How to Slow Down the Aging Process

As of yet, there is no way to stop aging, but there are ways to slow down the aging process. From the moment we are born, we begin to grow older, and it doesn’t stop until we die. That’s a fact. However, another fact is that our environment and our lifestyle can cause the body and mind to break down faster than it should. We are capable of slowing down this faster aging process and through cosmetic and lifestyle changes, we can look, feel, and act much younger than generations before us as well as many of those aging around us.

Obviously, organic foods are best. Produce that is grown without the use of chemicals and hormones are not only healthier for us, but contain more vitamins and minerals than those which do not. Here in the U.S., meat is a problem, too. Cattle, pigs and poultry are injected with hormones that are passed on to us when we consume meat, and the food those are raised on may contain ingredients that are not naturally in their diet. There is scientific evidence to show that hormones, chemicals and other NON-food ingredients we consume on a daily basis encourage obesity, put us at higher risk for cancer and damage the immune system.

So what do you do when you cannot afford the high-priced organic foods and are not able to grow your own? You can slow down aging by cutting back on meat and finding vegetarian sources of protein, steering away from processed foods, and washing fruits and vegetables before eating them.

According to the Mayo Clinic (see references), it may be possible to extend your lifespan by 4 to 17 percent by consuming a diet that is low in calories.

Scientists have had remarkable success when applying the principles of food restriction to the diet of laboratory mice. Those mice whose calories were restricted to 44 percent of their normal diet lived 10 to 20 percent longer and developed fewer diseases that have commonly been associated with the natural aging process, including diabetes, hypertension, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and more.

If you are interested in going on a calorie restrictive diet to slow the aging process, be sure to do so only under the guidance of a physician. Severe calorie restriction calls for careful monitoring of nutritional intake.

Advancements in technology are wonderful, but it also encourages a more sedentary lifestyle. Thanks to remote controls, we don’t have to get up to change the channel on the television. Thanks to the internet, we don’t have to go to the library for information. Thanks to video conferencing, we don’t have to travel as often to attend meetings... Video games are fun, but moving the fingers constantly does not count as physical activity. Don’t get me wrong. I love technology, but technology makes it even more necessary to get out and purposely exercise and play.

Heart health, respiratory health, bone health, muscular health and even mental health can be improved by exercising. Working out regularly can help to maintain or lose weight.

Experts recommend at least half an hour a day of exercise for adults and at least an hour a day for kids.

The Latest Video Game Fitness and Exercise Technologies

Xbox 360 Kinect and Wii Fit

Technology is not a direct cause of all sedentary lifestyles, of course, and gadgets such as the Wii and Kinect actually make it possible to play video games and get exercise at the same time. Every video game played on the Wii or Kinect requires extra movement on the part of the player, but each is designed to give the player a quality workout.

The Treadmill Desk

More and more companies are investing in a treadmill desk, a.k.a. treadmill workstation or walkstation. This makes it possible for their workers to not only lose weight and get healthy, but be more productive during the workday. If you work at home, you can purchase one or even make your own.

Never stop learning and never stop stimulating your brain. The “use it or lose it” philosophy applies to the brain as well. The aging process decreases our brain cells, but we can do something about it: Continue to learn and meditate regularly.

Challenging the brain by learning new things, solving puzzles and brainstorming exercises the brain and helps you stay sharp. This is so no matter your age, but if you are interested in keeping a young and healthy mentality, exercise your brain!

Practice Meditation to Slow Down Aging

Meditation offers several benefits to health of the body and mind. It is a great stress reliever and has been shown to lower blood pressure, but did you know that regular meditation increases cognitive functioning? Keep your brain young by practicing daily meditations.

Drink Coffee

Unless you have a medical condition that prohibits the consumption of caffeine, enjoy two or more cups of coffee every day! According to reports(see references), those who drink moderate amounts of coffee every day can reduce their risk of dimentia or Alzheimer's disease by as much as 70 percent ! A small amount won't do the job. For best results, drink 2 to 4 cups of coffee daily.

Be aware that consuming excessive amounts on a long term basis can raise the risk of hypertension and high cholesterol.

If we all received enough vitamins and minerals through our food, we would not need supplements. Unfortunately, most of us are not eating enough healthy food to safely assume we don’t need supplements and soil depletion has reduced the amount of vitamins and minerals in our food.

Nature has provided us with plants and other naturally growing organisms that are showing great promise in helping reduce stress, reduce the risk of cancer, and even reduce the symptoms of aging. While I do not believe we should all jump up and go buy every new natural supplement that comes on the market, I do believe we should be making informed decisions regarding herbal supplements. If it is working for others and the risks are small, why not give plant-based supplements a try?

Still in experimental stages, Protandim is already showing promising results. Protandim apparently works by slowing the aging process through a reduction in oxidative stress. The hope is that those who use this combination of five different natural ingredients will age more slowly.

Check out the video below to learn more! 

Unfortunately, science has not come up with a wrinkle cream that completely erases wrinkles and turns aging skin into that of a newborn baby’s. However, there are anti-aging wrinkle creams that help reduce the signs of aging in the skin and you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get the benefits.

Olay Regenerist receives positive reviews for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as do many of the products from Avon. You do not have to pay department store prices to get the benefits of the latest in skincare technologies.

Hydroxatone has been around for a few years and has received both glowing recommendations for its remarkable success with smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, and a few scathing reviews for customer service and billing issues.

Update on Hydroxatone (October 24, 2011): Unfortunately, my mother spends little time online and did not read the above statement before she ordered Hydraxotone. My mom was a victim of their pushy "free trial", non-disclosure, and refusal to accept a return of the unopened products. The promise made on the telephone did not match the bill she found in the package.

Aryu-Deva Renewal Therapy Anti-Aging Skin Care is another line of skin care products that is getting great reviews from buyers. The formulas are made of plant extracts, peptides, and antioxidants that are gentle, as well as effective on sensitive skin. According to reviews on Amazon, the Aryu-Deva BioScience Renewal Complex does what it claims to do: reduce fine lines, smooth the skin, reduce redness, and improve elasticity.

Latest Anti-Aging Treatments: A Personal Recommendation

I started using Cindy Crawford's Meaningful Beauty Anti-Aging System after my daughter gifted me with a 30-day supply. The first thing I noticed was how soft my skin felt after using the cleanser, toner and moisturizer. Yes, moisturizer softens skin, but this "soft" lasts throughout the day. One slogan on their product packaging catches my attention. It promises "radiant skin". That is a claim it seems to deliver on. One week into my new skincare regimen, my husband commented that I looked "radiant" and I've been receiving comments on my glowing skin ever since. My face is smoother and fine laugh lines around my mouth and eyes are not as noticeable as before. I haven't suddenly sprung the skin of a 20 year old, but I am impressed enough with Meaningful Beauty to continue using it and recommend it to other women.

I am not going to push sunscreen as I’ve found out recently that some sunscreens may actually increase the risk of getting skin cancer, but regular tanning ages the skin.

Wear a wide-brimmed hat, put on those sunglasses, and don’t stay in the sun for hours at a time if you can help it.

Sleeping allows the body to repair itself and if you don’t get enough sleep, that sleep deficit may actually take years off of your life. Not only has a lack of adequate sleep been linked with obesity and hypertension, it is also a reason for an increase in cortisol – the stress or “death” hormone.