Scientists now believe up to 40% of how we age is within our power to slow down. So what can we do to combat the aging process? Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O. is an NYC Osteopathic Physician board certified in family medicine and anti-aging medicine and the author of Heavy Metals and Chronic Disease, Reverse Diabetes Forever! Seven Steps to Healthy Blood Sugar, and Top Ten Supplements You Can’t Live Without and here are 10 of his suggestions:
Avoid Sugar – “Too much sugar in your diet will lead to an age accelerating process in your body known as glycation and glycation does damage to the collagen in your skin making you lose skin elasticity causing wrinkles to appear,” affirms Dr. Calapai. We consume more sugar than ever before in history and many doctors believe it is a major factor in our aging and our chronic illnesses. Sugar is in most chemically processed foods so make sure you read the label when grocery shopping.
Express Yourself – “Facial muscles are just like body muscles,” says Dr. Calapai. “The more you use them, the stronger they get and the less likely they are to sag and atrophy.” Try this quick cheek workout to help build up sagging facial muscles: look in a mirror, smile as broadly as possible while keeping your lips closed and mouth corners turned up. Try to make your mouth corners touch your ears. Next, wrinkle your nose and see your cheek muscles move upwards. Stay like this for a count of five, then relax. Repeat 10 times.
Have More Hanky Panky – Having sex at least 3 times per week can make you look up to 10 years younger and according to Dr. Dr. Calapai. Having more sex is the next best thing you can do after exercise to look younger because it also helps you to naturally release more growth hormones and it’s been proven that having more sex can help you live longer.
Exercise – You may think you carry your age in your face, but people “guess” your age by how you move. The youthful figure is thin, muscular, flexible, and strong. Your exercise program should include lots of cardio, training with free weights, and some flexibility exercises.
Stop Smoking – People still do that? Apparently, yes. “Cigarettes contain some 40,000 toxins, each deposited directly into the DNA of skin cells each time you take a drag,” says Dr. Calapai. “Numerous studies in identical twins have found that smokers look ten years older than non-smokers. That evidence is profound in lines around the eyes.”
Exfoliate – “Ultimately exfoliation increases dermal volume, making skin look less wrinkly.” It will also help brown spots. You can use a physical exfoliant, like a scrub, or a chemical exfoliant, such as a glycolic,” says Dr. Calapai.
Pin It Up – Hollywood is allegedly hooked on the face-saving, radiance-boosting power of cosmetic acupuncture. According to experts, it stimulates skin cells to lay down new collagen fibers under wrinkles, ‘filling them in’ literally while also toning different muscles to restore glow. The added bonus is that most cosmetic acupuncturists treat underlying problems that could be causing your skin to look older, such as insomnia and bad digestion.
Start Intermittent Fasting – The main reason intermittent fasting makes you look younger is it naturally increases your human growth hormone which amps up the production of collagen for younger looking skin. Dr. Calapai explains that, “Intermittent fasting induces autophagy where the cells in your body repair themselves to make a newer much healthier cell to prevent aging.”
Improve Your Posture – One of the biggest giveaways for looking old is a curved back, slumpy sitting, and shoulders that ride up too high with respect to your neck. Dr. Calapai recommends, “Fix your posture by thinking of the top of your head as a flat surface and then try to get that flat surface as tall as you can.” Consciously push down your shoulders. Do this as you walk and sit. Take a “posture check” as often as you think about it during the day. Correcting your posture will make you look more youthful.
Eat More Fish – Dr. Calapai says that, “None of us consume enough essential fatty acids, which as well as helping our brains to function more smoothly are considered vital to keep skin-cell-membranes in good health and therefore stop the skin from getting too dry.” These fatty acids are naturally found in most fish, especially wild caught salmon.