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It’s a fact of life: everyone gets older.
Even when you feel spry and full of energy, the clock won’t stop ticking. It’s simply not possible to reverse the natural grand order of life.
Before you get too down on the ephemeral nature of youth, however, keep in mind that aging isn’t always a negative experience.
As you grow older, you trade your time here on Earth with wisdom and life experience. If you’ve played your cards right, you’ll have a loving family, retire, and gain more time to enjoy your hobbies and pursuits. Or you’d be perfectly content living the single life—there’s no shame in that either.
However, there’s no denying that getting older also comes with some challenges. Your body changes and will become more susceptible to diseases. Additionally, you may have to contend with wrinkles, gray hair, and a decrease in sex drive.
Fortunately, there are some ways to slow the aging process and stay healthy as you get older. If you’d like to rebel against the aging process, here are some ways to do it.
1. Protect Your Skin
One of the most visible manifestations of aging is damage to the skin. The sun is the primary culprit when it comes to causing an influx of dead skin cells, and it can cause everything from wrinkles to age spots due to its harmful UV rays.
To keep your skin looking young and healthy, it’s important to protect it from the sun. Whenever you spend time outdoors in harsh sunlight, you may inadvertently damage skin cells. To promote skin health, consider the following.
- Make sure to apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher for at least 97% UV protection. If you expect to stay in the sun for an extended period, reapply sunscreen every two hours.
- Wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, and hats.
- Avoid being in the sun during the middle of the day, when the sun’s UV rays are the strongest.
Aside from sun damage and skin aging, skin cancer is also a real danger, especially among older people. If you have a history of easily sunburnt skin or have had skin cancer before, you’re at increased risk of developing (or re-developing) skin cancer.
To promote healthy skin and a more youthful appearance, you must take action. With how quickly skin ages, it’s important to get regular checkups and improve your lifestyle for new skin cells to emerge.
For instance, taking two 500g Vitamin B12 tablets daily has been shown to reduce the chances of contracting skin cancer besides melanoma in cancer patients by up to 23%.
You should also perform regular self-exams of your body and sexual organs, paying close attention to any changes in your skin. If you notice anything unusual, make an appointment with a medical professional right away.
2. Eat a Healthy Diet
As the adage goes, “You are what you eat.”
When people grow older, metabolism tends to slow down on a molecular level. The mitochondria lose efficiency and lead to a decreased resting metabolic rate in adults, burning fewer calories per day at rest.
For older folks, this is even more prevalent. Over a third of people aged 75 and up are typically less active and don’t burn their calories.
To slow the aging process and stay healthy as you get older, getting the right nutrients in your body is essential. This means eating a diet that’s high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fats.
If you’ve been eating a diet consisting of hamburgers, deep-fried dishes, and pizza, it’s time to scrap them.
Here are healthier alternatives to eat instead:
- Avocados
- Tomatoes
- Dark leafy greens
- Nuts and seeds
- Fatty fish
- Beans and legumes
- Whole grains
- Extra virgin olive oil
With a better meal plan, you’ll cleanse your body of harmful toxins and slow down the process of aging.
If you have age-related diseases or issues in the bedroom that may be due to your diet, consult with a doctor to ensure you’re getting the right treatment for your condition.
3. Exercise Regularly
While seniors may not have the stamina to tie their shoes and run a marathon, light workouts are more than enough to keep in shape.
Exercise not only makes you look young, but it also strengthens bones and boosts testosterone. Physical activities also improve blood flow and oxygen transportation to the body, enabling cellular waste expulsion more effectively.
A workout routine doesn’t have to be too time-consuming or even require a gym membership. The great aspect about exercising is that you can do it anywhere, whether it’s at home, outdoors, or even at the office.
Some simple exercises you can do to keep your body looking fit and healthy include:
- Push-ups
- Sit-ups
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Swimming
- Running
- Walking
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Kegel exercises
The CDC recommends that people aged 65 and up should get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week to combat premature aging.
4. Sleep Well
Have you ever noticed that whenever you’re lacking sleep, you tend to feel more tired and look older?
There’s a scientific reason for that: when you don’t get enough sleep, your body doesn’t get to repair itself properly.
During sleep, the pituitary gland secretes growth hormone, which helps with cell regeneration and tissue repair. Not getting enough sleep will disrupt this process.
In addition, sleep deprivation causes wrinkling and bags under the eyes because it decreases the production of collagen.
To keep your skin elastic and to prevent looking aged, make sure you’re getting at least 7-9 hours of sleep a night, asrecommended by the National Institute of Aging.
5. Tone Down the Recreational Vices
Indulging in vices may sound like fun. But don’t be fooled, some vices can be nasty for the aging process.
For one, cigarettes affect how blood circulates the body, which consequently affects the organs. Smoking also causes great harm to cells and cellular growth, leading to a plethora of age-related diseases like cancer and high blood pressure.
As for alcohol, this magic beverage may make you feel young at heart and in spirit, sure. But liquor dehydrates your body by replacing water in tissue with alcohol. This process ruins the quality of your skin and makes wrinkles and dry skin more pronounced.
To keep your body looking and feeling young and healthy, it’s best to avoid smoking and drinking altogether. If you can’t seem to quit, at least try to cut back the frequency until you learn how to cope without it or talk with a doctor.
Contact a Local Men’s Clinic for a Medical Consultation to Regain Your Sexual Vitality as You Age
Aging is a natural process that happens to everyone. However, growing old doesn’t mean you should stop trying anyway.
By following a healthy lifestyle, eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and avoiding smoking and drinking, you can help combat the effects of aging naturally.
If you want a more clinical remedy for regaining the vitality you had when you were younger, contact a local men’s health specialist to schedule a more thorough evaluation.
The medical professionals at Prestige Men’s Medical Center in Tampa specialize in treating conditions that impact men’s health. Our concierge approach positions your unique case at the centerpoint of our focus. We don’t just give you a pill for ED and send you on your way. We treat the underlying issues that led to conditions such as Erectile Dysfunction, Low Testosterone, Acoustic Wave Therapy and more. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment.
