If you’re here on my Say No To Stroke! site you know my primary goal is to show you what you can do to reduce your risk of stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. But it’s really more than that. It’s about “anti-aging”. Well, that’s not quite right. I know “anti-aging” is a thing right now, but in reality it doesn’t exist. You’re aging, people! Get over it!! But age with grace. Do it with intention. Get a handle on the things you can control. Don’t let changes just happen to you.
Instead of a blog post about what you should do, here’s what NOT to do…
These are habits that accelerate aging. You can’t really stop your aging or turn it backwards, but you can sure speed it up if you do these things. Some you may be doing innocently, not realizing the effect they have over time. Others you probably know. Maybe you think you’re getting away with it. And, maybe for a while you are, but my advice — STOP doing them — right now! Now what are these awful habits?
SMOKING
This is a biggie. Smoking causes your skin to wrinkle and dry out because chemicals in the cigarette reduce blood circulation and oxygen levels. Wrinkles become especially prominent around the mouth and under the eyes. Over time it becomes harder to breathe due to changes in your lungs. That will reduce oxygen levels even more. The earlier a person starts smoking, the more of a negative impact it will have on their aging.
BEING STRESSED OUT
I know what you’re thinking. How in the world are you going to avoid stress? I know. It’s impossible, especially in this crazy world. (Not exactly the people I would pick to have their fingers on those red buttons.) But that stress will make you age faster. It’s bad for your brain and can even result in nerve cell death. It’s also bad for your spirit and mind. It stops you from thinking straight. In very severe cases it can cause hair, and/or teeth, to fall out. Even worse can happen. You have to find ways to deal with it. Meditation, prayer, yoga, exercise, therapy, etc.
EATING A POOR DIET
Let me just say that I love McDonald’s french fries. But, I cannot remember the last time I had any. Why? Because they’re not exactly part of a healthy diet. A poor diet will make you age very quickly. Even if it isn’t obvious on the outside, believe me, changes are occurring within your body. You are what you eat. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and you’ll age and look better than if your diet consists mainly of fast food burgers, fries and chicken with a little ketchup thrown in. And don’t forget that a healthy diet includes lots of water. The water alone will do wonders for your skin.
NOT EXERCISING
Not getting enough exercise will definitely cause you to age harshly. (And I know there are a few of you out there who aren’t exercising at all. I don’t care how old you are. You have got to start moving.) You’ve heard that our bodies are our temples, right? Treat them as such. You only have one, so take care of it. That goes double for your brain. How you treat your body and brain right now, today, will affect how you age, and your likelihood of remaining healthy and independent. The more you move, the better off your life and the aging process will be. You’ll have better flexibility and strength, and you’ll be happier.
And keep this in mind…it is not too late to STOP doing these things!
