Simple Habits That Can Keep You Looking, Feeling Young

The body's key functions inevitably deteriorate with age. But your lifestyle patterns, including eating habits and exercise levels, all influence the pace at which you age. Tiny little things can make a huge difference. Here are some daily activities that can help keep you looking and feeling younger for longer.

Advertisement

◆ Eating Habits

When eating, chew your food well. Chewing stimulates secretion of an anti-aging hormone by the salivary glands, strengthening bones and teeth and keeping blood vessels flexible. Consumption of fruits and vegetables also helps prevent aging, so making them a part of every meal is a good way to stay young.

◆ Exercise

Exercise is the best way to slow aging. To stay healthy and keep your body vital, start a workout as a part of your routine while you're still young -- or at least once you hit your 30s. Doing so keeps the body's functions healthy and promotes blood circulation, ensuring easy elimination of waste while increasing the production of growth and sex hormones.

◆ Sleep

Keeping regular sleeping cycles prevents disease and slows aging. In particular, sleeping soundly from 10 p.m. through 2 a.m. -- the peak time for growth hormone secretion -- allows the body to replenish the energy used during the day, and blood circulation is boosted. Also, lack of sound sleep at night destroys collagen in the skin, accelerating aging.

◆ Drinking and Smoking

Drinking and smoking accelerate the aging process. Alcoholic beverages dehydrate the skin, making your face look puffy.

Smoking, including inhalation of second-hand smoke, is also bad -- not only for your skin, but also your overall health. It can accelerate the aging process of your skin, thereby causing early wrinkles.