Anti-aging is not just skin deep.
If Ponce de Leon were alive today, I would think he would be quite impressed with some of our anti-aging products! With scientific research and advanced technology supporting the booming health and beauty industry there are all kinds of effective products you can find in the market to help you look young and remain healthy.
While the fountain of youth remains elusive, there is still some good news. Apparently, all our efforts to live longer and healthier have resulted in increased life spans! Average longevity today for women is 79.9 and for men, 75. Anti-aging is not just skin deep. It's all about looking young, feeling vibrant and being able to live an active lifestyle well into our fifties, sixties and seventies without the usual aches and ill health associated with aging. Joint health is one aspect of health and beauty that most of us tend to neglect. We make sure we apply anti-aging creams, sunscreens to protect our skin from photo-aging, care for our hearts, and try our best to lose weight and exercise, and that's all good, but maintaining joint health is equally important.
No matter how young you look and feel, aching joints can hinder you from going places and doing things you want to do. Moreover, if joint health is neglected it is likely to get progressively worse. Sadly, with deteriorating joint health, we could easily become people who are "all dressed up with nowhere to go". We'll see how you can take care of your joints so that they give you maximum support to enjoy an active lifestyle well into your senior years.
First, let's look at some ways you can look younger, stay healthy longer and live an independent life for as long as possible!
Exercise. You have to exercise. Why? Because as we age, studies show that we become less active. According to an article in Age and Aging, one of the most powerful deterrents for not exercising, among the over-65 years category, was apathy and skepticism about whether exercise could actually make a difference in enhancing or lengthening their lives. To the contrary, studies show that exercise does help improve blood pressure, increase stamina, endurance and bone density, and has a beneficial impact on balance, gait and muscular power. A clinical trial showed that a 90-year old woman after 12 weeks of strength training exercises resulted in a 20-year reduction of thigh muscle age, improving her walking and mobility.
Physical exercise has beneficial impact on mental health as well. In 2006, the National Institute of Mental Health and Age Concern conducted a study which revealed that exercise was linked to lower levels of stress, depression and anxiety; and improved levels of cognitive functions, overall well-being, higher self esteem and a more active social life.It is a myth that people over 60 or older cannot enjoy vigorous physical activity. Yoshihisa Hosaka, at 60 years old, broke the 60+ marathon running record! David Shepherd holds the highest British record at the 2000m indoor rowing championship in the 85-89 years category! Keep stimulating the mind learning new skills helps to improve brain functions.
Contrary to what people believe, new brain cells can be produced, whatever your age may be. An experiment conducted by UCLA scientists comprising of people over 55 showed that surfing the Internet stimulated areas in the brain associated with visual ability, comprehension, memory and language. Clicking from one site to another stimulated parts of the brain that deal with decision-making and complex reasoning. The moral of the story? Keep surfing! The more you surf the greater mental benefits you will experience!
Socialize. The MacArthur Study of Successful Aging shows that people who have strong social relationships usually enjoy better health. It also helps to boost immune health. Interestingly, married people tend to live longer by about 4 year for women and 10 years for men, according to research from the University of Chicago.
Remember to Relax. In this high-tech, high stressed world, we need to learn to relax. Find a technique that suits you-music, massage, a good book. Relaxation can help to reduce blood pressure and stress-related conditions.
Keep an Optimistic Attitude. Mayo Clinic research shows that people who are optimistic live about 12 years longer than their pessimistic counterparts.
Keep a House Pet. Studies, at the Purdue University, show that people who have a pet usually live longer than people who don't. Having a pet at home triggers a relaxation response.
Be a Good Samaritan. The Buck Institute of Age Research in California reported that people who volunteer for social work have a 44 percent lower death rate than those who don't offer up any of their time for charitable activities. The researchers believe that engaging in charitable work could help to boost the immune system and was comparable to 4-times-a-week exercise regimen.
Quit Smoking. You noticed I didn't mention these points earlier: Stop smoking, eat a healthy diet, and maintain an optimal weight. We've all been well-nagged with these points but since we still tend to neglect the obvious, mention must be made! Smoking causes cumulative damage to your health, especially to the lungs. The longer you smoke the more likely you are to develop smoking-related health hazards. And as far as your weight is concerned, every pound of extra weight you carry works out to 3 times more pressure on your knees and other weight-bearing joints. Wear and tear of these joints is naturally inevitable in people who are overweight.
And this brings us back to how you can take care of your joints and delay their aging.
Joint Health Supplements. A scientifically-based joint supplement like GoFlex contains a broad spectrum of nutrients that efficiently support joint functions. It's a totally new approach to joint nourishment, protection and health.GoFlex comprises of natural ingredients like glucosamine sulfate, hyal joint, Interhealth collagen type II, green lipped mussels and MSM. In fact, hyal joint (also known as hyaluronic acid, hyaluronan, or HA) has been nicknamed "the fountain of youth" for its ability to support joint health as well as minimize age-related degeneration in the body. Herbs like boswellin and white willow bark help to alleviate joint discomfort and swelling.
GoFlex comes with a free Food and Drug Association-approved topical cream that can be applied directly on joints for fast-acting pain relief!The ingredients in joint supplements like GoFlex provide the nutritional building blocks necessary to support aging joints such as the knees, shoulders, hips, wrists, elbows, and back. Breakthrough in scientific research and technology has produced a physician-approved formula that offers maximum protection against aging joints.
