How to Stop the Aging Process
The “age old” question. Is it even possible?
There are several changes that happen to people as they age. I can find a list of twenty if you really want to see them. Do you really need a list? Perhaps you can just consider your own experiences. Is there a way of stopping this process? Sounds like a good plot for a science fiction story. One can find several claims that it can be done—with the purchase of this and that which the claimer just happens to be selling. According to speakers at ideaCity 2008, putting an end to aging isn’t a far-off dream. The conference, hosted and produced in Toronto by Moses Znaimer, featured the latest research on slowing and stopping the aging process. The goal: not just to increase human lifespan, but to increase the healthy years – perhaps indefinitely!
From my yoga studies, the claim to stop the aging process has been made. It just requires the removal of stressors (so that would include the removal of heat, cold, chemical toxins, microorganisms, physical trauma, strong emotional reactions and most likely an “etcetera”.)
All things considered from my box of beliefs, I would be more apt to state that the aging process can be slowed rather than stopped. Pick up most health, beauty and wellness magazines; you can find lists of ways to look and feel younger.
Ten Simple Things You Can Do
Here is a list of ten rather simple things you can do to help slow the aging process. Naturally, things such as being happy and as stress-free as possible are the keys to living a longer, healthier life. And feeling healthy, energetic and stress-free translates into a more youthful appearance.
- At every meal, eat foods high in protein, such as fish, turkey, egg whites or tofu. A gram of protein for every kilogram of body weight is a good rule of thumb. Choose protein-rich foods that are low in fat. Protein slows insulin levels, which you want to keep in balance to avoid weight gain and risk of disease. Eating protein also promotes stable blood sugar levels, which reduces stress, which in turn helps keep the stress hormone, cortisol, in check.
- Ease stress with extracts from the magnolia flower, green tea or milk peptide. Talk to a health-care professional before you try any of these. Massage is another way to calm stress.
- Take 100 to 200 milligrams each of vitamins B6 and B12 daily to reduce cortisol and increase levels of serotonin, a chemical in the body that helps ease depression and anxiety.
- Lavender, a natural relaxant, helps keep cortisol levels stable and smells terrific. Essential oils can be harmful if not used properly. Purchase an excellent quality grade and talk to an aromatherapy specialist for guidance in safe usage.
- Exercise regularly. When you’re physically active, you make more growth hormone, a key factor in remaining youthful. Growth hormone plays a role in skin, libido, weight gain, muscle mass and energy level.
- Get nine hours of sleep each night, if possible; eight hours may not do it! When our bodies are in the repair mode of deep, restful sleep, we produce growth hormone. People who have trouble sleeping often have lower levels of growth hormone. As well, lack of sleep is a stressor.
- Take a selection of antioxidant vitamins to target all 13 types of free radicals. Vitamins A, C and E and selenium daily helps clean up free radicals. Talk to your health-care practitioner, who can help you choose a supplement and proper dose. Of special note, don’t take any of these agents if you are on blood thinners.
- To deal with wear and tear on the body, consider supplements that enhance the production of elastin and collagen. These include glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, MSM and hyaluronic acid.
- To increase the strength of the immune system, take supplements such as plant sterinols, olive leaf extract (a natural antiviral), zinc and denatured whey. Again, see a health-care professional first.
- Relax. Smile. Be happy and stress-free. What comes out in your body when you’re unhappy and stressed wreaks so much havoc. Don’t sweat the small stuff!
Author Bio: Heather Stanley has a B.Sc. in Kinesiology and a MASc. in Nutrition. Along with consulting for several national health-care companies, she enjoys a healthy lifestyle in Horseshoe Valley, Ontario, Canada where she teaches Yoga and NIA, and coaches endurance athletes of all ages and levels. You may contact her by email at heatherstanley@rogers.com or visit www.dharmayogawellnesscentre.blogspot.com or www.endurancecoach-heather.blogspot.com
