How to Prevent Aging

End These 7 Habits ASAP!

Stop these 7 habits now to help prevent premature aging

Are you concerned about how to prevent aging or at least slow down the physical signs of aging?

Is it even possible to prevent aging? Some people will go to great lengths to prolong their youth.

The basic question of how to prevent aging has created a product industry worth billions. Every year, millions of people spend money on a range of products designed to delay the signs of aging.

There is often a simpler and natural way to look and feel young. In fact, in this article you’re about to discover how to prevent aging without spending a small fortune on the latest anti-aging formulas devised by cosmetic firms.

I’m sure you’re familiar with many of the signs of aging. They include not just wrinkles, but also memory loss, decreased brain function, and an increased risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

If you want to slow down the inevitable aging process there’s a lot you can do to look and feel your best at any age. So… how to prevent aging? The short answer is to take good care of yourself. It’s the most important step in any anti-aging program.

Now here are seven specific habits you need to end right now to help prevent wrinkles and other effects of aging:

#1 Excess Sun Exposure

You’ve probably heard this one before: Stay out of the sun, because the sun ages your skin more than anything else. Those with fair skin will see more skin aging from sun exposure, but those with dark skin are also at risk of increased wrinkles, age spots, leathery skin and skin cancer.

That’s actually only a half truth.

What you may not hear about is how you really should get some sun. The Vitamin D your body manufactures from adequate sunlight exposure is critical for helping prevent arthritis, osteoporosis, and many forms of cancer – all frequently related to aging.

The key, like many things in life, is moderation. Avoid long hours in the hot sun, particularly during summer or when visiting lower latitudes. When you’ll be out for a long time, wear loose-fitting, long sleeved shirts and a wide brimmed hat to protect yourself from getting burned.

#2 Cigarette Smoke

Avoid both primary and secondary smoke. Smoking doesn’t just make you look older – it actually accelerates aging and shortens your life by increasing your risk for chronic diseases.

Smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer, and also contributes to accelerated skin aging. Your smoking habit can also lead to atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque on the inside of your arteries.

Atherosclerosis can lead to decreased blood supply to your bones, spinal discs, and all other areas fed by very small vessels. Because of the decreased nutrition and blood supply to all parts of your body, you have a greater than average risk of fracturing your hip, wrist, and spine, too.

You’re probably tired of hearing it from others, but I’m going to say it again anyhow. Stop smoking.

#3 Lack of Exercise

Don’t be a couch potato. Get up and exercise. It’s a great way to lose fat or to just keep in shape and delay aging. Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity, and diabetes.

Physical activity is a key risk factor in understanding how to prevent Alzheimer’s. While many older people are sedentary or overweight, they could lower their risk of Alzheimer’s disease by making the choice to be active.

When you exercise regularly it increases your chance of good health, functional independence, and a better quality of life as you age. Your cells actually look younger on a molecular level than those of a couch potato. And if helping prevent aging isn’t enough, here’s some more reasons to help you find the motivation to work out.

#4 Lack of Sleep

Get plenty of sleep. It’s essential for preventing the aging process and maintaining optimum health. Lack of sleep also prevents your body from properly restoring itself.

If you are consistently sleep deprived you will look and feel older than others in your age group. The accelerated aging associated with a lack of sleep goes beyond cosmetic changes.

Mental effects of lack of sleep include difficulty concentrating, memory lapses and difficulty performing mental tasks, all of which are associated with accelerated aging.

If you are not getting enough sleep this can also increase your risk of contracting a range of diseases associated with aging, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity.

If you need help getting to sleep, before turning to potentially dangerous sleeping pills, try a natural sleep aid instead.

#5 Poor Diet

Avoid eating large amounts of saturated or trans fatty acids, sugars, and starches. Choose foods that delay the onset of aging and age-related diseases. Eating the right foods can add years to your life.

You can help slow aging by choosing anti-inflammatory foods that are rich in antioxidants. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Super foods such as sweet potatoes, eggplants, and blueberries will help you look years younger.

If you want more dietary recommendations for how to prevent aging, look no further than water and coconuts. Simply drink more water every day, and consume raw coconut (or use coconut oil). Combined, you’ll discover an amazingly healthy way to decrease pain and improve the condition of your skin.

#6 Exposure to Pollution

Protect yourself from pollutants. Studies show that environmental factors can cause major changes in both the structure and biophysical properties of your skin.

If you experience excessive free-radical exposure it can harm your skin by damaging DNA and cell membranes which help keep your skin intact, plump and firm.

When free radicals destroy or disrupt your membranes, skin cells no longer perform their normal functions, like processing nutrients and eliminating waste.

Pollution can also trigger inflammation and activate the enzymes that destroy collagen and elasticity resulting in thin, wrinkled, rough, blotchy skin.

#7 Stress

Get rid of excessive stress. Surround yourself with things you love and get rid of those that cause anxiety. Practice stress relieving activities like meditation and exercise.

Happiness does a body good. Learn how to appreciate joy when you find it. Stress and worry cause frowning, and over time the muscles in your face will actually conform to that movement.

To help reduce aging skin due to stress, be aware of your stress level and try to vary your facial expressions during the day. Keep stress in check and frown lines and aging skin wrinkles to a minimum.

Reducing stress not only helps lengthen your life and prevent many of the effects of aging – it also helps you enjoy the life you live.