My anti-aging Secret

I am 44 years old and frankly I don’t have a problem with it as long as I feel young! When you are trying to slow down the aging process, the beauty, pharmaceutical and medical industry have got plenty of rejuvenating solutions ready for you. Personally, I am saving tons of money because I believe that only one regimen really works and that is a healthy life style composed of exercising, eating clean, drinking lots of water and getting enough sleep.

I exercise six days a week for 75 minutes if I can; 45 minutes resistance training and 30 minutes cardio. I choose primarily multi-joint exercises targeting all major muscle groups (legs, abdomen, back, arms, shoulders and chest) and do 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions. After my workout, I have that “glow” that makes me feel young and happy. There is nothing like the fresh, crisp feeling you get in your cheeks after a run or a solid leg-day. Exercise tones your body, makes you stronger, more flexible, healthier and fitter. Sports also improves your endurance, your balance and increases your energy.

I have never been on a diet, but the number-one ingredient I try to avoid is processed sugar because it speeds up the aging process. As you age, caps on the end of your chromosomes called telomeres shrink. In the past several years, researchers at the University of California at San Francisco, have analyzed stored DNA from more than 5’300 healthy Americans in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from some 14 years ago. They discovered that those who consumed more sugar, tended to have shorter telomeres. The shorter the telomere, the harder it is for a cell to regenerate which can lead to premature wrinkles and sagging. That is why I eat lots of colourful fruits and vegetables every day. The antioxidants in leafy greens, deep red tomatoes, blueberries and carrots help stop molecules from damaging healthy cells.

I drink 2-3 litres of water every day. Only about 20% of the water you need is supplied by the foods you eat. Make sure you drink an additional 2,5 dl for every 20 minutes of exercise and don’t count alcohol or caffeinated drinks. Drinking lots of water, softens and moistures the skin from the inside and is way more effective than expensive creams. Don’t forget that water also is the vehicle for delivering essential nutrients to the skin cells and removing the toxins from the body.

The sun is our number one culprit – it breaks down collagen, causes free radical damage and inhibits the body’s natural ability to repair our DNA which can lead to cancer. I always apply a moisturiser with sunscreen which is the ultimate anti-aging drug. And I wear those wide framed sunglasses to block the harmful UV rays from attacking the sensitive skin around my eyes.

Last but not least, the key factor to maintaining a youthful appearance is sleep. When we get adequate sleep, we release a hormone that is actually a youth hormone called human growth hormone. With this hormone we build muscle mass, thicker skin, stronger bones and an overall more youthful body. If we lack sleep, we produce a hormone called cortisol. Even though it is an essential hormone in the body, in excess quantities it has a lot of negative side effects: it breaks down muscle tissue, decalcifies our bones and elevates our blood sugar. This is why we tend to crave carbohydrates on the days we do not get enough sleep.

I owe my looks to my healthy lifestyle and to my kids and boyfriend who always bring a smile to my face. And you know what? In the end of the day, people will see happiness and a positive attitude in your face, not laugh wrinkles.