4 Steps to Aging Gracefully

Many dread growing older while for others, it is a phase in life they find comfortable. If you think the big 50 will be overwhelming and depressing, then think again. You can live comfortably and enjoy the best moments in life even as you age. After all, the older you get, the more experience and wisdom is acquired.

In the past centuries, life expectancy from birth didn’t exceed 50 years. Today, the number has increased to 80 years; and with healthy and active lifestyles, many people are living well into their 90’s and beyond. Did you know that centenarians (those living to 100) are the fastest growing age demographic, with approximately 75,000 Americans reaching that milestone each year.

Getting older doesn’t have to weigh you down. It shouldn’t deprive you of the good things life itself has to offer. In fact, it’s a thing of joy and calls for celebration. So what’s the secret to aging gracefully? Dr. Natalie Kather, a board certified Anti-Aging Physician, offers these tips:

1. Avoid Stressful Activities

One of the most significant ways to age with grace is to reduce stress. Stress can make you look older than your age. A furrowed brow may eventually become a wrinkle. Consuming alcohol, smoking cigarettes and engaging in other unhealthy vices to cope with stress might negatively affect your health and in most cases reduce your life span.

Stress and strain can cause several health issues such as insomnia, high blood pressure, weight gain and loss, among others. Thankfully, you can combat stress by living a healthy life. Stay hydrated at all times, work out, take stress relief supplements and maintain good dental hygiene. All these are great ways to fight stress. Your emotional outlook is also important. You need to stay healthy, not just physically but also emotionally. Remember the basics: Learn to forgive, to say sorry and practice daily gratitude.

2. Sleep Well

Get enough rest! Another great step to aging gracefully is sleep! If you stay up late at night, stop! Do you do more task than necessary, stop it and take some rest. Working tirelessly and not getting enough sleep leaves you feeling drained and exhausted. After each restless night, walk up to the mirror and you’ll see how dull and old your skin looks. So, make sure to get enough rest. On average, you need 7 hours every night. Your skin cells revitalize themselves when you sleep. Practice good sleep hygiene. Go to bed at a specific time and enjoy uninterrupted sleep for at least 6 hours. Stay away from your phone or any other devices before bedtime. You’ll wake up feeling re-energized and full of life.

3. Hydrate

Water is life. Staying hydrated helps keep your body system fully functional. Water gets rid of toxins in the body, enhances sleep, improves mental health, aids in digestion and helps in losing weight. Water helps keeps the skin healthy, glowing and moisturized, leaving you looking younger.

If you feel drinking too much water is much of a stress, consider supplementing with fruits and veggies. You can also mix water with lemon for a unique flavor. If you want to look younger and healthy even as you age, make water one of your best buddies.

On a final note, do something that you love - an activity that brings you joy and satisfaction. Take care of your body. You don’t need to feel despair as you clock 40 and above. Make it the most memorable phase of your life by first living a healthy life.

4. Supplement with DHEA

As you age, your body will actually make less of certain hormones. DHEA is involved with more than 150 repair functions, in different ways. It’s made by our adrenals and brain, with DHEA production peaking during the “prime” of life (age 18 to 30). But DHEA production declines quickly as we age – with the decline accelerating over decades of life. At age 70, most of us only produce 10 to 15% of what our bodies were making at age 25. Such low levels mean catastrophic health consequences that can differ for each person.

This is why Doctor Natalie’s husband, bestselling author and biochemist Stephen Cherniske, M.S., agrees that DHEA is the most important supplement to start with. His formulations of DHEA for men and DHEA for women also contain ingredients that help the body absorb and balance DHEA in ways that each gender needs. Other supplements can be helpful, but start with DHEA to support you best as you age.

Aging is inevitable, but these tips will help you through the decades ahead of you.