Previously by Margaret Durst: Digestion – You Are What You Eat…
Youth is wasted on the young. Adults are the ones who need “youth” and search for things to make them feel and look young again.
You probably already know that there is no magical fountain of youth that comes in a pill form. There are some things that are more important than just pills and crèmes to help people feel and look good.
One the first is to look at your diet. Are you eating junk food, highly processed food, and foods made with white sugar and white flour? If so, switch to something more natural.
Also, chose low glycemic index foods. The most prevalent health problem in America today is faulty glucose metabolism and you do not have to be diabetic to have it.
High blood sugar and insulin resistance cause significant damage to the cells in the body and impair the ability of certain organs and glands to function properly. Symptoms of problems with glucose metabolism include belly fat, heart disease, high blood levels of triglycerides, atherosclerosis, cataracts and neuropathy.
Another dietary problem that causes aches and pains of aging is food sensitivities. Many of the foods we eat frequently cause inflammation in the body which over time is linked to many disease conditions. The most common food allergens include white flour, white sugar, white potatoes, orange juice, coffee and soy. If you consume any of these frequently, take a food vacation and see if you don’t feel better (after you get through symptoms of withdrawal.)
Another tip for feeling and looking younger is to clean the body on regular intervals. Think of what would happen if you never dusted your house, then think of never cleaning your internal organs and glands. Yuck. There are many good cleansing products on the market. I recommend cleaning twice a year, but once a year is better than not at all.
If you want to look and feel younger, exercise regularly. Exercise of all types and intensities helps maintain healthy weight and reduces risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. Exercise also promotes higher energy levels, sounder sleep, and a brighter, more positive mood.
Another well researched aspect of an anti-aging regime is calorie restriction. It works by decreasing harmful free radicals and a specific enzyme associated with the aging process. There is one substance that does seem to be able to mimic the effect of calorie restriction. That is resveratrol, a chemical component of red wine that functions as an antioxidant.
Finally, there are anti-aging supplements that help reduce inflammation which is linked to tissue damage and disease. These work well with the lifestyle changes I have already mentioned.
Anti-inflammatory supplements include omega 3 oils, vitamin C, coenzyme Q-10, alpha lipoic acid, pycnogenol, resveratrol, grapeseed extract and special anti-inflammatory formulations containing turmeric such as New Chapter’s Zyflamend. One of my favorites is a multi vitamin called Vasculosirt. It contains great quality vitamins and minerals along with high levels of several of the antioxidants I mentioned above.
Also, green supplements work really well in terms of reducing inflammation and increasing antioxidants. You can eat a lot of greens too.
Try changing some of your habits that are slowing you down and see if you don’t feel younger.
Margaret Durst owns The Green House, a vitamin, herb and health food store in Mason, Texas.
