One of the signs of aging is wrinkling. Another sign is arrival of those brown spots on the skin, what Grandma called "liver spots." Skin dries out, thins and becomes less elastic and resilient. While no one has discovered a miracle anti-aging cure yet or the fountain of youth, doctors and scientists have discovered some ways to delay the onset of some of the symptoms of aging.
Wrinkles are caused by the loss of collagen in the middle layer of skin called the dermis. This layer is made up of collagen and elastin fibers. These proteins are what support the skin and make it resilient.
Other components of this layer are capillaries, lymph nodes, hair follicles, nerve and muscle cells, seat glands and, most importantly for this discussion, sebaceous glands. These sebaceous glands produce an oily protective substance that that lubricates and waterproofs the skin and hair. As they get older, they produce less and less of this lubricant, the skin dries out and wrinkling occurs. Another symptom is the loss of collagen that causes the droopiness and tired-look that comes with old age.
Regular exercise nourishes all three layers of the skin. It improves circulation, providing the skin with oxygen, fresh blood and nutrients. This increased blood flow also draws toxins out of the body and improve the condition of every organ, not just the skin. The increased blood flow created by exercise helps promote the growth of collagen that, in turn, plumps up the facial skin eradicating wrinkles and adding vibrancy to the skin. Sweating, a byproduct of exercise, improves the health of the skin by flushing out toxins, which also adds to a youthful glow.
Exercise has been proven to relieve stress. Stress is tied in very closely to the aging process and wrinkles. Prolonged stress increases levels of free radicals, speeds up the breakdown of proteins, can suppress the immune system and generally accelerates the process of aging.
Of course, it is important to exercise properly and keep hydrated while doing it. Moisturizing inside and out makes good sense.
No smoking. Not only does smoking constrict the blood vessels in the dermis that reduces the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the skin. The facial expressions caused by smoking also accelerate wrinkling. Pursing the lips, squinting to keep smoke out of the eyes and the sucking in of the smoke all put repetitive stress on the muscles of the face.
1. Relax! Look in the mirror after a hard day, what do you see? I can guarantee that you see a more haggard reflection than you than you did that same morning. Everyday your brain releases stress hormones and over time these increase your blood pressure and weakens your immune system. So if you're blood pressure is at an already high level, then this is an absolute must for you. Treat yourself to a relaxing massage that increases blood flow, releases tension and smoothes away all of the day's troubles. If getting a massage is impossible, then a long hot soak in the tub, with bubbles, candles and some inspiring but relaxing music will do the trick.
2. Pull in that stomach. This is such a simple little exercise we can do anywhere, at anytime of day. Heres what you do: sit or stand and pull your stomach in so that you feel as though it is going to touch your spine and hold it there for as long as you can, but for at least 15 seconds. This will over time and if done often enough, will retrain your lower abdominal muscles to give you a much more toned look and will improve your posture dramatically. Aim to do this at least 6 times everyday initially and increasing up to 20 times as you feel your abs starting to firm up.
3. Prevent skin dryness. Our skin has a natural protective barrier called the acid mantle. It helps prevent dryness, wrinkles and sensitivity caused by water loss. It also helps protect against the free radicals in the air, dirt and pollution. So, drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to help keep your biggest body organ (your skin) hydrated and looking fantastic.
4. Lose weight. Being overweight by 10 pounds which is approximately a dress size, adds years to your looks. With the extra weight, the definition between your jaw line and neck is lost. The extra weight can make you look frumpy, old and at worse unfashionable! If you are calorie counting then make sure you are consuming about 2000 calories a day for optimum health. A lot of women are now looking at the 10 day diets. These can work but remember, depending on how much overweight you are now, the first 10lbs can be the easiest to lose but also the easiest to put back on again.
5. Mediterranean Diet. It is by no coincidence that if you know anyone that has a mediterranean blood line (Italian/Spanish), that their skin will be beautiful, soft and supple. You will find that they tend to eat a lot of Olives, Oil, Oily Fish, fruit and brightly coloured vegetables will boost your levels of antioxidants that help keep you healthier overall. So, when at the store next, replace some of the foods that you buy regularly with some of these.
There you go, just a few ideas to keep fit and healthy on almost no budget at all.
Both James Schramko & Marcia Bowman are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
James Schramko has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marketing, Affiliate Programs and Wrinkles. Get an unfair advantage with your looks by using the latest from lifecellhealth.. James Schramko's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
Marcia Bowman has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Health. This article was written by Marcia Bowman, she is a member of the dreambodynow team, a blog that is helping women improve their health, fitness, and weightloss. The blog is posted on everyday and includes real useful articles, healthy recipes and a great. Marcia Bowman's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.