Everyone wants to look young. That’s why the age-defying industry is so huge. People spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars each year to make them appear younger. While the expensive creams and beauty procedures do their bit, the best investment lies in the adjustments we make in our lives and daily routines. Here are the 4 bad habits that age you faster than you think!
INDULGING TOO OFTEN
If you love dessert and other treats, such as pastries and candy bars, you may find yourself aging prematurely. Not only does sugar cause widespread inflammation in the body that can lead to disease, but it also directly affects the appearance.
Sugar molecules initiate a biochemical process which leaves you looking tired, puffy and wrinkled. Let’s not forget that consistently giving in to temptation can result in a loss of confidence and self-trust. Having a consistently healthy diet will help you achieve more of what you want, leading to a happier more youthful future.
SKIMPING ON SLEEP
Scientific studies have shown that sleeping less than seven hours per night on a regular basis can shorten your life. It will also make you look and feel a lot older than you are. For one, not getting enough sleep robs you of the mental and physical energy you need to get through a typical day to the point where it can make it a very difficult to thrive in your personal or professional life.
Second, failing to get enough sleep is hard on your body, including your vital organs like the brain and heart. The healing and detoxification processes that occur during sleep are imperative for a strong, resilient mind and body. For example, the sleep hormone known as the melatonin contributes to cellular repair which wards off cancer. Human growth hormone is also produced during sleep, which gives us good muscle tone and youthful vitality.
THE WAY YOU SLEEP
When you sleep your face smashed into a pillow can make you look years older. When you press your face into a pillow, it causes trauma to the skin. Over time, the collagen breaks down and this trauma aggravated by the friction of a cotton pillowcase can create permanent creases in your face.
The skin’s ability to regenerate by itself is also compromised by the impaired circulation to the part of the face pressed into the pillow. To fix this problem, try sleeping on your back. Or, use a silk pillowcase which will not only minimize the friction but silk also contains amino acids that are very similar to those found in your moisturizers. As such they don’t draw moisture from your face the way that some other pillowcases can.
CRASH DIETING
Who doesn’t want to lose 10 pounds before a long-awaited vacation? While quick fixes are tempting, crash dieting is never a good idea. It’s not a long-term solution. In fact, it may even be a long-term threat! Research shows that crash dieting can make you feel older because it reduces your energy levels, messes with your concentration and makes you depressed and irritable.
Crash dieting can also cause wrinkles and sagging because the skin doesn’t have time to adjust to the weight loss. Obviously, weight management is important for health. But don’t try to lose more than one or two pounds a week.
CONCLUSION
Picture yourself five, ten, twenty years from now. Will, you be vibrant, strong and aging gracefully? Or will you be looking older than what your age would suggest? The choice is in your hands. Since getting older is an extremely slow and gradual process that happens over time. It’s those little habits that you do every day that can determine how healthy and happy you will be down the road. It’s never too late for embracing a healthier lifestyle!
