Stop Aging Yourself With These Common Habits
Every day, we are doing simple tasks that can age us. Most of us do these tasks without even thinking about it. Are you guilty of one of these common age-accelerators?
You sleep on your stomach
Sleeping on your stomach or side tends to smash your face into the pillow, creating wrinkles. This causes the connective tissue and collagen in your face to weaken, leading to a less firm look and more wrinkles as you age. Over time the crease lines become permanent. If you aren't able to sleep on your back, purchase a satin pillowcase to keep skin smooth while sleeping.
Your home is always toasty warm
When you turn up the thermostat or light up the fireplace, it sucks moisture out of the air. Over time this dry air can lead to dry, inflamed skin, and aging effects. A humidifier that keeps the air between 40 to 60% humidity can alleviate your skin from itching, scratching, and flaking. Another way to add some moisture to the air is to put a wet towel over a radiator or a bowl of cold water in the room.
Sipping drinks through a straw
Just like squinting can eventually cause wrinkles around your eyes, pursing your lips to drink through a straw can bring premature wrinkles around your mouth. This also happens when smoking cigarettes. Consider pouring your bottled beverages into a drinking glass to cut down on the puckering.
You've cut out all fat from your diet
Our bodies require some fat to maintain a youthful feeling and appearance. Heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acids found in oily fish, such as salmon and mackerel, and certain nuts, such as walnuts and flax seeds, keep the heart healthy, the brain sharp, and our skin looking supple and soft. Don’t fall for the low-fat myth anymore. Fat will not make you fat, as long as you eat healthy sources of it.
Too much slouching
Sitting in front of a keyboard for extended amounts of time can cause you to slump. Too much of that will make your spine form an unattractive and harmful hump. Poor posture or slouching prevents the spine from this normal alignment, and as a result, the muscles, discs and bones become abnormally stressed. This usually leads to fatigue, pain, and possibly spinal degeneration. Remind yourself to sit up straight throughout the day.
Choose a couple of mistakes that might be aging you. Try the solutions suggested here and see if you can't slow the inevitable aging process. Prevention is the key.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Jason Tester Guerrilla Futures
