Since time immemorial, man has sought ways to halt or reverse the effects of aging. From Juan Ponce de León’s quixotic quest for the legendary “Fountain of Youth” in the Caribbean to tales of a Tibetan “Shangri-La” in the Himalayas, people of all backgrounds and cultures have their own myths, legends and stories of potions, plants or sites that magically restored youth or made them feel years younger.
Unfortunately, all these myths and legends are just that — myths and legends. You can’t stop the natural process of aging, but if you’re wise, you can slow it down and retard its effects by taking good care of your body, your mind and your spirit.
Here are a few proven ways to counteract life’s natural processes without resorting to remedies or medications that have no proven (or even negative) effects:
- Keep Your Mind Active by Using It
Instead of passively watching films or television, try reading, playing games or solving puzzles that involve stimulating your brain. Whether it’s books, card or board games, crossword puzzles or Sudoku, keeping your mind alert with interactive exercises is a great way to maintain mental agility.
- Keep Your Body in Good Shape by Exercising
You’ve probably heard this one before, but do you really take the time every day to engage in a regular fitness routine? Studies show that even a mile-long walk each day will do wonders for circulation and cardiovascular health. Yoga, swimming and tai-chi all have positive effects on your well-being that go beyond just keeping your body toned. Your serotonin levels will stay high, which will keep you in good spirits.
- Eat Right for Your Heart
Some foods are definitely better than others when it comes to keeping your heart in good shape. Your heart is the center of your circulatory system, and its health can affect all the other organs in your body. Having a healthy heart is essential for long life and enduring wellness. Take care of your heart by eating foods that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish and fish oils, seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetables and dark chocolate. Avoid foods containing trans-fats or too many carbohydrates. Excessive smoking or drinking coffee (see below) can also be bad for your heart.
- Don’t Smoke for Better Skin and Teeth
We all know that smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your skin and teeth — the former wrinkle while the latter yellow and stain. Besides these two deleterious effects, smoking does awful things to your lungs and your body. The sooner you quit, the better shape you’ll be in. If you need help trying to stop smoking, there are many products and programs for smoking cessation that can assist you.
- Don’t Drink Too Much Coffee and/or Soda
While a few daily cups of coffee have been shown to positively affect lifespan and reduce cancer rates, too much caffeine in one’s diet (more than 400 mg daily) will do just the opposite; nerves can suffer attenuation and burnout, and insomnia and stress (see below) may be the result. If you’re someone who just “can’t function” without a surfeit of coffee, it may be worth taking a small break from the joe for a while and seeing how to live life without it or with less of it. Even healthier than coffee is tea — particularly black tea, which is high in Omega-3s (see above). If you’re unsure how much caffeine should be in your diet, talk to your doctor.
- Keep Stress at Bay for a Positive Outlook
It isn’t just bad food or artificial chemicals that can age you; sometimes the biggest factor in what makes a person feel worn-out and weary is psychological. If family, matrimonial or circumstantial factors are giving you stress, try to find constructive ways to deal with them or to escape. It’s invaluable to live a comfortable life where you’re in control of your own destiny and you don’t feel under constant pressure and worry. Try spending more time with friends, relatives and people who influence you positively instead of dealing with persons or situations that tax you and take your energy. Stress can be one of the biggest factors in whether a person develops life-threatening conditions later in life such as cancer. If you need help to deal with a stressful situation, get it as early as you can; don’t wait to make yourself feel better.
- Use Dead Sea Salt for Your Face
Especially for women, facial beauty and radiant skin are some of the biggest elements of having sound self-esteem. While wrinkles from laugh and smile lines are often a sign of healthy living, other skin marks and artifacts can be a product of ailments, dehydration, an unhealthy environment or a lack of critical nutrients.
Following the steps above will improve the health of your skin. But something else you can use to rejuvenate it is scrubs or products made with genuine Dead Sea salt from Israel and/or Jordan. This substance has been shown to have positive effects on skin of all ages, and travelers to this area of the world swear by this body of water’s mineral properties.
If you can’t afford to apply this substance in person by traveling to Israel or Jordan, try to find a product that contains it that isn’t too expensive. There are many imitation products on the market that claim to have the same effects, but it’s best to seek out ones that are made in or around the region.
~ Health Scams Exposed
