When it comes down to it, the body is built to take a fair amount of abuse, but in the long-term, negligence and lack of responsible care will wear it down, just as the engine of a car can be worn down from neglect and poor maintenance.
Fortunately, there are some strategies you can adopt to delay aging, or at least the appearance of it, so you can be more fit and vital into your natural middle age and beyond.
Eat a Healthy Diet
This is probably the number one strategy for staying young. A healthy diet of a moderate caloric intake (2000 calories per day or less) will do more to keep your body in good shape than any other factor. Fresh fruits, vegetables, fish (for those who are not strictly vegetarian) and a lack of processed or junk foods will enable your body to rebuild itself and repair damage from stress, exercise and injuries. Not paying attention to one’s diet or eating a poor diet will definitely have negative consequences for your health in the long run.
Exercise for Improved Wellness
After eating right, exercise is key to keeping your body limber, fit and agile. But it’s important not to over-exercise, just as you also shouldn’t under-exercise. If you don’t know how much exercise you should be getting, consult with a physician or a personal trainer and ask them about what’s appropriate for your age, body type, height and weight. Many people who have office jobs are at rest for most of their day in a chair that can actually produce posture that is as bad for a body as smoking a pack of cigarettes. Adequate breaks and exercise each and every day are necessary to counteract this.
Make Sleep a Priority
An element of health that many people don’t pay enough attention to is deep, sound, sufficient sleep. Not enough sleep, interrupted sleep or poor quality sleep can all take a toll on your health. Your body needs adequate time to repair itself and rest the organs that have been working hard for most of the day. Your brain needs time to generate new cells and recuperate from functioning intensely. The right amount of good sleep is essential to excellent health.
Abstain from Drugs, Drinking and Smoking
Drugs, drinking and smoking are all known to have severe negative effects on one’s health. While one or two glasses of wine a day may actually have some moderate benefits for the body, drinking to excess and/or mixing drinks with drugs or other medications can be highly detrimental. Smoking also is one of the worst things you can do to your body; it has no redeeming value whatsoever. And of course, it should go without saying that drugs also have a terrible impact on your body.
If you pay close attention to the above four factors, you can certainly have an impact on the rate at which your body ages. Taking proper care of yourself isn’t just common sense for your health, it’s sound advice for your soul.
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