Helpful Tips to Keep You as Healthy and Youthful as Possible
by BodyLogicMD
While aging is a natural part of life, there are several lifestyle choices you may be making that could be bringing on the aging process way too quickly. Below are some of the lifestyle choices and treatable health issues that could be contributing to an accelerated aging process—both internally and externally.
1. Crash Dieting
A crash diet is any type of meal plan that drastically reduces calories and often cuts out necessary nutrients. This type of diet is unsustainable, can wreak havoc on your health, and can accelerate the aging process by leading to muscle loss, weak bones, and thinning hair. A healthy diet should be sustainable and gentle on your body, supporting its natural functions and giving you the energy and nutrients to look and feel your best.
2. Eating Foods That Cause Inflammation
Certain foods, such as those with high amounts of sugar and refined starches, can cause excessive inflammation in the body. According to a study in the Journals of Gerontology, a persistent state of inflammation can contribute to many different age-related diseases. In fact, chronic, excessive inflammation is at the root of almost all major disease, including heart disease, cancer, and even Alzheimer’s. Cutting out sugar and processed foods while increasing intake of whole, organic vegetables and lean proteins can go far in protecting you from age-related disease.
3. Declining Hormone Levels
Both men and women can experience a drop in hormones as they age. This drop can lead to a variety of unpleasant symptoms and side effects. Weight gain, low sex drive, hair loss, mood swings, fatigue, and memory loss, among others, are all possible symptoms of an imbalance in hormones. Many people are afraid of the risks of hormone therapy, but more and more evidence is showing that bioidentical hormone therapy especially can be a safe, effective way to protect your health from hormonal decline.
4. Not Dealing With Anger
In addition to your mental health, your emotions play a vital role in your overall physical health, and constantly being angry can permanently affect the aging process on your face—not to mention the effect the stress of being angry can have on your body’s internal systems. Facial muscles that are most often in a relaxed state instead of being tense and angry aren’t as likely to produce permanent wrinkles.
5. Smoking
Smoking is detrimental to your health and wellbeing no matter what your age. You probably already know that smoking can lead to heart disease and a variety of cancers, but it can also age your skin. Smoking can contribute to excessive bags under your eyes and increase wrinkles around your mouth and across your forehead. If you are a smoker, quitting smoking should be at or near the top of your list of ways to protect your health.
6. Losing Sleep
The benefits of a good night’s sleep are innumerable and include cellular activity that repairs and rejuvenates your body. A lack of sleep contributes not only to poor skin quality, but to high insulin levels and hormone deficiencies. Taking the one simple step of getting enough sleep every night can have a drastic impact on the way you look, feel, and function in your daily life.
Eating healthy, quitting smoking, letting go of chronic anger, and getting an adequate amount of sleep can go a long way in keeping you as healthy and youthful as possible. Among other benefits, these healthy practices contribute to balanced hormone levels, and keeping your hormones balanced as you age can help keep you in the prime of your health. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can also go far in keeping you vibrant and healthy and protecting you from premature aging, especially when administered by a highly trained professional such as a physician within the BodyLogicMD network. Contact the BodyLogicMD physician nearest you today to get on the path to the best possible health for years to come.