ChatterTip of the Month January 2011
Tips for Anti-Aging and Staying Young
© Katvan Studio
America leads the world in its obsession for staying young. Just look at Hollywood and celebrity’s obsession with plastic surgery, a frightening requirement for success and longevity in a world where one Barbie doll continuously competes with the next. Perhaps the most recent display of “voluntarily going under the knife madness” is a new TV reality show called “Bridalplasty” where a group of “wanna-be” brides compete, not simply to win a dream wedding, or the ultimate honeymoon, no, instead these sick chicks compete to win rounds of plastic surgery, from Botox to boob jobs, or new noses and fuller lips. So there’s a strong possibility that the lucky groom of the crackpot who wins might not even recognize her by the time she walks to the altar! Very, very scary stuff… So what can we do to help stay young that doesn’t require such radical measures? And what is wrong with growing old gracefully anyway? Besides, a face without lines has no character.
A couple of years ago, I was fortunate enough to meet and hear the gifted Civil Rights Activist and Comedian Dick Gregory speak, and something he said truly resonated with me, which was his three components for living a long and healthy life, and they are:
1. Get Enough Sleep – we live in a sleep-deprived society these days where the natural sequence of day and night and the light of the sun no longer control our lives, thanks to electricity, light bulbs and artificial illumination that can be reproduced 24/7! But our bodies and brains need adequate rest in order to recuperate as well as heal from any sickness, so don’t knock it, get some sleep!
2. Drink Plenty of Water – many, if not most of us, are probably dehydrated and don’t even know it. Our bodies are made up of 70-80% water – so we need to keep the plumbing clean, flush out our systems, thus helping the body from retaining toxins. Drinking plenty of water also aids the digestive system and helps maintain clear skin.
3. Take Regular Exercise – even if it’s just a walk, or some stretching, the body needs to move every day, and as we get older and start to slow down, even though we may not be able to take on extreme physical activities like we could when we were younger, it is very important to keep oiling the joints and making sure the parts are still moving. (Reminds me of Sari’s friend Marguerite still doing her yoga at 98!)
And here are a few more suggestions for staying young:
4. Laughter – they say “laughter is the best medicine” and most of the healthier older people I know are those who continue to find humor in their world, no matter what it throws at them, and laughter is a large part of their medicine cabinet. (Auntie Jo with her puppet and brilliant talent for mimicry comes to mind!)
5. Positive Attitude – having a positive outlook on life is associated with longevity and crucial to enjoying your old age. (Ethel, always with a smile on her face, is a perfect example of this one!)
6. Stimulate the Mind – reading a book or magazine, “surfing the net” if you are a computer-savvy senior, solving crossword puzzles, and learning new and creative things help to keep the mind stimulated and sharp!
7. Nurture the Spirit – studies have shown that those living to a 100 years old, or more, share two personality traits, those of a “sense of humor” and that of a “deep sense of spirituality.” We have to believe in a higher power, and something far greater than ourselves.
8. Eat Healthy – eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and less processed foods will provide you with the healthy nutrients and protective anti-oxidants needed. You may find that you start to eat and drink less as you get older, because our bodies begin to require less fuel.
9. Supplements – there are a number of vitamins and supplements that can help with the aging process and some of those are CoQ10, B-Complex, B17 (or Laetrile), Vitamins C & E, Omega-3 Oils and Alpha Lipoic Acid.
10. Herbs – Ginseng & Gotu Kola are both known to improve memory and help focus the mind, Ginger is said to aid dementia, while Ginkgo Biloba helps reduce incontinence and acts as a tonic for the kidneys & bladder. (Note all the Geriatric “G” words!) Drinking a tea made from Cloves, Sage or Rosemary is said to help lift mild depression associated with old age. Other suggested herbs are Cat’s Claw which has been found to enhance DNA repair,Milk Thistle which is already known to help the liver as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, but is also used in anti-aging formulas because it reduces the effect that time has on our cells and interestingly, the Chinese believe that depression is caused by a stagnation of the liver, & Horse Chestnutwhich increases the strength and health of the blood vessels and circulatory system.