Healthy Living and Alternative/Holistic Care Articles

Just because you get older doesn’t mean you have to accept signs of aging. Your body has the amazing, even incredible power and ability to realign & repair itself if you’d just give it the things it needs.

Over time, your everyday lifestyle choices have a cumulative effect on appearance, energy, sleep quality and the ability to cope with stress. Fortunately, ensuring or restoring your youthful looks, energy and vitality doesn’t have to be complicated, time consuming or expensive. 

Refresh, revitalize & rehydrate your body organs and you’ll improve facial lines, skin tone, energy, weight, stress & overall health.  Add these 7 powerful yet simple strategies into your daily routine and you’ll not only look better, you’ll enjoy great health long into the 21^st Century!

1) Fill Up On Antioxidant & Nutrient Rich Foods

Take control of your body weight and reduce the risks of disease with antioxidants sourced from whole foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables that offer superior protection for your body against the effects of inflammation, fatigue and stress. 

A growing body of scientific evidence confirms chronic inflammation, fatigue and pain in the body is the result of consuming highly refined foods such as white sugar, flour, processed oils and packaged foods which lack few usable nutrients and contain many substances your body has considerable difficulty digesting.

As you increase whole foods consumption by shopping the perimeter of your local grocery store, you’ll be strengthening your immune system, your organs and restoring youthful vitality.

2) Take Charge Of Your Stress Levels

Chronic stress can accelerate aging as much as 10 years according to a recent telomere research study at the University of California. Cortisol is a corticosteroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex that is involved in the response to stress; it increases blood pressure, blood sugar levels, may cause infertility in women, and suppresses the immune system.

You can easily control stress by finding a favorite activity and making it a part of your day.  Moderate exercise, Reflexology, Yoga, Pilates, deep breathing and walking all reduce your stress levels.  If you find yourself in a very stressful situation, unwind with a brisk10 minute walk, you’ll return calmed, refreshed and likely have a fresh point of view.

3) Get Good Quality Sleep

The demands of today’s lifestyle are never ending but the one part of your day you should covet is your sleep time.  Sleeping, eating, and sex control aging by counter-acting the effects of stress and giving your body time to recover.  

Sleep is “the great healer”.  Research at NIH in Washington, D.C., shows that less than an average of 8 hours of sleep at night causes premature aging and the science of circadian rhythmicity (light-and-dark cycles) explains how sleeping controls eating and stress. The hormonal changes caused by sleep deprivation and more free radicals mean faster aging.

Avoid the effects of pre-mature aging by establishing a regular, restful sleep cycle even if it’s only 7 hours.  Adopt a relaxing routine, bath, herbal tea, reading 20-30 minutes before bed time, go to bed at the same time every night and do not eat 2-3 hours before going to bed as it impairs both digestion and sleep.

4) Drink Lots of Good Quality Clean Water

A dry mouth is the very last sign of dehydration and more than 1 in 3 mistakes dehydration for hunger.  Even if you had a 100% nutritionally perfect diet, you cannot be healthy without the right quantity and quality of water.

Your body relies on water to efficiently process foods, detoxify itself properly, control weight and is essential for supple, younger looking skin and bright eyes. 

To estimate your personal daily requirement, divide your weight in pounds by 2, then divide that result by 8 to find the number of 8 oz. glasses of water to drink throughout the day, everyday. 

5) Switch to Good Fats

Many people are deficient in natural sources of essential fat called omega-3.  Youth is often recognized by supple and smooth skin, shiny hair, nails, joints and muscles. 

You’ll feel and look well when your daily diet includes cold-water fresh fish, raw nuts and seeds (not roasted or salted), avocado, good quality olive, flax or  hemp oil, organic or free range poached or soft-boiled eggs.  As a bonus, you’ll also get their anti-inflammatory benefits.

6) Drop The Salt Habit

Your body can’t use the sodium from refined table salts or other similar man-made sources.  Instead get your sodium from foods such as sea salt, celery, cabbage (red), apples, asparagus, beets, greens, carrots, chickpeas, kale, parsley, turnips, dates, fish and lentils.

7) Laugh Often, Laugh Well

"It’s no joke: laughing may be one of nature’s cleverest tricks for keeping us healthy and safe". ~ Time Jan. 17, 2005 issue.  Laughter, happiness and optimism have been linked to the aging process and have been shown to block pain and reduce stress levels. 

There is certainly a lot of interest on-going studies into the benefits of the laughter so be sure to make it a significant part of your day.

Now you know the basics of how to look and feel great by choosing well; your youthful appearance and long term health depends on it!