Introduction
As we age, our bodies go through many changes. Unfortunately, some of the choices we make can accelerate the aging process. According to experts, there are certain health mistakes that can age us 20 years or more. Eating the wrong foods can have a huge impact on our health and wellbeing. Fortunately, there are simple changes we can make to our diets that can help us look and feel younger. In this article, we’ll explore some of the health mistakes that can age us 20 years and provide tips on what to eat instead.
These Health Mistakes Could Age You 20 Years, Say Experts
We all want to look and feel our best, but sometimes our health habits can have the opposite effect. According to experts, certain lifestyle choices can age us by up to 20 years. Here are some of the biggest health mistakes you should avoid if you want to stay young and healthy.
1. Not Getting Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential for maintaining a youthful appearance. Not getting enough sleep can cause dark circles, wrinkles, and dull skin. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night to keep your skin looking its best.
2. Eating Too Much Sugar
Sugar is one of the worst things you can eat if you want to stay young. Eating too much sugar can cause wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots. Try to limit your sugar intake and opt for healthier alternatives like fruits and vegetables.
3. Not Drinking Enough Water
Staying hydrated is key for keeping your skin looking young and healthy. Not drinking enough water can cause dry, dull skin and wrinkles. Make sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to keep your skin looking its best.
4. Smoking
Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health and your appearance. Smoking can cause wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin. If you want to stay young and healthy, it’s best to avoid smoking altogether.
5. Not Exercising
Exercise is essential for keeping your body and skin looking young. Not exercising can cause wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise a day to keep your skin looking its best.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the health mistakes that can age you by 20 years. Avoiding these mistakes and making healthier lifestyle choices can help you stay young and healthy for years to come.
Healthy aging is a privilege—but premature aging is usually a result of unhealthy lifestyle choices and should be avoided. Here are five health mistakes aging you beyond your years, according to experts. Read on—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
Not getting enough sleep not only plays havoc on outer appearance, but it can age you prematurely. Studies show that even one night of poor or disrupted sleep accelerates biological aging. “Our data support the hypothesis that one night of not getting enough sleep in older adults activates important biological pathways that promote biological aging,” says Judith Carroll, Ph.D, assistant professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral science at the UCLA Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology.
This one is hardly a surprise—smoking adds years to your appearance and shaves years off your life. “Smokers biologically aged faster than nonsmokers regardless of cholesterol and fasting glucose levels. Female and male smokers aged twice and one and a half times faster than gender-matched nonsmokers,” reads one study published in the European Respiratory Journal.
Unmanaged stress can dramatically accelerate aging, experts warn. “Research has found the hormones produced with chronic stress can age our brain and immune systems,” says Mona Brownfield, MD. “Those who are constantly stressed have higher instances of dementia and memory loss, as well as more damaged cells within their immune systems. Stress also lends itself to high blood pressure, making you more susceptible to heart disease and other conditions typically found in older populations.”
“Daily sunlight can have quite a few advantages for our mental and physical health, but we don’t need that much sun to experience the benefits — ten minutes is plenty enough to get our recommended vitamin D,” says Dr. Brownfield. “Anything beyond, without proper sun protection, starts to put our skin at risk for cancer and premature aging. One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is sun exposure just makes your skin thick and leathery, when in fact, the opposite can be just as true. Too much sun exposure can break down our skin’s elasticity causing it to be thick like leather or thin like tissue paper. Not only that, UV rays can damage collagen proteins in the skin, leading to sagging or loose skin, and speed up the production of melanin (cells that give the skin its color) causing dark age spots.”
If you want to look and feel younger, it might be time to cut back on your sugar intake. “Sugar binds to the elastic and collagen fibers that make skin look plump and youthful. Damage to these fibers means less support for your skin — and more wrinkles,” says dermatologist Melissa Piliang, MD. And to protect your life and the lives of others, don’t visit any of these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.
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