Slow Down Aging After 50

Everyone wants to be young forever. This unfortunately is impossible. However, there are ways to slow down aging after 50. We are not speaking of time capsules, although wouldn’t that be grand? No, we are talking about things you can do each day to maintain your health – body, mind, and soul. Things that will ultimately help you feel and look younger. 

Here are the best ways you can slow down aging:

Exercise

We all hate hearing the same thing over and over… but maybe, just maybe, if you hear the same thing over and over, you can accept it may just be true. Exercise is one of those things. Many hate hearing that it is vital to maintaining their health, but the same rings true for age. Exercise will help keep you feeling and looking younger. As we age, our skeletal muscle weakens. This is a natural process of life called sarcopenia. Around 40 years of age, sarcopenia begins and accelerates as we age and worsens around 75 years of age.  Exercise increases your muscle strength and slows down the weakening process. Whether you are able to walk half a mile or run 3 miles, it is important to move and get some kind of an exercise regime going. Besides simply keeping your muscles stronger, exercise is said to improve digestive functions and immunity. It lowers your risk of diseases and cancers too. Overall, exercise will improve your body, mind, and soul. 

Hydration

Keeping your body well hydrated is difficult even when we’re young and strong. But, as we age, our bodies retain less fluid and maintaining a healthy hydration level becomes very difficult. Remembering to drink water is sometimes the biggest battle. We often don’t feel thirsty until our bodies have reached a significant level of dehydration. It is important to set reminders for ourselves to drink a glass of water or two every hour. Some suggest filling a water jug or having a gallon of water that they make themselves drink each day. While this is not a bad idea, it is not a good idea to drink 3/4 of a gallon of water late in the day/evening either. Hydrating your body throughout the day will boost you physically, mentally, and emotionally and help slow down aging … naturally! 

Healthy Foods

Eating a wholesome balanced diet will help keep your body stronger, slender, and healthier. Fresh fruits and vegetables will help your body fight diseases and eliminate toxins. Eating a healthy portion of fish, meat, and dairy will keep your bones stronger and maintain collagen levels. Overall, a healthier diet will help maintain your weight and boost energy levels. Healthy foods help slow down aging and lower your metabolic age. 

Skin Protection 

Often people will say, “I feel younger than I look” and this couldn’t be more true for those who forget to protect their skin. Protecting your skin against sun damage and environmental pollution is extremely important. Apply a sunscreen to your face and body daily. Moisturizers and layers of clothing can protect your skin from harmful pollutants. If your skin is healthy, you will look and feel younger!

Sleep 

Sleeping renews the body, mind, and soul. Sleeping gives your skin, organs, and brain time to repair and regenerate. Many of us do not give our bodies enough rest and when we do sleep, it is either a restless sleep or an inadequate amount of time. Each of us should sleep for a minimum of 6-8 hours to fully rest our body. Having an adequate amount of sleep will help you de-stress, feel rejuvenated, and help your body slow down aging.   

While these tips and tricks are not new, they truly are the best ways to help slow down aging after 50. Remember, that our bodies don’t repair and renew themselves as quickly as they once used to. We are getting older, but, if you look after your body, your body will look after you!

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