How to Slow Down Aging?

AGING is a complex process involving various areas of the body. No single product or pill can cure all the ailments of old age, but there are things we can do to not only LIVE LONGER but increase our quality of life and even look less than our REAL AGE.

As far as ANTI-AGING research is concerned, there are simple things we can change in our day to day lifestyles for health, happiness, and Longevity.

According to biogerontologist Aubrey de Grey, The following are the seven primary causes of aging are as follows and what we can do about it:

1.Cell loss – as we GET OLD, our muscles atrophy, in part because of our hormones and growth factors decrease. Injection of growth factors or regular exercise can slow it down.

•Take a brisk walk every other day for about 20 minutes at least three times a week

• Do aerobics exercises

• Maintain a normal Body Mass Index between 18.5 to 24.9. A BMI below that predisposes you to malnutrition, go above that and you run the risk of getting diseases related to being overweight and obese.

• Build bone density and functional strength by taking a vitamin D supplement. One tablespoon of cod liver oil is as good as a Vitamin D supplement

• Engage in weight bearing exercises such as walking, bicycling, swimming, or weight training

2. Nuclear mutations and epimutations – as we AGE, CONCERN for cell mutation is very real: cell nuclei occasionally mutate due to a variety of causes which can turn into cancer cells.

Antioxidants are substances that help greatly in keeping you young. They neutralize free radicals which set off a chain reaction that can kill cells, tear holes in cell membranes, mutate DNA.

• To combat antioxidants, take foods rich in vitamin A and C. The best source of Vitamin C are citrus fruits while rich sources of Vitamin A are carrots, squash, spinach and collard greens.

3. Cellular senescence–this means that our cells don't die when they're supposed to. Instead, they stick around, take up space and secrete potentially harmful proteins.

One good way we can prevent this from occurring is to boost our immune system. Take steps to:

• Manage your stress. when we suffer stress we lose our bodies' natural balance which causes damage to hormone secretion, cell repair, and collagen production, speeding up brain and skin aging.

• Practice relaxation techniques to lower down stress levels in your body slows down the rate at which you age. Listening to good music, gardening, meditation, etc. will do you lots of good.

• Maintain good relationships. This is a deterrent to stress and stress-related diseases. Take time to spend with your family and friends, get in touch with long lost ones, especially when you reach the AGE OF 30's and 40's when the demands of life can take its toll on your system. You can even go a step further by owning a plant or pet.

4. Mitochondrial mutations– mitochondria are the cell's powerhouses. But like the nuclei, they are also susceptible to mutation, getting out of control and causing serious damage to our body tissues.

The least we can do to help our bodies fight this is to maintain overall cellular health by:

• Eating a balanced, healthy diet. A good rule of thumb to follow is eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains the most, followed by a moderation in meats, fish, and dairy. Oils, fats and sweets should make up the least of your food intake.

• Intentionally adding more antiaging chemicals to your diet. The standard advice is to shift from animal-based foods like meat and butter to plant-based ones such as vegetables. Deliberately choose foods that have polyunsaturated fats as opposed to saturated fats, like sunflower and oil. Fish oil, particularly salmon and mackerel, are good for lowering bad cholesterol and help in warding off certain cancers.

5.Extracellular cross-links– cells are normally held together by protein crosslinkages, but they can become too dense and lead to various health problems. These are what causes an old person's skin to get rough and wrinkled.

Take care of your skin by:

• Wearing sunscreen outdoors. One of the most significant factors contributing to aging is chronic inflammation of the skin.

• Reducing your amount of pollution exposure. The air is full of harmful toxins and chemicals that damage your skin, especially in urbanized and developed areas. Try reducing the amount of time you get exposed to pollutants.

• Using an anti-aging moisturizer. Once you reach the age of 24, moisture becomes vital to maintaining youthful skin, so make sure to keep yours looking young by finding a compatible moisturizer with anti-aging ingredients for your skin type.

6. Intracellular junk and 7. Extracellular junk.Waste products aren't completely excreted from our system especially if our bodies are exposed to it almost all the time on a daily basis. These waste products become toxins that pollute our bodies at a cellular level.

Get rid of these by:

• Drinking plenty of water. The real-life fountain of youth can be found in a glass of water. It moisturizes your skin from the inside out and maintains elasticity and suppleness of your skin which helps prevent dryness making your skin look young and feel longer.

• Quitting Smoking. Smokers are more prone to wrinkling, skin discoloration, and gauntness, and magnifies your AGE, OF which the skin is most evident.

• Eating plenty of fiber-rich foods. Fiber acts like an internal body brush which facilitates the removal of toxins from the body.

Even the young at heart can't escape the gradual progression into old age. But this inevitability doesn't have to be an entirely bad thing. While you can't stop this process, you can help slow it down by keep yourself in the best possible health in body, mind, and soul.