Healthy ageing

How to cheat fate

Some things in life are inevitable and other things, like looking old, just need a little bit of trickery to avoid, says Sarah Ivory.

Some things in life are inevitable and other things, like looking old, just need a little bit of trickery to avoid, says Sarah Ivory.
What is the secret of eternal youth? Eventually, we all search for it and, while some of us tap into it and remain wrinkle-free well into old age, many of us will be left in the dark researching cosmetic surgery on the internet. But, before you do something drastic, remember that looking old is not unavoidable, it s a choice. Granted, everything in the universe ages, but to think of age as inevitable is to deny that the human body has the amazing ability to renew itself: flesh heals, skin re-grows and bones repair. In fact, research has found that our genes only determine a mere 30 per cent of ageing; the remaining 70 per cent is down to our lifestyle. So, with that in mind, here s how to beat destiny at the ageing game…

Destiny deals:

Saggy jowls

You play:

Fruit and veg

The score:

To quote a well-known saying, you are what you eat, and eating the right foods will help to keep skin elasticity at bay. Many of the visible signs of ageing, such as wrinkles and sagging jaw lines, are caused by freeradical damage, which radical-fighting antioxidants can combat. Increase the levels of protective antioxidants through a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, supplementation and direct topical application. Eat dark-coloured veg like tomatoes, carrots, squash and spinach for antioxidative carotenoids and blue or purple berries for flavonoids.

Destiny deals:

The middle-age spread

You play:

The weighty matter

The score:

As we age, we naturally lose muscle. If you don’t challenge your muscles, they will deteriorate at the rate of about a pound a year from the age of 20. The fat around the tummy region, the middle age spread , isnot caused by getting older, but by not exercising your muscles enough. The answer? Strength train to increase muscle mass. Aerobic activity will help but, to gain significant strength, you have to use weights.

Destiny deals:

The orange peel

You play:

The brusher-upper

The score:

The rippled skin effect, otherwise known as cellulite, is up there with a girl’s worst fiend. Attacking the hips, thighs and buttocks in women, the dimpled matter is also common on men around the waist and back of the hips. Experts swear by dry body brushing to give your lymphatic drainage system a boost, which removes toxins and, in turn, reduces cellulite. It goes without saying that exercise and a good diet will also help.

Destiny deals:

Weak bones

You play:

The staircase

The score:

Bone loss occurs naturally in everyone as we grow older, however, like other living tissues, exercise can help. To gain strength, bones need to be exercised and doing any sort of weight bearing exercise will help. This can be jogging, dancing, aerobics, squash, netball, skipping or, simply, always taking the stairs. Our bones grow in length and increase in strength until our mid to late 20s, which is why it is important to do as much as possible when you’re young.

Destiny deals:

Libido snatcher

You play:

Sleeping beauty

The score:

Loss of libido, energy and stamina are common age-related complaints and ‘classic’ symptoms of declining hormone levels. The human growth hormone (HGH) is one of such hormones and is secreted by the pituitary gland when we are in a deep sleep. Known to play a role in many aspects of the ageing process, HGH levels drop over time and, by age 60, about 30 per cent of men and women produce little or no HGH. More sleep is therefore necessary to produce more of the hormone. Try to go to bed at the same time every night so that the body can adjust to a routine and synchronise its internal clock.

Destiny deals:

Memory loss

You play:

The eternal student

The score:

If you struggle to remember what you did the day before yesterday experts recommend that you give your brain a boost by continuing to learn. Like all muscles, memory comes on a ‘use it or lose’ it basis, but learning a game, doing a course or cooking a new dish will help it to stick around. Recent research found that stretching the brain with regular crossword and Sudoku puzzles can make it appear up to 14 years younger!

‘New research has found that a daily pint of blueberry juice could help reduce memory loss while heavy alcohol use has been found to create cognitive problems in the elderly’

Destiny deals:

Tired eyes

You play:

Clockwork training

The score:

Our eyes are active 24/7, so it’s no wonder that they get weary as we age. The most common problems that people experience with vision as the years roll by include blurriness; cataract and macular degeneration; retinal complications; short vision and glaucoma. Luckily, while you can’t completely restore eyesight, you can maintain your best eyesight level during the day and keep the muscles strong by doing exercises. Several times a day, try rolling your eyes clockwise, then anticlockwise, five times, blinking in between each exercise.

‘Flavouring food with saffron could keep your vision sharp, say scientists’

Destiny deals:

Thinning tresses

You play:

The scalp stimulator

The score:

As we age, so does our hair. The volume of it can decrease, as can the strength, thickness and longevity of each follicle. Often a lack of blood flow to the follicle can stifle hair production, which suppresses its productivity and thin hair results. Luckily, a scalp massage can increase blood circulation, condition the scalp and boost the strength of hair roots. This means that the cells of hair follicles will receive more of the nutrients that are necessary for hair growth and maintenance. What’s more, the relaxing treat will lower stress levels, which will in turn help to prevent premature ageing.

Destiny deals:

A hunchback

You play:

The stretcher

The score:

Poor posture and a loss of flexibility can cause us to stoop and lose height as we get older, but daily stretching can reduce the likelihood of hunching over. A simple exercise that will strengthen the right back muscles for a straight posture is to lie on your stomach and lift your head and shoulders for several seconds. For overall muscle and balance control, many studies point towards doing yoga or t’ai chi sessions. If you are not healthy or have osteoporosis, it’s best to consult your doctor before trying any of these.

According to a study in the journal Neuron, increasing your magnesium intake may enhance cognitive abilities. This supports the theory that low levels of magnesium negatively affects brain power, leading to faster deterioration of memory.

The age-old survival guide

Commit crimes against your body and your body will punish you for it, so here are the basics to live your life by…

1. Keep a healthy weight: Not only is it important to steer clear of excess weight to keep your heart healthy, but maintaining it will avoid the fine lines that come with the stretching and tightening of skin that occurs when weight fluctuates.

2. Don’t smoke: Cut back or cut out smoking all together. Nicotine narrows blood vessels, preventing blood from circulating to the upper layer of skin. This destroys collagen and has been found to leave more, and deeper set, wrinkles.

3. Never drink excessively: Research has found a clear link between excessive consumption of alcohol and premature ageing. Alcohol dehydrates the skin and can lead to a flushed appearance and broken blood vessels on the skin’s surface. Drink in moderation.

4. Protect yourself from the sun: It may not hit you in your youth, but any damage done to your skin by the sun now will reappear later in life as brown spots and patches. The trick? Be vigilant with your sun care today.