10 Easy Ways to Erase Your Age
No matter how comfortable we are with aging, most of us don't want to look too comfortable with it. Regardless of your feelings on aesthetics, you probably wouldn't mind if your heart, brain, and waistline stayed in the shape they were in your 20s. These lifestyle changes are quick, easy, and scientifically proven to roll back the years. Take a peek and then be sure to avoid these 20 Foods That Age You 20 Years, too!
Eat a Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes help lock in moisture, give your skin a healthy glow, and protect it from damage, thanks to their abundance of vitamin A. In fact, dry skin is often a sign that your diet needs more vitamin A, which is why it's often used in skin products (you'll usually see it marked as retinol).
Put Fat on Your Face
The vitamin E and good fats of olive oil help moisturize skin, which is why the oil is a popular skincare ingredient. Luckily, using the fat in your cooking will let you reap the same benefits. "Carrots are loaded with vitamin C, which is a precursor to collagen production," explains Brooke Alpert, registered dietitian and founder of B Nutritious. Collagen is essential for skin elasticity. "In addition, the vitamin A found in carrots attacks free radicals and can prevent wrinkles and uneven skin tone," says Alpert. Vitamin A also stimulates fibroblasts, the cells responsible for developing the tissue that keeps skin firm and healthy.
Take A Deep Breath
Research in the journal Thorax (yeah, we read them all) shows that chronic hostility can reduce lung function and speed the natural decline in lung power that normally occurs with age. These findings are from a study of 670 men whose anger levels and lung function were monitored over 8 years. Researchers say anger can alter neuroendocrine processes, which can trigger chronic inflammation and damage the lungs.
Burn Off That T-Bone
Instead of the garlic mashed potatoes, opt for a side of exercise with your steak. Exercising after consuming a high-fat meal reverses the damage fatty foods cause to the arteries, according to a study in the European Journal of Applied Physiology. After eating a high-fat meal, a healthy person's arteries resembled those of someone with heart disease. However, exercising within two hours of a high-fat meal returns the arteries to normal.
Sleep Off The Fat
The number of hours you sleep each night may affect the inches of your waistline. In a study of 990 adults published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers noted a direct relationship between higher body mass index (BMI) and lesser amounts of sleep reported by the participants. The analysis determined that a one hour decrease in sleep was associated with a three-pound increase. Speaking of evening habits, uncover these 25 Late Night Habits That Prevent Weight Loss.
Dry Brush Your Teeth
Studies show that brushing your teeth with a dry toothbrush before brushing with toothpaste and water can cut tartar by 60 percent. Use a soft or medium toothbrush for the dry brushing.
Eat an Avocado
There's a reason we can't stop singing the praises of avocado (even if you're sick of seeing it on your Instagram feed). The blend of healthy fats, proteins, and vitamins make it a powerhouse for your body inside and out. "The protein helps support the structures of collagen and elastin in your skin, while the fat keeps your skin moisturized," says Alpert.
Dip Your Face in Your Cereal
You'll often find oatmeal in products meant to soothe irritated skin or even help reduce inflamed skin caused by skin conditions like eczema. It's nourishing and the skin-settling properties come from its mix of flavonoids, phenols, and also a type of polyphenols called avenanthramides—all which act as natural anti-inflammatories. Oats are best used in masks when in a ground or flour form. Try combining with honey for an ultra-soothing mask. With these 50 Best Overnight Oats Recipes, you have so many reasons to stock up on oats!
Keep Sugar Out of Your Head
High blood sugar levels put you at risk not only for diabetes but also for Alzheimer's disease, say Swedish researchers. Type 2 diabetes has already been linked to dementia, but this study found that people with slightly higher than normal blood sugar had a 70 percent increased risk of Alzheimer's. Exercise and a low-carb diet can lower blood sugar levels.
Grin to Look Thin
A frown can make you look heavier and older. Recent research from the University of Missouri-Kansas City suggests that when you smile, people view you as younger and leaner than when you scowl.
Look 10 Years Younger in 1O Seconds
You could be 30 or you could be 80, but if your eyes look puffy, your face can look 10 years older than your biological age. The bags are due to excess fluid filling out the soft tissue around your eyes.
Quick Fix: Place two spoons in your freezer for a half hour. Then hold them against your closed eyes. The cold will constrict the blood vessels under the skin and reduce the puffiness. Ice-old cucumber slices will work, too. And now that you know these easy tips, keep the motivation going by finding out the 30 Foods You Should Never Eat After Age 30.
