probably put us on your favorites list as our anti-aging-tips list will be updated often.

It's actually occurred to us that many of these anti-aging-tips are really just natural sense tips, so perhaps next time thats what we'll call them...natural sense anti-aging-tips.

So, until then, let's use our "natural" sense in staying young, fit and healthy.