If you’re like us, you’ve probably been hearing that 50 is the new 40, 40 is the 30 and so on. That age is just a number, right? Well what if you could dial it back, optically that is. And that all it would take is a little know how and a handful of helpful tips? According to a group of doctors in Canada and the USA, anything is possible, particularly when you tap into these six tips for attaining (and retaining) the proverbial fountain of youth.
Use sunscreen daily
With the Canadian Cancer Society identifying melanoma as one of the most common cancers among people ages of 15 to 29, no one is off the hook.Plus, after smoking, tanning and burned skin it is the number one cause of premature aging, so wear your sunscreen 365 days of the year. “People think that they can only be affected by the sun when they are in the direct sunlight, but UV rays can get through clouds, fog and haze,” affirms Dr. Julia Carroll, FRCPC, a dermatologist with Compass Dermatology in Toronto. “Apply sunscreen every day whether you’re going outdoors or are working near a window. The sun emits harmful ultraviolet rays all year-round, no matter what the season.”
Stretch it out
Flexibility decreases as we age, but the National Academy of Sports Medicine says following a systematic and progressive flexibility program can help keep you limber. Even a few minutes of light stretching every morning can make a difference. Even with your face, so practice scrunching your facial muscles and then relaxing them, too.
Just say om
When it comes to staying you young, meditation has been shown to actually change the brain. Sara Lazar, a neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, conducted studies involving brain scans of meditators. She found that people who had been meditating for a long time had increased grey matter in the auditory and sensory cortex, which she attributes to the mindful attention paid to breathing, sounds, and other stimuli during meditation. She also discovered more grey matter in the frontal cortex, the part of the brain associated with memory and decision making. According to Lazar, meditators in their fifties had the same amount of gray matter in one part of the prefrontal cortex as people in their twenties in spite of the fact that the cortex is known to shrink as we age. Why not incorporate this brain-boosting practice into your life?
Take your supplements
Even if you eat well you’re probably lacking nutrients important for healthy aging. And many supplements have been shown to protect the body from disease—fish oil, for example, is associated with prevention of heart disease and stroke. Alternately, brands like Bend Beauty, Nature’s Bounty and BaeBody offer anti-aging, ingestible collagen supplements and teas to promote collagen production in your skin to help banish and keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay.
Catch up on Your zzzzs
According to a survey by Vault Health, 41 per cent of men get six hours or less of sleep on an average night. It’s common for sleep patterns to shift as we age. “Taking steps like cutting caffeine intake and putting your devices down well before bed,” says Dr. Myles Spar, the chief medical officer of Vault Health in the US, “can help you get the rest you need.” And while it might be tempting to exercise in an attempt to wear yourself out, don’t work out too close to bedtime or you’ll have a hard time winding down.
Practice good skin care
Science shows the condition of your skin has a big impact on how old people think you are. To keep your skin looking fresh, wash your face with a cleanser before your hit the sheets at night, apply a face serum and facial moisturizer morning and night and exfoliate once to three times a week. Due diligence will pay off, so create a skincare routine and stick with it.
