Can We Anti Age?
You want to age youthfully, or anti age, but what should you do? Fighting the effects of aging is natural. No one really wants to get old, and become less functional, or less healthy. But, that does not mean we should accept the fact that we get older. We can age while maintaining a youthful bounce to our step with the energy and mental sharpness that we had in our 30s and 40s.
Anti-Aging Medicine and Age Management Medicine are the fastest growing fields in medicine attracting doctors from all medical specialties. The timing for this increased interest in healthy aging could not be better as the first wave of Baby Boomers have begun to retire and search for ways to achieve and maintain optimal health.
The Keys to Successful Aging (Anti Age)
- Hormonal optimization.
- Sound nutrition including nutritional supplements.
- Regular exercise.
- Stress management.
- Purposeful life.
Overlooking Hormones
Everybody knows that nutrition and exercise are important. Yet, despite the very best efforts in these two areas many people continue to see their health decline. Why? The biggest reason is that beginning around age 30 we have declining levels of hormones. Hormones all have different roles, but in the end, they enable the body to function more efficiently – they improve function and performance.
If your hormone levels are low, you’re going to gain weight, have less energy, struggle with your memory, watch your bones become more brittle, and increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, and many other diseases.
Currently, the best way to slow down the aging process is to make sure your hormones levels are optimal – not just normal – but optimal. In most cases that means in the upper third of the normal or reference range. See “Anti Aging Hormones”.
Nutrition
Sound nutrition is at the core of nearly every major theory of aging. We all know that nutrition is important, but do we know what sound nutrition really is? Too much sugar in our diet and in our blood deactivates enzymes, which like hormones, make the body run efficiently and effectively. Consume low glycemic carbohydrates. Eat plenty of protein to maintain muscle mass. A major problem associated with aging is sarcopenia, or loss of muscle. It’s hard to enjoy life without the muscle strength to be physically active. Much of the fruits and vegetables we consume are grown in nutrient depleted soil and treated with various chemicals. Consider taking a pharmaceutical grade multivitamin and mineral complex.
Exercise
Do something physical every day. Strength training is over looked, but is a major key to leading a youthful life into the golden years. Muscle burns more calories than fat, and strength training is a better form of exercise for weight loss than aerobic exercises. Life is short bursts of activities – getting out of chair, opening a door, carrying groceries, etc. These daily activities are best simulated with short bursts of exercise that comes from lifting weights and doing callisthenic type exercises as well as high intensity interval training. See “Exercises to Lose Weight“.
Stress Management
Stress is stressful. It’s also damaging to our bodies and brains. Take time to enjoy the little things each day brings. Get away from the computer and cell phone, and find some peace and quiet. Perform deep breathing exercises and other relaxation techniques. Consider meditation or yoga.
Purposeful Life
Living a purposeful life can overcome some poor health practices. We are here to do more than simply go to school, raise a family, and build a career or business. We are here to positively affect the lives of others, those that we know, and some that we do not. Take time to cultivate these important relationships. It is not possible to help someone else without also helping yourself.
See “What to Look for in an Anti-Aging Program”
