So here’s the deal. Many of the things that pretty much everybody does on an almost daily basis cause aging. As in wrinkles, age spots, and sagging that weren’t there before. That’s aging that doesn’t have to happen if you just change your lifestyle.
Don’t worry — all that change doesn’t have to happen at once — you can do it gradually, as most people do. Believe me, when you’re 50 and you look 35, you’ll be glad you read this.
Here are several things you can fix today, that will dramatically impact how quickly you age:
Animal Products
Dairy and meat contain proteins that are very acidic (high PH), and therefore highly inflammatory. Inflammation is your skin’s #1 enemy when it comes to aging. Dairy also contains components related to the hormone testosterone that may stimulate oil glands in the skin. Pair that with some serious inflammation so the bad oil can’t escape your pores, and you’ve successfully set the stage for acne.
Not to mention, when you eat dairy or meat, your body pulls important nutrients out of your bones in order to counteract the acidity and the inflammation it’s causing in your body, weakening your bones and dramatically increasing your risk for not only osteoporosis, but cancer.
Sleep Deprivation
You. Need. Sleep.
Just because you can sort-of function without sleep doesn’t mean that you should –or that it’s healthy. Your body uses sleep time to regenerate cells (that’s why it’s called beauty sleep), repair your organs, build your immune system and detox your body. Plus, it’s delightful to snuggle up at the end of the day and relax. Why would you deny yourself that? Need help getting quality sleep? Here are 10 hacks to help you get better sleep.
Plus, when you’re not getting enough sleep, it shows on your skin. Sleep deprivation robs the body of adequate time for cell turnover and regeneration. Not only will you look dried up after successive sleepless nights, but you’ll also have breakouts. The acne and oily skin are actually a result of stress that triggers the release of the hormone, cortisol.
To make matters worse, when you don’t get enough sleep, your body craves carbs and fat. Not good!
But wait, before jumping off to bed to pay your sleep deficit, remember not to always lie on one side or directly on your face. Sleep wrinkles and skin thinning can form from pressing your head into your pillow night after night.
Smoking and Drugs
The nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes go into your skin’s blood vessels and restrict the oxygen flow, destroying your skin’s elastin and collagen. This results in the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and pucker lines around the mouth, and in your skin overall. Also, smoke, in general, is filled with volatile free radicals and cancer-causing compounds that can prematurely age the skin. These compounds interfere with collagen production, causing your skin to lose firmness more quickly. The result is skin that looks more battered and degraded than it should.
You probably already knew this, but I figured a reminder can’t hurt.
If you can’t stop smoking, you’ll have to embrace the dull and sallow skin. If you partake regularly, multiply your age by two and that’s how you’ll actually look… and soon.
Coffee
Seriously? Whatever happened to the “coffee-is-rich-in-antioxidants-that-protect-your-cells-from-damage” claim? Well, coffee does contain antioxidants, but it also has caffeine, which is still its most potent ingredient. And the antioxidant levels in coffee are nothing compared to those that you get from a piece of fruit.
Ever wonder why you don’t feel thirsty after drinking coffee? It’s because caffeine act like diuretics that make you less thirsty for water, while at the same time pulling water from your body and making you have to pee more often. If you’re a heavy coffee drinker and you don’t drink at least eight glasses of water a day, chances are your skin looks dry and dull. (*more about coffee and its effects.) If you can’t resist the urge to drink your favorite latte, try drinking more H2O or organic herbal tea to compensate and stay hydrated, or try on of these 5 ridiculously delicious alternatives to coffee.
The Sun
It’s healthy to be out in the sun — in moderation. You get a mood boost and lots of vitamin D. However, too much sun exposure is majorly harmful for your skin.
The sun’s UV rays cause skin cancer and can also break down collagen and elastin in the skin, which results in wrinkle formation. To have fun in the sun and still look young, wear lots of sunscreen (the kind with zinc oxide, not the chemical stuff!)
Oh, it’s winter wonderland, you say? Apply even more sunscreen! Even during the winter when it snows the sun is strong – its rays reflect off the snow and ice, meaning you can still get burned easily.
Read more: Your Sunscreen Is Probably Making You Sick. Switch To These.
Stress
Lastly, worrying too much also makes you look older than your age. Constant worrying and pessimism leads to stress, which then leads to the pumping of inflammation-causing toxins into the body, which finally leads to collagen breakdown.
To counteract the flow of stress hormones, notice the good in every situation, meditate, and stop the negative self-talk. It’s also helpful to make a list of all the things and people in your life that cause you stress, and find solutions to each one (and find ways to minimize your exposure to people who cause you stress).
The process may take some time, especially if you are not a cheerful person by nature. If you embrace optimism in your life, you will be amazed at the limitless supply of joy and peace of mind that continuously rejuvenate your aging body and spirit.
I met a beautiful young lady in a coffee shop. I was surprised when she told me that she was 30. I said, “Really?! You look 20!” She told me that she wears SPF 50 lotion every day. She had perfect skin.
30 isn’t THAT old tbh. Many people in early 30s look in their 20s. Most people who are 30 look young because 30 is young. You should not have wrinkles at 30.
That is true, some people look old even in their 20’s but generally speaking 30 is crazy young. I kind of think it’s also genetics and a lot of lifestyle choices and sunblock is helpful and not smoking. That said i kind of think it’s luck.
Using a 30 spf sunscreen is the best unless you live in Africa. Wearing 50 spf stops your skin produce vitamin D.
OMG 30 is nothing I met a black woman who looked 35 and she was 60! now top that ?????????
6. Having kids makes you look 20 years older than your childless friends.
7. Not smiling makes you look a 100 years older and grumpier than your smiling friends.
8. Watching too much television makes you look like a zombie. It also decreases your creativity .
9 . Getting married to the wrong guy or girl makes you look stressed and wicked. Not forgetting being in touch with the horrible in-laws.
10 . Not keeping a pet makes you look older since your life becomes super-stressful. Having a dog or a cat makes you look something nice to after a long, ugly day at work.
Hahaha winner! That’s freaking true. Especially the fact that people with children look older than people without children.
But also stressing later in life about not having any kids or not much can make you age like wise, also your bound to age regardless of what you do,, but have money u can indulge in luxury treatments and cosmetics as celebs do and you wonder what’s happening to the rest of the world why were aging because it’s all part of life but age gracefully and give more and be kind is the real endless beauty
It’s not so much the having kids that ages you apart from less sleep it’s because most women after kids let themselves go. I have plenty of mature aged friends and many of them haven’t had kids yet and neither looks more aged than the other.
Smokers for sure, I always find smokers look much much older than non-smokers of the same age.
Living causes aging. If you live, you will age, and nothing can prevent that! Even botox.
You stated a fact but premature aging is what is being discussed in this article! 🙂
marriage with a wrong person will accelerate aging faster than what any of these things can do.
Do women in this day and age always worry about getting old? We will all go there eventually! It is up to you how you should enjoy life, but don’t blame anyone or even feel sorry for yourself if you feel the effect of your excesses. You enjoyed it before, yet you can’t accept the consequences?
The debate about coffee is very confusing. I’ve lived through the information that it’s good for you because of the antioxidants. But now, more studies are emerging about how it really is bad for your health and that you should switch to tea instead. Either way, I’ve been a coffee lover for years and I just reduced the amount of coffee I drink so that it’s still on healthy levels. Anything that you consume too much of is bad for your health. So, I guess the best way to get in the middle of this is by drinking just one cup a day?
Tanning makes you look old. All my friends who love going to tanning salons look older than their age.
I’m trying to be vegan, so far I’m just a vegetarian because I still can’t get rid of certain food groups in my diet. Trying my best though.
Nope, looking older than my actual age isn’t good at all. I would rather age gracefully than look like I’m aging crazily.?