There are five things that everyone can do today that will slow down the aging process. They are relatively quick and quite easy. As mothers and keepers of the home these are the five things that you should start doing today to keep premature aging away. After all, we may be the ones raising and caring our family but we want to look good too!
1) Wear your Sunglasses
2) Take Care of Your Smile
3) Know your Number
4) Take your Vitamins
5) Challenge Yourself
Wear your Sunglasses
All that squinting from the sun’s rays will cause premature wrinkles to appear around the delicate eye area. Do yourself and your eyes a favor and take your sunglasses with you as you head out the door. If you are still considering going out and “running” your errands sans sunglasses, think about this: There is an increased risk of cataracts and macular degeneration due to sun damage that can occur.
Don’t forget to wear your sunglasses in the winter months too!
Take Care of Your Smile
One of the easiest things that you can do for yourself is to take care of your smile. That means seeing the dentist at least twice a year for your dental check-ups, brushing your teeth at least twice a day (in the morning and before you go to bed), and flossing regularly.
Did you know that dental decay can lead to cardiovascular disease?
In addition, use a whitening toothpaste daily to nix coffee, tea and other superficial food stains from those pearly whites. Teeth whitening kits which are sold over the counter are a great way to keep stains at bay. For deeper stains you may need a professional whitening session from a dental professional.
Remember, our teeth naturally yellow as we age. Minimize this change by taking care of that smile and look years younger in the process.
Limit the staining effects of your morning cup of java or tea by rinsing your mouth or brushing your teeth after you drink.
Know Your Number
If you don’t know where you are, how can you know where you are going? Check your weight at least twice a month (monitor more closely if you are currently working on a weight loss goal). Extra pounds can have a way of causing people to age more quickly. Excess weight gain can cause a once vivacious person to become sluggish and lack energy. This by itself has a way of creeping into other parts of your life: self esteem, sexual health and mental health are all negatively affected. Not to mention the myriad of diseases and other conditions that can result from carrying an unhealthy weight.
But, how will you know that your weight is creeping in that direction if you don’t check it? Certainly your clothes will fit more snugly and maybe your “nosey” neighbor will let you know. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to know your weight and take charge. Ignoring the numbers on the scale will only amplify the problem. Remember, naturally our metabolism will slow down as we age. So be vigilant about checking and knowing your numbers.
Take Your Vitamins
Of course you should take your vitamins daily. It is like an insurance policy for your home. Would you skip that? But, that is not what I referring to though. I am talking about the vitamins for your face. Your face is the first thing that people see when they see you. Well, if they are looking at you from the front at least. Besides, cleansing, moisturizing and protecting your skin (with SPF), “hot mamas” should at least be using a retinol cream at night. Retinol creams contain vitamin A and help keep wrinkles at bay. A stronger option is a prescription Retin-A cream.
Both can cause irritation especially in the sun, so be sure to wear your cream at night and consult your doctor if you have any other concerns.
Challenge Yourself
Continuously challenging yourself is good for your brain and is the best anti-aging tip that I can offer. Research shows that continuous learning is a great defense against Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia. Besides, as a parent I want to be able to go “toe to toe” with my kids. I want to be able be able to not feel intimidated when new technology comes my way. Doing so will keep you independent, keep things interesting, and keep you young!
