Age is just a number. We can still reach our true potentials if we are determined and we strive to become the better version of ourselves. Bu it seems that with the diet, lifestyle, and habits that we follow, we are getting older than our actual age.
Premature aging is not limited to looking older, but it also includes one’s susceptibility to developing medical conditions that are only common to the older population. Young individuals who feel older are prone to obesity, type 2 diabetes 2, and heart diseases.
The skin of younger people who look older are starting to form nasty wrinkles, fine lines, and crow’s feet to name a few. Their skins are also unusually dry, dull, and flaky in nature.
To avoid all these nasty things, there are many ways on how you can make yourself look and feel younger. With a little bit of change in lifestyle, diet, and habits you can reverse time and enjoy quality life for many years to come.
- Diet
Are you still wondering why your skin feels off after nights of consecutive partying? Those buffets and alcohol are not helping you stay healthy! The food that you eat has a negative impact on your skin. Although sin foods from time to time may not hurt skin integrity, a diet that is filled with unhealthy food will speed up the aging process of the skin. Here are food groups that you need to consume in moderation if you want to look young:
- Sweets
Sweets contain high amounts o sugar that will not only make you fat but look older than your age too. It contains advanced glycation end byproducts or AGES. They damage the protein that keeps the skin firm and supple.
- Alcohol
Alcohol affects the normal functioning of the liver. When the liver is impaired due to high alcohol concentration, it is also incapable to clearing out the toxins that accumulation on the skin. Even if you are way beyond puberty, alcohol intoxication can result in the development of acne, wrinkles, and dull skin.
- White wine
This may be your favorite drink to pair with dinner, but drinking in moderation should always be observed so you don’t end up with stained and damaged teeth. White wine contains strong acids that can damage the enamel over time.
- Barbecued meat
Charred meat contains inflammatory hydrocarbons that impair the ability of the skin to produce more collagen. This doesn’t mean that you need to totally cut off barbecued meats from your diet, but it is ideal to scrape off the charred parts before eating.
- Processed meats
The most delicious foods will satisfy your tummy but will make you ugly. Bacon, ham, and sausages contain high levels of preservatives that can stimulate inflammatory processes in the skin. With inflammatory compounds, your skin will age prematurely. Processed meats are generally high in sodium- a mineral that induces water retention, thus making you feel bloated and look puffy.
- Habits
You may not notice it, but your simple, harmless habits may age you considerably. As you age, it is best to make adjustments and changes on your habits. You can prevent premature aging by doling the following measures:
- Stop smoking
With all the studies pointing to the dangers of smoking, it’s not surprising to know that it can cause premature skin aging too. The harmful chemicals that are produced as a result of combustion are detrimental to the skin. The smoke alone can cause wrinkles and fine lines to develop on your skin over time. The dangerous chemicals in tobacco also speeds up the breakdown of collagen, thus aggravating skin aging signs.
- Negative feelings
Do you think that holding grudges or keeping negative thoughts and feelings can actually motivate you to become better? Although it may inspire you to some extent, all the negativity that you keep within you will show through your skin sooner or later. Stress can trigger the production of cortisol in the bloodstream. This hormone when left at higher concentrations can results in hypertension and weight gain among many others.
- Long-term sun exposure
The sun nourishes the body with its much-needed Vitamin D. It provides the energy we need to start the day right. But did you know that overexposure to the sun may also cause you to look old too? Ultraviolet rays are extremely dangerous as it makes the skin dark, dull, and leathery. The skin quality deteriorates the longer you are under the sun.
- Slacking off
If your idea of rest and relaxation is sitting in front of the TV for an entire weekend, you’re actually not doing yourself a favor. A sedentary lifestyle may feel good, but lack of movement of physical activity can result in obesity and poor skin integrity as well. If you want to distress and relax, you need to go ahead and exercise instead.
- Lifestyle
Your lifestyle or your way of living has a direct impact on how you look. You may be eating healthy, exercising regularly, or enjoy adequate sleep, but if you don’t make the extra effort of presenting yourself as young and vibrant, you’ll find yourself still feeling miserable.
- Your style should reflect your age. Wear the proper attire to activities and places. For instance, wearing a pair of sneakers all the time can make you look like a sloppy dresser. Teenagers can definitely carry this style, but if you’ve finally entered the workforce, you may consider looking for other stylish options instead.
- Baggy pants have lost its magic 20 years ago. Try something that fits you at the right places. Choose a cut that is flattering to your figure. Go to a tailor to have trousers customized according to your measurements and classic styles.
- A pair of bushy and missing eyebrows is never a good thing. The eyebrows frame the face and plucking it clean and tidy will make you years younger than your actual age.
