ATTENTION! These Habits Make You Grow Old Faster

Aging Is One Thing, But Looking Old is Quite Another

There are many myths surrounding aging. A large part of these are launched by the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and wellness industries in order to sell their anti-aging products to women and men in large volumes. The primary purpose of these remedies is to build corporate sales, as opposed to some very easy and free ways to cheat aging. Incidentally, it is true that genes do play a role in aging, albeit a smaller role than previously thought. Aging is primarily affected by lifestyle. In this article we will outline the habits are that accelerate aging.

1. Smoking

By now you should already have heard that smoking, whether it's a classic cigarette or the modern e-variant, not only harms the health of the person sitting next to you, it also promotes premature aging of your cells—particularly your skin and connective tissue. The good news is that quitting, even after many years of smoking, still makes perfect sense. The body benefits practically from the first smoke-free minute and can regenerate itself quite quickly. Incidentally, another myth is that ex-smokers automatically gain weight when they stop smoking. While your body does a lot automatically, you only gain weight if you consume more food than you use up. Of course, if you replace every cigarette with a chocolate bar, this will be reflected on the scale in an unpleasant way. With respect to aging, too much sugar has effects that are very similar to those of nicotine. In such a case, you’d just be replacing the devil with Beelzebub.

2. Lack of Sleep.

There’s a reason that the term “beauty sleep” has remained in common usage since the times of our grandmothers. Sleep means much more to the body than just a night’s rest. The cells have the opportunity to regenerate. The immune system is strengthened. During the downtime of the system, all of the body's resources are put through a kind of nocturnal renewal. The detoxification process has been running in our bodies every night for millions of years, and it did not require a lifestyle industry to invent it. When it comes to sleep, the phase before midnight is particularly valuable. If you want to do something good for yourself and your body, go to bed no later than 10 p.m. every night. Seven to eight hours of sleep is ideal because, as with all good things, you can overdo it. Sleeping for too long completely messes up your biorhythm. Too much sleep makes it increasingly difficult for your body to differentiate between waking and resting. Studies have shown that the regular sleep schedules in monasteries cause people in such religious orders to live longer than average—as long as their regular routines are maintained. So, living according to our internal clock on a regular routine not only keeps us younger and fitter, it also gives us a longer life overall.

3. Skin Care

Your skin is the mirror of your physical condition. On any first visit, a new doctor will, among other things, take a quick but professional look at the condition of your skin. Our largest organ should always be nurtured with care, inside and out. Especially with increasing age, it tends to dry out, but that can be easily and well controlled with special care on a daily basis and with sufficient liquid ingestion, such as of water and unsweetened tea. Smoking, as already mentioned, is a great enemy of beautiful skin. Likewise, one should refrain from excessive sunbathing at a young age. The skin remembers every sunburn and can react to it later with increased wrinkling and pigmentation disorders. The annual visit to the dermatologist is not only advisable from a medical point of view. Man or woman can also take a few lessons from the cosmetic bag of tricks. Not everything that is now medically possible makes sense, some methods literally get under your skin. It is far cheaper and less painful to switch to textiles made from organic cotton and/or silk. The latter is particularly recommended for bed linen. Silk fibers remove less moisture from your skin during sleep and also protect your hair from breakage and brittleness.

4. Crash Diets and the Yo-Yo Effect

Generally, our bodies do not react well to extremes. He who keeps losing weight and then regaining it, loses a lot more than just what appears on a scale. What may still be considered chic for a young lady, namely a silhouette that is as thin as possible, can be a disadvantage with increasing age—and not only optically. The less fatty tissue you have under your skin, the faster and easier wrinkles form. A good and balanced diet can also prevent age-related diseases such as osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes. Moderation is the key. Obesity damages the body and soul at any age. Insufficient weight, on the other hand, makes the body susceptible to diseases and weakens the immune system. Excessive starvation increases the risk of fractures, cardiovascular disease, and even damages organs such as the liver and kidneys. In terms of nutrition, it is therefore important to reach the golden mean as early as possible.

5. Stress

Living in balance with yourself and the environment is not always easy. Nevertheless, emotional and mental balance in particular ensures a sense of well-being that is clearly noticeable on the outside. Those who are still in the fast lane even in their middle years will not only age more quickly, but their accelerated aging will also become very visible more quickly. Particular attention must be paid to self-care. We like to look after others, but often forget ourselves. And stress does not only arise from workload and other obligations. Another source of stress is our social life and pressures coming from other people. Think carefully about whether you really need to be at every event and be on the road every weekend. A cup of tea on the sofa can benefit you and your health more than any additional appointment you schedule during your free time. In reality these activities in the evening and during the weekend are nothing else but appointments. The word alone causes stress for many people—stress which is absolutely avoidable.

6. Too Much Second-Guessing

Terms like “worry lines,” or “beauty sleep,” were not created due to coincidence. Anyone who cannot stop their endless merry-go-round of thoughts and finally find peace of mind—especially at nighttime—will age rapidly, both internally and externally. Concern for loved ones is a noble emotion, but here too a good thing should not be taken to an extreme. Letting go is always easier said than done. However, you can train your mind to rest with with some exercises. Regular mental rest is very important.

Today’s Conclusion: Aging Is Not for Cowards

Everyone wants to grow old, but nobody wants to be broken down. And it is helpful if we manage to look as youthful as possible for as long as possible. These simple tips and tricks are completely free and can be put into action right here, right now. Unfortunately, there is still no magic formula for happy aging. But attention to these tips can help you become old without feeling old or looking old any more than is unavoidable. That's it for today.