Lets face it, we all have to face up to the fact that one day we are going to be old; nobody can turn back or slow down time.
The good news, you may be pleasantly surprised to know, is that getting old has little to do with the aging process - the rate at which our body ages.
We all know people who look older that they really are and envy at those who seem to look ten years younger.
So what are the physical signs associated with the aging process? We all know them: wrinkled sagging skin, brittle or weak bones, muscle loss, memory loss and poor eyesight to name a few.
The good news is that these conditions can all be delayed, prevented or sometimes even reversed.
So lets have a look at what we can do to delay aging and live an active healthier life.
Malnutrition is a massive contributor towards premature aging.
For many people aging starts early on in life due to a poor diet.
The body needs certain essential nutrients and vitamins everyday to maintain normal functions.
Healthy diet is important - but to live a longer life we do not have to sacrifice everything - so don't panic! Slight simple changes everyday is all that's needed for maximum benefit to start increasing vigour and energy and to increase your chance of living longer.
Another major factor in premature aging is stress.
We've heard it before but it is true, too much stress will cause all sorts of health related problems.
High blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes can all stem from too much stress in our lives.
Stress also has a negative effect on our metabolism and vital processes making us look haggard, tired and older than we really are.
So to improve the quality of our lives we must learn to manage stress.
We've all heard the saying "use it or lose it.
" In primitive times we were a species of hunter gatherers and so our bodies are designed for movement.
Proper regular exercise will make us leaner and stronger, conditions the heart and lungs for maximum efficiency and boosts the immune system making us more resilient to common illnesses.
Exercise also speeds the metabolism by burning more calories and there is nothing like a good hard workout to let of steam and reduce stress! As well exercising our body we also need to exercise our brain! We need to keep our minds active, particularly as we grow older, to help avoid mental age related conditions - remember "use it or lose it!" Try regular crosswords, sudoku puzzles or a good game of chess for an excellent mental workout.
Doing this on a regular basis will keep our minds active and alert well into old age.
Ever noticed a baby breathing, the way his or her abdominal region gently raises with every breath.
You know a baby could teach us adults a thing about proper breathing! It's a shame that as we grow our breathing becomes shallow.
Proper breathing (deep and through the diaphragm) is essential for expelling all the carbon dioxide from the body.
The people of Asia have understood the importance of proper breathing for centuries - Eastern disciplines such as Yoga and Tai Chi are becoming more popular in the west.
Anti-oxidants are also important in delaying the aging process so eat your greens! There is much debate about the effectiveness of supplements but the body prefers its vitamin source from proper food.
For long term effect try to include garlic, olive oil and natural nuts into your daily diet.
There are certain known power foods such as specific fruits, vegetables and seeds that have a major impact on slowing the aging process therefore making us look younger.
Following these simple steps will help to delay the aging process making us look younger and feel more invigorated.
However, action is the key; if you take action now you can add years to your life and improve its quality in the process.
Making simple changes everyday will go a long way to achieving a longer, healthier and more importantly, happier life.
The good news, you may be pleasantly surprised to know, is that getting old has little to do with the aging process - the rate at which our body ages.
We all know people who look older that they really are and envy at those who seem to look ten years younger.
So what are the physical signs associated with the aging process? We all know them: wrinkled sagging skin, brittle or weak bones, muscle loss, memory loss and poor eyesight to name a few.
The good news is that these conditions can all be delayed, prevented or sometimes even reversed.
So lets have a look at what we can do to delay aging and live an active healthier life.
Malnutrition is a massive contributor towards premature aging.
For many people aging starts early on in life due to a poor diet.
The body needs certain essential nutrients and vitamins everyday to maintain normal functions.
Healthy diet is important - but to live a longer life we do not have to sacrifice everything - so don't panic! Slight simple changes everyday is all that's needed for maximum benefit to start increasing vigour and energy and to increase your chance of living longer.
Another major factor in premature aging is stress.
We've heard it before but it is true, too much stress will cause all sorts of health related problems.
High blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes can all stem from too much stress in our lives.
Stress also has a negative effect on our metabolism and vital processes making us look haggard, tired and older than we really are.
So to improve the quality of our lives we must learn to manage stress.
We've all heard the saying "use it or lose it.
" In primitive times we were a species of hunter gatherers and so our bodies are designed for movement.
Proper regular exercise will make us leaner and stronger, conditions the heart and lungs for maximum efficiency and boosts the immune system making us more resilient to common illnesses.
Exercise also speeds the metabolism by burning more calories and there is nothing like a good hard workout to let of steam and reduce stress! As well exercising our body we also need to exercise our brain! We need to keep our minds active, particularly as we grow older, to help avoid mental age related conditions - remember "use it or lose it!" Try regular crosswords, sudoku puzzles or a good game of chess for an excellent mental workout.
Doing this on a regular basis will keep our minds active and alert well into old age.
Ever noticed a baby breathing, the way his or her abdominal region gently raises with every breath.
You know a baby could teach us adults a thing about proper breathing! It's a shame that as we grow our breathing becomes shallow.
Proper breathing (deep and through the diaphragm) is essential for expelling all the carbon dioxide from the body.
The people of Asia have understood the importance of proper breathing for centuries - Eastern disciplines such as Yoga and Tai Chi are becoming more popular in the west.
Anti-oxidants are also important in delaying the aging process so eat your greens! There is much debate about the effectiveness of supplements but the body prefers its vitamin source from proper food.
For long term effect try to include garlic, olive oil and natural nuts into your daily diet.
There are certain known power foods such as specific fruits, vegetables and seeds that have a major impact on slowing the aging process therefore making us look younger.
Following these simple steps will help to delay the aging process making us look younger and feel more invigorated.
However, action is the key; if you take action now you can add years to your life and improve its quality in the process.
Making simple changes everyday will go a long way to achieving a longer, healthier and more importantly, happier life.