A Natural Approach To Fight Aging

[Sarrazanna]

Thanks to xtramsn again!!!


Today, the quest to look younger for longer is in sixth gear. Millions are being spent on "miracle" anti-ageing beauty products, anti-ageing medicines and botox injections as people desperately attempt to fight ageing from the outside.

But the truth is that everyone will get old, wrinkles are inevitable and no one will live forever. However, it is possible to live a longer and healthier life and there are some tried and tested ways to reduce the negative effects associated with ageing.

The key to healthier ageing is to get the mind-body-spirit balance right. Think of ageing as a process, rather than an event. You don't suddenly get old one day, it starts right from birth. Age is more of a feeling than a number.

Older people need to work especially hard to maintain their physical health, keep their minds active, set and reach their goals and to nurture their spirituality. These are also all things that everyone should do throughout their lives, regardless of age.

Things You Can Do:

1. Exercise
Exercise has been touted as the single most important thing you can do to age gracefully and doing some sort of exercise will help you maintain your functionality as you age. The many benefits of exercise include: weight control, improved circulation, increased muscle mass, flexibility, improved posture, greater endurance and better balance.

You should be getting a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week. These 30 minutes can be split up into three 10-minute sessions throughout the day. If you have any chronic health problems, consult your doctor to find out what type of exercise will suit you. Older people should have a medical check-up first.

Regular physical activities cut your risk of heart attacks, stroke, high blood pressure, depression, osteoarthritis, falls and broken bones, hip fractures, diabetes and some types of cancer.

When it comes to alternative exercise, yoga and tai chi are gentle practices that improve flexibility and strengthen muscles. Regular yoga practice has been found to reduce aches and pains in the elderly. It also refreshes your body, gives you strength and calms your mind and soul.

2. Diet
Start eating a healthy diet rich in raw fruit and vegetables now if you want to age healthily and gracefully. Well-nourished people with healthy body weights have been found to age more slowly and have less ailments. A bad diet coupled with a lack of exercise leads to an accumulation of fat around the abdomen. This type of unhealthy weight-gain increases one's risk of diabetes and arterial disease. These diseases can reduce your quality of life and can lower your life expectancy.

With age, your digestive system becomes less efficient, so you need to change your diet to cut down on refined, fatty foods and include more foods that are rich in antioxidant nutrients (such as beta-carotene, selenium, zinc and vitamins C and E). You must also try and eat more natural foods with plant pigements (known as flavonoids).

A glass of wine a day will stimulate your appetite and can also reduce your risk of heart disease.

3. Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy has a lot to offer in the way of skincare for older people. In fact, essential oils are some of the most active ingredients in many beauty products. There are also certain carrier oils (non-volatile substances that essential oils are mixed with) that can go a long way in improving skin condition.

Remember that essential oils must only be used externally. To learn more about these powerful oils go to our section on aromatherapy.

Camomile: Soothes and protects the skin against the free radicals that cause ageing. This essential oil can be used in the bath, as a massage oil or in hair and skincare products.
Frankincense: This essential oil has skin balancing and rejuvenating properties and is therefore used for acne and ageing skin. It also tones lined, slack skin and is often used in skincare preparations. You can also use it in the bath, as a massage oil or as a vapouriser

Carrier oils:

Apricot kernel: Suitable for all skin types. A light oil that is easily absorbed, it contains lots of vitamin A, which helps in collagen production.
Grapeseed: Suitable for oily and combination skins. A light oil, packed with protein and antioxidants to help in the fight against ageing.
Macadamia Nut: Suitable for dry skin. This oil is rich in skin vitamins A, E and F and helps regenerate ageing skin.
Wheatgerm: Suitable for all skin types. With vitamin E and proteins to balance skin and revitalise prematurely aged skin.

Smooth an antioxidant oil or cream onto your skin every day. Vitamin E oil, cream or capsules are believed by some experts, to help slow down the ageing process.


5. Get some sunshine in your life
Expose your skin to sunlight (except between 10am and 3pm) to get your daily dose of vitamin D, the strong bones vitamin. Take all the necessary sun protection measures and to prevent dryness and wrinkles, apply a moisturiser with an SPF of at least 15 every day.

Remember that the sun converts cholesterol into vitamin D. The sun has many benefits for older people, in fact, almost all cases of atherosclerosis can be alleviated with moderate, regular exposure to the sun. The sun also facilitates the absorption of calcium by the body and by so doing, increases bone density.

6. Massage:
Regular massages will improve your circulation and relax your muscles. Massage is also used in the treatment of indigestion, arthritis and the other aches and pains associated with ageing. Read more about massage.

Try the following aromatherapy massage oils:

For relaxation: Blend two teaspoons of the following essential oils with an unfragranced lotion, sunflower oil or almond carrier oil: two drops of geranium, two drops of lavender, two of sandalwood and one of ylang ylang.

For revitalisation: Blend two teaspoons of the following essential oils with an unfragranced lotion, sunflower oil or almond carrier oil: two drops of clary sage, two drops of juniper and two of lemongrass. (Do not use this massage oil during pregnancy.)

7. Mind over matter
An ancient Japanese proverb once said that "We begin ageing when we stop learning". Just as exercise keeps your body strong, mental activity will also keep your mind sharp and agile.

By keeping an active mind, your outlook on life will be more positive and this in turn will have a positive effect on your health. Regardless of age, an active brain continues to produce new dendrites. Dendrites are the connections between nerve cells that allow communication between these cells. This in turn helps you to store and retrieve information more easily.

Here are some ways to expand your mind:

Read, do crossword puzzles, play chess or bridge, learn a foreign language, change careers, do a computer course, teach others what your skills, join a book club, have stimulating discussions and debates with others, do a course through a correspondence university or college, go to the theatre or develop your own artistic talents.