Tips on Anti-aging Part 1

1. TOO MUCH SALT: Most of us eat way over the recommended limit of 6g of salt per day. You don’t just find excessive salt in takeaways and ready meals. It’s hidden in bread, processed meats, cheese and ready- prepared sauces.’

      But does it matter? Yes. Too much salt can lead to calcium loss and increase the risk of osteoporosis.  It puts a strain on your heart, raising blood pressure and increasing risk of a stroke or heart attack, so it’s vital to cut your salt intake.

THE SOLUTIONS

·        Read food labels in the supermarket and choose lower-salt options.

·        Add less (or no) salt at the table and/or during cooking. Your taste buds will adapt within three weeks. When cooking, replace salt with fresh herbs, garlic, lemon and spice to flavor your food.

·        Use more fresh ingredients in your cooking. About 8 per cent of our salt intake comes from processed foods.

2. A SWEET TOOTH: Sugar and refined carbs, such as white pasta, bread and pastries, create inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation is the single greatest precipitator of saying,’ says Connie Bennett, author of Beyond Sugar Shock (hay house)

    Inflammation produces enzymes that break down collagen, which results in wrinkles and a significant loss in your skin’s elasticity. So when you smile or frown, your skin doesn’t snap back quickly as if does in your younger person’s face. Eating too much sugar can also trigger elevated blood sugar levels and pave the way for numerous diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

    THE SOLUTIONS

·        Cut out from sweets and refined carbs, and switch to fruit and whole meal options.

·        Avoid fast food and sugary and fizzy drinks- they’re all packed with sugars.

·        Get more sleep as studies show that lack of sleep can trigger sugar cravings.

·        Increase your protein intake as it boots your metabolism, helps you lose weight and keep your blood sugar stable.

·        Take fruit to work and at home, sprinkle cinnamon on plain yoghurt for a sweet but healthy hit. Cinnamon stabilizes blood sugar and reduces sugar cravings,

·        Keep a food journal as studies show that those who keep food records lose more weight.

3. FADDY DIETS: Diets that promote a particular food group at the expense of others, such as low- fat or high protein diets mean you’re ditching important foods. The foods that are left out often contain valuable antioxidants, known not only to protect us against cancer, but also to slow down the ageing process. The stress of restrictive diets overloads the kidneys. This can result in dehydration and bodies becoming too acidic- two components associated with premature cellular ageing.

THE SOLUTIONS

·        Don’t cut out any of the foods groups.

·        Make sure you eat enough essential fatty acids found in nuts, seed, olives and avocados, which contain vital elements necessary to make healthy skin cells.

·        Cut out all processed foods if you want to slim down, as they are high in fat and sugar. The weight will come off naturally at around 2lb per week.

4. USING AIR CON:  Air conditioning is incredibly drying on the skin. It recycles air that is poorer and full of chemicals and bacteria, which can lead to spots and skin irritations. When you’re in air- conditioned environment, because you feel cooler, you tends to drink less- but this can mean you become dehydrated without realizing it. Dehydration makes the skin look older.
   THE SOLUTIONS

·        Apply lots of moisturizer to counteract the effects of air conditioning. Look for products that are high in hyaluronic acid, which instantly skin.

·        Use antibacterial skin products to counteract the effects of the dirty air as they will help prevent irritation and breakouts.

·        Don’t neglect your lips and hands, which also lose water and become dehydrated.

·        Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary and caffeinated drinks, which are dehydrating.

·        Add omega oils to your diet to help your skin cope if you’re often in an air conditioned environment. Doing this can be simple as eating oily fish, such mackerel, more often, or taking supplements high in omega, such as flaxseed.

·        Go for a walk at lunchtime to give your skin a breather if your office air con is blasting away all day.

5. OVERUSE OF COMPUTERS:  Recent studies have shown that sitting at a computer for prolonged period, particularly slouched at your desk, can contribute to chronic back problems. A hunched posture is usually associated with the elderly. So you will look older than your years.

  THE SOLUTIONS

·        Try to engage your core muscles when sitting at your desk, avoid slouching in your chair.

·        Set an alarm every hour to make you get up and walk around the office.

·        Stand up to take phone calls.

·        Don’t surf the net late into night. In one study, mice exposed to artificial light when they should be asleep developed glucose. Intolerance- the precursor to diabetes.

·        Practice yoga or pilates as they stretch and lengthen the body core strength