While most of our aging shows on our face before any place else, anti-aging isn’t just about the wrinkles on your face. As we age, a lot of the aging process happens inside our bodies. This affects our joints, our emotions, and our organs. Let’s talk about the anti-aging solutions that go beyond your face.
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A lot of the time we don’t really feel like we’re aging. But the one in the mirror tells us we are. There are so many products geared to help us get rid of those wrinkles. Tighten up that skin. Color that gray hair. But, when we think about aging, we need to think about the whole package – not just our face.
eating right
So, what do we do? The first thing to do is start on the inside of our bodies. Are we eating the right foods? Are we exercising? Are we playing brain games? All of these things are ways to keep our bodies from aging from the inside.
Some of the right foods to eat include a diet right in protein to help keep our muscles strong. We need to include calcium in our diets for strong bones. Because as we age, our bones become more brittle making it easier for them to break. And none of us wants to be the one who breaks a hip.
You also need to be drinking a lot of water – stay hydrated so your body works well on the inside.
Staying Hydrated is Vital as You Age
Every part of our body ages. We can’t stop the aging process, but we can slow it down by doing some things differently. Staying hydrated is one of those things. Our bodies are about 60% water and without getting enough water our bodies won’t function properly. Sometimes we just don’t realize all of the positive effects staying hydrated has on our bodies.
We suffer from dehydration when our bodies lose salt and water because of sweating, vomiting, extreme heat, medications, and diarrhea. As we age, this loss can become extremely dangerous. Because we’ve lost the fluid our body needs to carry blood throughout our bodies and to our organs. In some cases, we might not even feel thirsty. And we might have become less mobile so we just don’t get around to drinking water as we should.
Symptoms of dehydration
Some of the symptoms in aging people are exactly like the symptoms of someone who has dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. So it’s hard to determine which symptoms are which. Some of the most common symptoms of dehydration are fatigue, muscle weakness, dizziness, forgetfulness, increase in heart rate, confusion, and headaches.
metabolism
As we age our metabolism slows down. So we are not as active as we were before and don’t need as many calories to function. A lot of our hydration comes from some of the foods we eat. And by eating less we are not staying as hydrated. We are actually only getting about half of what our bodies require in water a day.
develop diseases
Also, as we age, we may develop some diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease. This places us at risk of taking medications that can cause dehydration. Other contributing factors to dehydration for those who are older can be emotional stress and body temperature changes.
substitute fruits and vegetables
As older adults, we should be drinking at least 64 ounces of fluids each day. Part of getting that 64 ounces can also be gained by eating fruits like watermelon, apples, oranges, and various berries. You can also eat vegetables like cucumbers, lettuce, and celery. Otherwise, drink water daily. If you don’t like the taste of water, you can use a powered drink mix that doesn’t contain any added sugar.
avoid caffeine
Staying hydrated is vital during every stage of life. But as you age, it becomes much more important to your overall health. Try drinking water rather than drinking liquids like tea, soda or coffee. Those contain caffeine that makes you tend to go to the bathroom more often, leading to dehydration.
One sure sign of dehydration is the color of your urine. If it is a dark yellow color then you are dehydrated and should begin drinking more water immediately. Your urine should be a light yellow color. And if it is darker in color, you need to be drinking more to get it back to normal. However, if your urine is a dark brown color, you might have other issues besides dehydration. And that is when you should consult with your doctor.
No matter what your age, stay hydrated the best you can. And as you age, make sure you make staying hydrated a priority in order to keep your body healthy.
taking proper supplements
Make sure that you take supplements or vitamins if you know your body is lacking something. If you are a woman, chances are you’ll need to take a calcium supplement. As our bodies age so does the calcium in our body.
It doesn’t matter who you are, you are going to age – it’s a fact of life. Granted, some people can grow old a little more gracefully than others, but time will catch up to you. It shows in our face, on our skin, and on our muscles and joints. It just happens no matter what we do to avoid it.
maintain a good mindset
However, just because we are getting older doesn’t mean we have to look older now does it? With the right stuff and a good mindset, we can fight the odds of looking older. We don’t have to accept all of those wrinkles at once!
There are ways to fight back by using anti-aging solutions which can and should include supplements. Some for your outside aging and others for the inside of you. It’s important for you to do both to get the best results.
vitamins and minerals
Fighting back with anti-aging should include supplements in your regimen. Most of us don’t get all of the vitamins and minerals that we need to keep us healthy and younger-looking. For your skin, you can buy creams or use lotions or oils to help prevent and get rid of wrinkles.
These products that are rich in certain vitamins help repair past damage done to your skin. And increased collagen shows a much younger version of yourself. Your skin is tighter and fine lines will be filled in.
what goes on inside your body is reflected on the outside
You apply these vitamin-rich products and watch as damage to your skin is reversed. More collagen is produced and your reflection shows a younger you. But what goes on inside your body always leaves evidence outside your body.
While you are working to lessen the signs of aging on the outside of your body, be mindful of what you are putting in your body. You need to eat foods that are already high in vitamins and minerals. These are foods that can help you win the war against aging. However, even if you are eating well, you still might not be getting all the vitamins you need. So you might need to take some supplements to help with that.
benefits of supplements
Some of the benefits of anti-aging supplements are:
- reduced wrinkles
- help with digestion
- increase mental capabilities
- and increased bone, muscle, and joint health.
There are supplements that can decrease your chances of getting cancer as well as supplements that can help to improve your memory.
B-12 is a great vitamin to help with memory issues – a lack of vitamin B-12 has been linked to forgetfulness. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and is good for your insides as well as your outsides in your fight against aging. Omega 3 is good for heart health as is Coenzyme Q10. Supplements that contain folic acid, vitamin D, and B vitamins are your best choices for anti-aging supplements.
However, taking a supplement is not always the best answer for everyone. Be sure you talk with your doctor first and make sure that supplements are the best option for you.
any kind of exercise works
Regular exercise is another way to keep your bones and muscles healthy. You can do yoga, tai chi, or swimming to keep yourself active while still maintaining your joint health. All of these exercises work for people who are aging and can be done at your own pace.
keep your mind sharp
Do you do crossword puzzles or Sudoku to help keep your mind sharp? If you don’t do them, you should be. Find any type of game or chore that works the brain and that you enjoy because by keeping your mind active you may also help ward off symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Another problem that can and will likely come with age could be stiff or painful joints. This is generally caused because as we age, the cartilage in our joints has worn away. While it won’t “grow” the cartilage back, stretching can help keep you from putting undue stress not only on your joints but also on your muscles.
If you suffer from joint pain there are supplements that contain hyaluronic acid which can help cushion, if you will, so the joints have a type of cushion to help ease the pressure of older joints. If you played sports when you were younger or continued to play them as you age, your joints have taken a beating and supplements can help get rid of some of the discomforts.
Make sure your insides are treated as kindly as your outsides when it comes to anti-aging. These are just small things that can and will help you feel younger and healthier.
