How To Stay Young - Antioxidants, Calories, Not Smoking, Sun Protection

Staying young, looking younger, and even reversing aging to some degree is easier than one might think. There are very simple things you can do.

I first became interested in the subject when i saw an episode of Oprah where she and Dr. Oz did a very informative presentation on antioxidants, and their ability to slow and even reverse certain aspects and signs of aging, as well as calorie restriction. It lead me to do some research, and caused me to change my diet.

Of course, some people are genetically prone to age more slowly than others. I think i fit into that category, since no one believes that i'm 37. So why am i worried about staying young? Well, probably because i completely missed out on my 20s, since i spent those years stuck in a bad relationship. I definitely was not ready to be 30. I'm a bit more prepared to be 40, but why not do what i can to make up for those lost years? Even if you don't have "good genes," you can still make up for lost years.

If you have any insight into the things i mention in this article, or failed to mention, please comment.

One of the simplest things you can do is to add a significant amount of antioxidants to your daily diet. Blueberries, blackberries, acai berries, green tea, and red wine are a few really good sources. (*Speaking of red wine, check out my original recipe for instant sangria on my first Hub article.)

I like to have blueberries in the morning with my shredded wheat. I also add banana, chopped apple, walnuts, cinnamon, honey, yogurt, and skim milk. (Yes, all in the same bowl, but only half a banana and half an apple.) There are many other benefits of this breakfast besides the antioxidant blueberries.

*TIP - To save money, buy frozen blueberries or blackberries. Frozen blueberries thaw in just a minute when added to cereal, and are substantially cheaper than fresh ones. They are also much easier to store and keep fresh, obviously. Also, buy bagged walnuts in the baking section of your grocery store, not the produce department. They are the same walnuts, only MUCH CHEAPER!!! The reason i mention walnuts is because they are a good source of healthy fat.

It has been proven that smoking rapidly ages smokers. It exposes the body and skin to free radicals. Basically it is an 'oxidant.' I am not sure if it is the tobacco, the smoke, or just the extra poisonous chemicals in most cigarrettes that causes it. It may be possible that natural cigarrettes do not have as much of an aging effect. However, even natural cigarrettes cause many health problems, so it's not worth finding out.

You may feel that you look healthier with a tan, but the damage from tanning is too great for such a minimal benefit. Whether it is from the sun or tanning lamps, the damage is the same. Wrinkles, age spots, and possibly cancer are inevitable consequence of tanning. It's just about as bad as smoking.

Besides, i have found that paler skin actually makes you look younger and makes your eyes "pop" and stand out more. If you still think you look better tan, there are many self-tanning moisturisers out there now that can safely, gradually, and easily tan your skin. Just use it like any other moisturiser after you shower.

Believe it or not, we have recently discovered a link between caloric intake and aging. Scientific studies and proven that a restricted calorie diet can double life expectancy in all mammals. People who eat such a diet, (usually around 1,000 calories/day or less,) will have a life expectancy of close to 150 years. Also, there is the more obvious benefit that staying slim also makes you look younger.

Is it possible to eat so few calories and feel satisfied? Yes. The basic trick is to eat filling foods that are rich in nutrients and low in calories. There are many books on how to eat on calorie restriction. The best example would be a huge salad, full of veggies, as a meal. If it's big enough, it will fill you up and keep you as full as any meal.

I actually have a real life example of how calories affect aging right now in my home. We have 2 cats who are exactly the same age. They are 11. One eats all day, and the other eats barely anything. The one who eats barely anything is just like a kitten. She runs around the house and is in perfect health. I expect she will outlive most cats. The one who eats all day long has already lost his 'canine' fangs and seems to be developing vision problems. I'm sure he will not live nearly as long.

Of course, there are those people, (i call them freaks of nature,) who have unexplainably fast metabolisms who stay slimmer eating way more calories. All i can say to that is, whatever. Actually, i think they would age faster, but i could be wrong. They are, after all, freaks of nature.

My partner once worked at a lab with engineers. Their jobs were incredibly stressful. A bizarrely high percentage of them kept dying of heart attacks at very young ages. Stress ages you, (and kills.) If you have a stressful job, quit. Your life is worth more than job security.

One secret to staying young is happiness. Do what you love.

There are other things you can do. Exercise. (Whatever.)

Skin care and plastic sugery options. There are ways to get rid of wrinkles. There are expensive products that can topically stimulate callogen or fill wrinkles, but the most effective ways are by face lifts or skin resurfacing, either with chemical treatments, derm-abrasion, or laser resurfacing. There is a new type of laser treatment that has a shorter healing time and can be used all over the body. (Perfect for those cleavage wrinkles.)

Did i miss anything?