These Simple Habits Can Help You Look and Feel Younger
by Guest Blogger, Dana B.
Ever feel like you’re 35 going on 65? Feeling older than you actually are is usually a strong indicator that you need to change your lifestyle habits. Aside from the emotional impacts, feeling older can mean that your physical health is being affected by your everyday habits. Still, it can be tricky knowing which advice to follow when it comes to healthy aging, The best lifestyle changes to make are ones that are backed by research, like the ones below.
Eat More Gut Healthy Foods
Listening to your gut is crucial for important decisions, but it can also be important for healthy aging. According to Gaiam, there are several links between gut health and overall health, including inflammation and lowered immunity, but these changes can be easily reversed to promote healthier aging. While supplements and treating infections are helpful, you can also turn to gut healthy foods to restore the balance in your own internal microbiome. Most people already know that yogurt contains healthy bacteria, but it’s possible to boost gut health with garlic, almond milk, pickles and even dark chocolate. These vitamin-, probiotic- and prebiotic-rich foods either contain the same gut-healthy bacteria or helpful fiber, both of which can help maintain balance in your digestive system.
Find Ways to Maintain Hydration
You’ve heard it over and over again: Hydration is important. Although you may recognize this importance, you may not fully understand the benefits of hydration for your mind and body, especially when it comes to feeling older. For example, hydration can provide an energy boost, improve the appearance of skin, and even promote weight loss. So, you will look and feel younger, no matter your real age. Drinking all that water can be a challenge for many folks, though, which is why it’s useful to have some hydration tricks to make yourself drink more often. Pack a large water bottle in your bag before you head off to work, or add some fruit to your water, to make staying hydrated less daunting and something you start to look forward to each day.
Always Wear Sunscreen When Outside
When people who look and feel younger talk about their habits, they also tend to emphasize the importance of sunscreen use. That means wearing SPF any time you’re going to be out in the sun. Damaging UV rays—which can cause changes to skin appearance and skin cancer—are present whether you can see them or not, and seeing skin damage in the mirror can definitely make you feel older. The next time you’re going to be outside in the daytime, dermatologists recommend applying sunscreen that contains SPF 15 or 30; anything higher might actually provide false skin protection against the sun’s rays.
Stop Following Every Fad Diet
Maintaining a healthy weight can help you look and feel better. If you’re turning to fad diets to achieve that trim body, however, you may actually be risking your health. For instance, one fad diet claims that you can eat bentonite clay (volcanic ash) to help you lose weight, but according to Dr. Anton Emmanuel, gastroenterologist, you’re putting your digestive system, kidneys and heart at risk of failing. So if you want to change your diet, just focus on eating whole, nutritious meals that you can easily prepare at home or obtain from a delivery service if it’s in your budget.
If you Google “healthy aging,†you’re bound to be bombarded by a lot of wellness fads and complicated information. Really, though, looking and feeling younger just takes some simple changes to your basic everyday habits. So drink more water, wear sunscreen, and eat foods that will nourish your gut, your body and your overall health. Because those little, research-backed habits really can help you age better and feel younger.
Tia, and TipsfromTia.com is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.
