What if there was a new magic potion to get flawless skin like Miranda Kerr or that perfectly toned body like Hugh Jackman? The waiting list would be so long that you’d have a better chance of squeezing through a needle hole. And it’s no wonder – the anti-ageing market is serious business.
Our society is bombarded with a myriad of fad diets, magic pills and powders to lose weight and look and feel 20 years younger. So how do we deal with all the conflicting clinical research surrounding anti-ageing products? How do we classify the facts from the fads, without spending masses of our time and hard-earned money on something that may or may not work?
As brilliant as the human body is, it’s also a finely tuned machine and if we don’t treat it accordingly, we’re in for a rough journey.
Anti-ageing, or life extension, should not be all about living until we don’t want to remember our birth date. Rather, it’s about living a quality life with happiness and meaningful connections with those around us. To be in an optimal mental and physical condition is directly influenced by how we treat our bodies. Let’s take a step back and focus on the basics of what we know is good for us.
Exercise
Humans were made for exercise. Just look at what the hunters and gatherers did – they walked 11 to 23km a day in search of food and firewood. When was the last time you walked 11km a day? Research proves time and time again that being physically fit reduces stress levels and risk of fractures and falls (especially as we age), and reduces the risk of diabetes, coronary heart disease and various cancers – not to mention keep our waist lines within an acceptable range. It is essential to do a combination of aerobic and weight-bearing exercises to keep those bones strong, your heart healthy and looking trim.
Anti-ageing foods
These foods are high in antioxidants as they protect the body’s cells from free radicals (the main cause of ageing). You’ve seen paints, buildings and artwork peel over time. The main cause is due to free radical damage and other oxidative stress, and humans are no different. We produce more free radicals than necessary (and hence age quicker) when we consume fatty and sugar-laden foods. So it’s simple, eat foods that are high in antioxidants such as berries, spices, legumes and nuts.
As brilliant as the human body is, it’s also a finely tuned machine and if we don’t treat it accordingly, we’re in for a rough journey. Every full cream bun, every puff of smoke, every beer is one step closer to developing a heart condition, dry hair, skin and nails, a sluggish metabolism and packing on weight where we don’t need. So the next time you search for youth in a magic pill or beauty cream, remember that true happiness and ‘beauty’ comes from a healthy and active lifestyle!
