What Can You Do to Slow Down Aging?
By Sara Butler
There may be no literal fountain of youth you can drink from to stop aging in its tracks, but there are some solid things you can do to at least slow down the process. The choices you make each and every day can have a huge impact on how your body ages. Here are just a few of the things you can do to help you stay healthy and feel young.
Is Age Just a Number?
There can only be one Cher, but for everyone else, it is possible to turn back time and alter the impact it has on your body as you slow mental and physical aging. There are factors outside of genetics that can influence your aging rate and many of these factors are solidly in your control.
Eating Right
Of course one of the first things you can do to impact how you age is to choose the right foods to eat. Whole foods are always going to be the best bet for you when it comes to a healthy diet. That means you should aim to eat foods that are not processed with added salt, fat, and sugar.
Whole grains such as beans, legumes, peas, brown rice, poultry, eggs, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables should be the cornerstone of your diet. This will help to keep your cells healthy and also work to reduce chronic inflammation -- something that is now thought to be the underlying cause of chronic disease such as diabetes that older people are at an increased risk of developing.
Eat Your Protein
Protein is an important nutrient, especially for helping to maintain muscle mass as you get older. After age 40, muscle mass will start to decline by up to eight percent every 10 years. After age 70, that number doubles.
To stay strong, you must feel your muscles with high-quality sources of protein in your diet. Try adding Greek yogurt, nuts, and hummus to your snack lists. And don't forget to add protein to shoot for between 25 and 30 grams at each meal.
Go Outside
Walk outside for a little bit every day to help to boost your fitness regimen and keep your body healthy and strong while you also work to keep your body producing Vitamin D. Vitamin D helps to protect your body from conditions that can develop as you age such as brittle bones. Go outside for 15 minutes minimum each day.
You don't need the fountain of youth -- you've got all you need to stay healthy and feel young right in front of you.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Mission Viejo, Calif.