Forever Young: How To Fight The Aging Process

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Forever Young: How To Fight The Aging Process

Forever young isn't just about adding years to your life or for seniors only. It's about helping you function at peak capacity throughout life, feeling great, and being able to do all the things that make life worth living. It's about being biologically or functionally young, regardless of your chronological age. You will find not only scientific theories about aging and how to apply for keeping young. But common sense tips and lifestyles of centenarians: Adopt the Life Style associated with Longevity--regular exercise, low fat diet, no smoking, moderate drinking, sleeping seven or eight hours-but not less than six or more than nine, using mental abilities, discipline, altruism, optimism, spiritual faith and above all love of life. The list continues to include active life-having a reason for living, an active sex life, controlling stress, good marriage and social life, proper use of lungs, intercostal muscles and diaphragm for specific deep Breathing Exercises to Slow Aging. Before you can prevent, slow or reverse them--Recognize Signs of Aging that may include: (1) Decreased lung function (2) Change in pupil size-indicated by reduced illumination or decreased ability to focus (3) Bone loss (4) Sleep variations (5) Physiological changes that are mostly familiar to us--wrinkled skin, loss of stature, poor blood circulation, decreased short-term memory and other sensory loss. The book recommends based on scientific findings: (1) Use antioxidants such as Vitamins E and C, and Selenium (2) Lower polyunsaturated (vegetable oils) fat in diet (3) Diet to slow autoimmune aging (4) Consume Nucleic Acids (DNA, RNA) to repair age-related damage. (5) Use of Melatonin (non-prescription hormone that body produces naturally but its production declines with age) is promising -- but we're not sure about long term effects. (6) Keep Young with Biochemicals that are SAFE and NATURAL such as certain vitamins, and enzymes--many of them are present in natural foods. This guide also gives some tests of biological or functional age. Do it for fun with your family and see how people of different ages score.

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Here are some Common Healthy Activities to Slow Aging

Researchers in the field of gerontology support the positive effect of the following life activities on our health and aging.

1. Since a high stress environment is dangerous to health and longevity, the practice of mental approaches to reduce stress are the cost effective and safe way to control stress, and have been proven effective for centuries.

2. An active life---having a reason for living---can prolong life. We know that people who are young have eager, inquisitive minds. They are curious, always seeking and evaluating answers. They are willing to try something new--a new approach to a job, a new kind of music, a new response to a recurring situation.

3. An active sex life, in general, is suggested to prolong youthful health. In healthy old men, the sex hormone testosterone has been observed at levels similar to those of younger men and sexual activity is related to hormonal level. Which comes first---the hormone level or active sex life---researchers have yet to determine. Observations on people over sixty have indicated that men and women do not lose their physical capacity for sexual performance in terms of erection and orgasm; and sex experts believe that sexual activity helps to preserve sexual functioning and youthful feelings.

4. Good marriage and social life can prolong life. For example, married couples live longer than single people with an otherwise similar social life. These effects may be due in part to reduced stress as compared to lonely people.

5. Mental exercises such as reading and crossword puzzles, and physical aerobic exercises for about 15 minutes, three times a week can go a long way towards preserving the body and mind. However, exertion can actually shorten lifespan. So the message is to do but don't overdo.
Note: Between 1930-1960 the medical profession regarded vigorous exercise as a form of stress that would wear out the body. We know now that in contrast to machines which wear out with use, human organs and tissues develop an adaptive increase in function with use that runs counter to the changes which occur in aging.

6. Seven guidelines, some of which are familiar to us, have been suggested by various health experts to prolong life. These include no smoking, moderate weight, moderate drinking, physical activity, eating breakfast, regular meals, and sleeping seven or eight hours--but not less than six or more than nine.

In the overall conclusion, safe habits to prolong life include proper nutrition, a diet rich in fiber, and low in animal fat, sugar and refined foods. Certain aging theories suggest a possible role of vitamin E and C and foods rich in nucleic acids as another nutritional aspect of long and healthy living. However, some of the ideas of the eastern world such as yogic breathing for vigor and vitality, postures to keep youthful body flexibility, and the effect of mind on our health and performance, are very important for healthy and youthful living. These ideas of the eastern world that are based on centuries of experience, are certainly safe and effective as compared to the modern aging theories which are still in the exploration stage.