5 Fundamentals of Ageing Well

It seems that as you get older, you tend to feel your age more and more. We start to experience sore knees and backs, might have some trouble remembering small details and more. These are signs of aging, and the more of these side effects you feel at an early age, the harder things will be when you continue aging. It’s never too late (or too early) to get started on preparing your body for aging. If you want to make sure you’re living your best life into your 50s and beyond, follow these five fundamentals.

5. Avoiding Vices

When you see someone that appears to be much older than they actually are, your first thought might turn to smoking or drinking. It’s perfectly natural to think this way as these vices have shown to have negative effects in the aging process. This is especially true for your skin when it comes to smoking and your organs overall from either vice. Blood vessels contract when smoking or drinking, causing an aged appearance and can even make it so that your skin doesn’t heal properly.

4. Healthy Skin

Of course, smoking and drinking severely affects your skin, but those aren’t the only things you need to be doing to keep your skin healthy as you age. When you’re out in the sun, always make sure to use caution and bring along sunscreen. Skin cancer is among the most common, and while it’s also among the most treatable, you don’t want to roll the dice. Moisturizing your skin is also vital, especially if you want to look younger and healthier.

3. Active Brain

Among the most obvious signs of aging is the brain’s function and how it can be easier to forget things or lose focus. Because of this, you want to make brain health a priority by eating foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids and cutting out saturated fats. Also, make sure that your brain is stimulated on a daily basis. This can include fun activities such as crosswords, sudoku and more to keep you sharp as a tack.

2. Whole Foods

There is a lot of processed food in the average person’s diet these days because it’s easier to pick up and eat. However, you should be focusing on whole foods and a well rounded diet to maintain your overall health as you age. Foods such as bananas, beans, carrots, cherries and more will help get you all the fiber, protein, and other nutrients that your body needs. Try skipping the fried foods and beer whenever possible, too.

1. Regular Exercise

One of the most obvious signs of aging is when you start to feel aches and pains on a consistent basis. You might also start to lose your mobility. This is why it’s important to spend as much of your life as you can getting regular exercise. Light exercise like walking 7,000 to 10,000 steps per day is great for your muscles and will reduce your skeletal aging. For those that want something lower in impact, light swimming will do the trick while getting you a full body exercise and boosting cardio.