Reversing the aging process is something humankind has longed for over the centuries. Oddly, only in the last few decades have we made any real progress into prolonging our lives, turning back the clock – call it what you will, it means looking and feeling great while staying alive. For me personally, I could care less if I looked like an old dish rag in my golden years as long as I’m physically and mentally capable of independence and enjoyment.
From a commercial standpoint we get bombarded with advertisements pushing anti aging wares at us because as we all know; if we look good in the box at the end of our days we have really accomplished something. To that I can only say – Horsepuckey! What benefit is there to having a youthful looking corpse? Unless we preserve the whole package, we do ourselves an injustice. Hey, buy all the anti aging serums and potions you can afford if it makes you feel any better but do not neglect the important things science knows will prolong your life.
I really enjoy seeing people who are one hundred years old or more that put people half their age to shame from a health and fitness standpoint. I had a one hundred year old great uncle who was still shadow boxing well into his nineties – every morning. He fought in two world wars, training men half his age in the second one. He was an example to look up to for his level of discipline and fitness. He outlived two wives and was the life of the party in his hometown.
Here was a guy who may have had some genetic assistance but by all accounts, the rest of the family life spans were average or slightly above. Genetics in aging are not as influential to the aging process as they were once thought to be. Some experts believe genetics play a ten percent role while others say they impact longevity by up to twenty five percent. One thing is certain; longevity is not all about genetics.
So there are some elements to a prolonged life that we have no control over. Buses hit people sometimes, fatalities occur unfortunately, genetics is part of it but we have more control than we believe. We can assist in determining some aspects of advancing age, delaying or reversing the process. Time stops for no man but we can certainly get in its way a bit. How we treat ourselves emotionally, physically and mentally will aid in making an impact in how we age.
Think about it, we can control how much and what we consume, we can manage our metabolism to some extent, the health of our skeletal and muscular systems are within our control as are our cardio pulmonary centers. Immunity is huge where life expectancy is concerned to safeguard us against many illnesses that can kill or disable us. We can do these things by taking some essential measures now when we can make a difference in our futures.
What We Can Do To Reverse Aging And Extend Life
• We need to make physical activity a priority in our life. This is vital to our health and there are no shortcuts. Now that I have cleared the room, let me say it is not necessary to compete in triathlons, just get moving and make it a habit. The sooner people heading into their mid life realize that leading a sedentary lifestyle will put them in an early grave; the sooner they might actually begin do something. No need to overdo it, nevertheless, you need to do it to reverse aging. Start out by taking part in an activity you enjoy so you will be more inclined to stick with it. This won’t work if you hate cycling but buy an expensive mountain bike and head off to Mt. Hood. Do yourself a big favor and begin getting some exercise; I promise that you will feel great!
If you have not been walking for twenty minutes a day – every day – than this would qualify as exercise and you will see results. Ask any doctor and they will tell you straight up that walking for twenty minutes daily will dramatically cut your odds of contracting type 2 diabetes; among other age related illnesses. My spouse and I bought some silly badminton rackets at a lawn sale and whack a birdie at each other a few minutes each day – it works!
You will find copious amounts of literature on exercising online and off so I will not dig deep on the issue. Just know that it will make such a difference in your life. Begin by doing something small but worthy, even a walk around the block for two weeks and see for yourself. Eventually begin to test yourself by doing more do not waver – make it a habit and stick to it, your life depends on it.
• What you eat has an effect on every part of your body inside and out. It has an impact on how you look and feel so is it any wonder why experts make such a fuss about our diets. Being aware of the nutrients we are consuming is crucial. Forget right now everything you learned about eating as a youth because far too often we drag our poor eating habits as young people into our middle years and our bodies cannot take it.
Things change in us as we get older and that includes our metabolism and what we can comfortably digest. As a teenager we ate whatever was available but as we age we begin to see how a double cheeseburger and fries makes us feel but we will eat it regardless. If you are not eating our fruit and vegetables yet we have much work to do. For aging adults these foods have a huge influence on our health and well being. Our bodies need the kind of nourishment provided by these healthy food choices rather than pizza and burgers two or three times a week.
For the majority of us, when we age into our senior years, we have a tendency to eat less and food does not have the appeal it once did. That is why it is more critical than ever to pay attention to what we ARE eating so we at least get essential nutrients in what we ingest. I’m sure there is some solid medical reason why food loses its luster, I can tell you as an aging boomer who saw to elderly parents struggle in their golden years with their health; food preparation becomes a burden and the easy options take priority over healthy ones.
We need to start focusing on a balanced diet eating proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables. We also require a vitamin supplement daily to ensure we get the vitamins and minerals necessary [liquid vitamins are much better than tablets]. If you are doing your best at eating right and still are not sure if you are hitting all the proper diet markers – supplement with nutrition beverages or bars. If you do this be sure to read the labeled ingredients.
• Ask an insomniac how critical getting proper rest is and they will tell you it’s everything. I am not talking about resting on the patio; I am talking about sleep – a full seven or eight hours nightly. Sleep is very important for aging adults, we need consistency in our sleep patterns [circadian rhythm] and our body requires the down time to rejuvenate and restore itself. Our energy is affected by the amount of sleep we acquire and though diet and exercise are important, without proper sleep the benefits of these health improvements will be diminished.
• Remember my great uncle the party animal? Well, those friends and acquaintances he entertained had an impact on his longevity, whether or not any of them knew it. We must have friend and continue cultivating those friendships while making new ones. As we age we lose friends for numerous reasons and especially if we only socialize at work. Upon retirement we lose touch with many of them and become lonely.
It is a proven fact that people without a social network die prematurely after slipping into an emotional and physical place where their health is affected negatively. Those elders who are active and able to get out are more apt to get involved in social activities where meeting people is easier. When aging individuals are actively involved in society it keeps them going and they have something to look forward to, life is worth the effort. Ask any elderly Wal-Mart greeter why they do what they do! My own mother had a circle of friends who stayed in touch regularly playing cards or assisting each other with appointments etc., we are convinced this network bought her much more time.
• There is a whole other level of existence we all must achieve as we age if we wish to extend our life expectancy. This means upping the ante on our personal exploration of new things. Our spirituality needs tending to and so religion is a direction some might choose if they are not already practicing. Another is developing more knowledge about things that interest us. How about finishing your degree? Perhaps take up a new hobby – one that challenges you and makes you think? Learn computers – it amazes me the number of elderly I know who have no idea how to turn a computer on much less surf the net. What a raft of knowledge and entertainment they are missing out on.
A nursing home I visited was an eye opener for me. Where I thought I would see elderly, lonely people sitting in chairs around a television, I witnessed a yoga class, some lying down and others in chairs, amazing. No bingo cards in sight at this place. There was singing in another room with a piano playing and though there were those not taking part and looking lost of course but many were participating and having fun. For those of us who are younger today, we need to start thinking about how we see ourselves at that time. Are we doing enough today to ensure our place in that scene?
Humans are prone to habit which means once we do something enough times we will continue to do it. That goes for exercise, eating right and doing things that will assist our longevity and slow or reverse aging processes. We can learn how to meditate and relax since it helps to improve particular physical aspects of our lives. It will supply us with a keen insight into how we manage changes in our life, both positive and negative. If we could make meditation a habit, it would influence all the things discussed above and prepare us for our futures. Do not believe those who say it is too difficult to learn as that is only so much more Horsepuckey!
Though there will be those few who are fortunate enough to be born with the proper genetics, youthful nurturing and know how to ensure we are healthy and fit late into life, the majority of us will have to work at it a bit harder. We will be required to make those choices that are necessary if we want to slow the hands of time and slow or reverse the aging process.
Thu, Jun 10, 2010
Anti Aging, Anti Aging Theories, Lifestyle, Longevity