Want to Age Gracefully? Avoid These Mistakes
By Sara Butler
For centuries, people have been trying to find a way to stay young. There was an entire expedition sent out to find the Fountain of Youth. People have applied all manner of things to their skin to keep them looking young. Today, cosmetic procedures are popular around the world to help people look youthful and fresh. Of course, how you live your life is one of the most important anti-aging tools at your disposal and, for the most part, it's free.
If you want to age well, then it's important that you know what mistakes to avoid that can act a little like the Pit of Despair in The Princess Bride and suck years from your life. Here are things you need to steer clear of if you want to stay healthy for as long as you can.
Mistake No. 1: You Sit Too Much
Smoking isn't good for you and can actually age you prematurely. Well, sitting is the new smoking, and guess what? It can age you too.
A sedentary lifestyle puts you at risk for several chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. If you find yourself sitting a lot, it's not just enough to exercise the recommended 150 minutes per week, you also have to break up periods of sitting throughout the rest of the day. You should get up and walk around at least once per hour.
Mistake No. 2: You Eat Out Often
The problem with eating out isn't necessarily that you're dining outside your home, it's more that you cannot control what goes into your food when you don't cook it.
Sodium, for example, is often high in dishes you get from restaurants. And too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease, two things that definitely won't help you age well. If you can cook a majority of meals at home yourself and keep tabs on how much sodium you're getting, then you'll live healthier for longer.
Mistake No. 3: You Stay Up Too Late
Sleep is essential for a healthy body and mind. While you sleep, your body repairs and rejuvenates, helping you to stay healthy. If you don't get enough quality sleep in your life, then the signs will start to show and you may age faster than others of your same age.
You should be getting at least seven to nine hours of sleep per night and you should awake from your slumber feeling restored and rested. Try to stick to normal patterns of sleep if you can, too, such as sleeping when it's dark out and waking up when it's light.
Everyone wants to age well, but remember it's about more than just what you eat or the creams you apply to your face -- your lifestyle matters, too.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Aurora, Colo.