No one has discovered the fountain of youth as of yet, but we do know these 18 habits drastically speed up the aging process.
Not Using SPF
We all love feeling the sun on our face – and it is, of course, a direct dose of vitamin D – but too much of anything can kill us. And that’s definitely the case here. Not only does too much sun exposure drastically age our skin, it heavily increases the risk of skin cancer. If you do like to be outside – or have to be for work, etc. – make sure you regularly apply SPF.
Eating Processed Food
Ever heard the expression ‘you are what you eat’? It’s true. A big part of our well-being depends on the food we are fuelling ourselves with, and processed foods are high in chemicals and preservatives and low in nutrients and vitamins, so a processed-heavy diet speeds up our aging, as well as increases our risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and more.
Not Drinking Enough Water
It may not be the most exciting beverage, but H20 plays a vital role in hydrating our bodies, as well as flushing out waste and toxins. We should all be consuming at least one liter of water a day for our bodies to function as they should.
Refusing to Moisturize
Skin care is important for keeping our skin looking and feeling its best. And here’s the tea – you don’t need to spend half your salary on an intricate and complicated host of products – simply applying sunscreen every day (even during the colder months) is a great (and cost-effective) way to keep your skin happy, healthy, hydrated – and with a youthful glow!
Not Getting Enough Sleep
The average human being needs between 6-8 hours of sleep a night. While that’s not always possible (new moms will vouch!), we need a regular sleep pattern to function to our best ability – and to avoid increasing the aging process, which happens when our bodies aren’t getting ample time to rest and recharge.
Lack of Exercise
We get it – sometimes cramming a workout into our busy and exhausting schedules is difficult (not to mention, unappealing), but keep our physical and mental health in check (and the crow’s feet at bay), we should be doing at least 20 minutes of exercise four times a week – even if it’s just a walk around the block a couple of times.
Too Much Alcohol
A tipple here and there won’t usher you into the nursing home prematurely, but hammering it on the regular sure will. Booze dehydrates our skin (as well as tanks our livers) and dehydrated skin is a one-way ticket to Wrinkletown.
Too Much Caffeine
As well as alcohol, excess caffeine is no friend of ours. Much like booze, caffeine encourages dehydration, so going too nuts with your Starbucks addiction will take its toll on your skin (and your wallet). Try limited caffeinated beverages to one or two a day and switching to more hydrating drinks, such as water, decaf green tea, or homemade smoothies.
Lack of Antioxidants in Your Diet
Foods that are high in antioxidants (such as berries, citrus fruits, and spinach) are super good for us – especially in the liver and kidney department. They keep these vital organs functioning properly, as well as providing our bodies with the nutrients they need to function happily and healthily. A lack of these causes oxidation, which damages the cells in our bodies and increases the amount of free radicals in our bodies – which directly correlates to cancer – so get those blueberries in your tum!
Neglecting Your Mental Health
Whether we choose to believe it or not, our mental health plays a lead role in our physical well-being, and indeed, the aging process. Practicing mindfulness and other mental health-positive activities, such as meditation and yoga, helps keep stress at bay and keeps our bodies looking and feeling more youthful.
Stress
We’ve all joked about that one stressful experience that “aged us ten years” – well, there’s something in that. In fact, stress is the number one cause of premature aging. Stress is extremely detrimental to both our physical and mental health and continued unrelenting stress will quite literally shave years off our lives.
Sitting Down a Lot
We human beings weren’t designed to sit on our butts all day, so folks who work in an office, or any other profession that requires sitting down a lot, may experience accelerated aging. According to a UK study in 2017, those who spend most of their days sitting down are biologically eight years older than their actual age.
Forsaking Organic
We know organic food tends to be more expensive, but our health and nutrition isn’t something we should cheap out on. Non-organic foods are covered in pesticides, GMOs, and fertilizers – meaning these harsh chemicals are entering our systems and our livers are working overtime to flush them out.
Poor Eye Care
Noticing you’re squinting a lot? It’s time to go to the eye doctor and update your prescription. Nothing gets those crows walking all over your face like squinting your eyes on a regular basis!
Too Much Sugar
Sorry folks with a sweet tooth, but sugar is no friend of youth! Sugar has been directly linked to premature aging and studies show that too much sugar has a negative effect on the body’s collagen and elastin, which then causes an increase in age-related diseases – even for the spring chickens among us!
Lack of Whole Grains
We’re the first to put our hands up and say, WE LOVE CARBS! But unfortunately, too many refined carbs (white bread, pasta, pizza, cake, biscuits, etc.) will build up an excess of bad bacteria in our guts, which then counteracts the good bacteria associated with breaking food down and nourishing us. What goes on in our guts has a surprisingly powerful impact on the rest of our body’s well-being, and bad gut health will certainly add on the years.
Sunbeds
Much the same as direct sun exposure, sunbeds cause ultraviolet (UV) radiation to hit our skin at close proximity, which damages the DNA cells in our bodies, thus increasing skin aging and the growth of dangerous free radicals. If you can’t go without a bronze glow – get a spray tan.
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