Tips to Slow Premature Aging
Aging is a normal physiological process that occurs with advanced age. While aging affects all body organs, it can be seen clearly through the skin. Cosmetically, the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin texture and tone are clear signs of aging. Since these signs make you appear older, you should address them to look younger.
While reversing the signs of aging is impossible, you can slow down and mitigate age-related health conditions with a healthy lifestyle. Scheduling facials, massage, and other skin care services available on this website can also reduce premature aging. The tips below can slow down the appearance of the signs of aging.
1. An Anti-inflammatory Diet
Diets rich in anti-inflammatory foods can speed up the aging process by shortening telomere length. Telomeres are critical structures at chromosomal ends that protect cells during cell division. Old cells often have a short telomere. However, inflammatory diets shorten telomeres prematurely, which causes early aging.
Your anti-aging diet should include food options that reduce inflammation. Common food types that reduce inflammation include green vegetables, fresh fruits, nuts, fish, and olive oil. Similarly, you should avoid food items that increase inflammation, such as processed meat, added sugar, trans-fats, and refined carbohydrates.
2. Physical Activity
Exercises and physical activities are beneficial to the body in many ways. Besides improving body fitness, exercising is a sure way of delaying aging. Sedentary behavior, such as prolonged sitting, increases the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Fortunately, you don’t have to get into a gym or do evening runs to keep fit. Increasing your movements and reducing sitting hours are enough to keep your body moving. If possible, you can engage in aerobic activities, such as jogging and lifting weights.
3. Reduce Alcohol Intake and Smoking
A research study found that excessive drinking can lead to premature aging. Besides aging, adverse health effects of binge drinking include liver disease, high blood pressure, stroke, anxiety, depression, and a weakened immune system. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean that you stop drinking. Men should limit alcohol intake to two drinks and women to one drink to prevent premature aging.
Cigarette smoking can also cause aging. Cigarettes contain thousands of toxic chemicals that affect various body organs and systems. They damage skin cells and hasten the occurrence of signs of aging. Smoking increases the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on the face, especially around the eyes and mouth.
4. Get Enough Sleep
Many of the benefits of getting a good night’s sleep are largely undocumented. The body repairs and recharges during sleep. Insufficient sleep makes you groggy and leads to serious health consequences, including premature aging. Fortunately, several simple tips can help improve your sleep patterns. You should establish and adhere to a sleep schedule, create a sleep-friendly bedroom, and avoid caffeine or alcohol before bedtime.
Endnote
Protecting your skin from harmful sun rays using sunscreen, retinoids, and quality cosmetic products also prolongs the appearance of signs of aging. However, these interventions cannot address aggressive signs of aging. In such situations, you should consult a dermatologist for a suitable cosmetic procedure.
