Believe it or not your 20’s is the best time of all to start thinking about anti-ageing lifestyle tips.
You may not think your 20s is the time to think about ageing, but here are some simple hacks, insider tips and habits you can adopt now to help prevent and slow down the effects of ageing over the next two decades.
And the great news these anti-ageing tips they wont cost much now but will potentially save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in the future.
Posture – One of the easiest ways to look older without really trying is to walk with you shoulders hunched. Getting into the habit of good posture takes some commitment at first. Try putting an orange post it not on the door ways at home or work and every time you see it use it as a reminder to put your shoulders back, and hold your head high. Eventually it will come naturally.
Your hands– Wear sunscreen on the back of your hands all summer long. Hands age faster than many other parts of the body as they see a lot more sun ( just think of how much time they spend on the steering wheel of the car for example with the sun beaming down). And lines and brown spots on the hands they are very hard if not impossible to fix when you are older.
Sleep On Your Back – Speak to any plastic surgeon once you are 30 and they can tell from looking at your face without makeup which side of your body you sleep on, as skin sags more on that side. Sleeping on your back takes practise, but it can be done and really does keep skin supple, soft and line-free.
Cut Back on Sugar – Sugar is super-ageing and can cause dark circles, wrinkles and dehydrate your skin. And the problem is sugar is in just about everything we eat including bread, pasta, fruit and many vegetables. And sugar is loaded into most drinks too. Educate yourself about the levels of sugar in different food and reduce it every chance you get.
Reduce the stress -and find stress relieving tactics that work for you. Whether it is meditation, running, swimming, reading or anything else, having anti-ageing activities to turn to for quiet time and to relieve your stress is super important, and these habits last a life time. Look at any older persons’ face and their stress lines say a lot – and are very ageing.
Avoid injectables – Having any type of injectable or work done in your 20’s is largely super ageing and can make you look like you are in your 40s way, way too soon. It is unnecessary and just not worth it. No-one looks good with puffy lips. Don’t drink the cool aid and don’t kid yourself.
Fill Up On Water – Sounds obvious, but drinking enough water takes commitment and a conscious decision. Creating habits like two glasses of water in the morning before you get up and last thing before bed create good habits, as does working with a jug of water and a glass next to your laptop.
Reduce the salt – salt can be ageing as it dehydrates the cells, plus it can cause water retention leaving you feeling heavy and looking bloated. Your eyes can get puffy just from eating too much salt. There is nothing youthful about any of the above.
Vitamin D – This is a balancing act. Some Vitamin D is important for anti-ageing,but too much causes skin to tan or worse still burn, both of which are aging long term. In truth, for younger skin, forget the beach or the pool and sit under an umbrella with a hat and sunscreen, especially if you have to be by the water in summer in Australia.
Think before smoking or vaping – Another sure fire way to fast track wrinkles, dull skin and illnesses, all of which can be ageing is to smoke or vape and put toxins straight into your system. These can destroy the healthy cells in your body and bring on ageing faster than a donut at a Weight Watchers meeting, plus they can increase your risk of high blood pressure or stroke.
Fitness – Find some sort of fitness you enjoy, even if it is walking. There are so many fitness benefits. Do your research and find the ones that work for you and your body type. The single most anti-aging fitness activity is weights as weights workouts support the hormones, joints, posture, and overall body health, as well as help to prevent diabetes and many more.
Keep exfoliation to a minimum – It can be hard to keep track of what you really should or shouldn’t be doing for your skin, but too much harsh scrubbing strips of natural layers and can be very damaging down the track. Research your skin type and take advice from a dermatologist now for better skin later.
Retinoids – These are the platinum product of the skincare world. They encourage cell turnover, stimulate collagen, help treat ace, soften wrinkles, reduce pigmentation and after a few months regard use give the skin an overall glow. They come in a skin or a gel, just get it onto your skin regularly, from like, RFN.
Chest Care – Your décolletage or chest is another area of the body sun exposure can destroy long term, and you have to be conscious of taking care of it. Once it is gone, you can’t repair skin on the chest.
Extra freckles and hard skin can start appearing in your 30s if you are not keeping it covered during summer in your 20s, especially in Australia. By the time you are in your 40s it can look a used chip packet left under the Bondi sun for 5 summers straight, so pow necklines will bout, for life.
Eat anti-oxidants – Sounds boring but this is another habit to get into now that will pay huge dividends later. Oily fish like salmon, and red capsicum, avocados are a start and B12 is the big winner for anti-ageing in your 20s. Beef, fish, eggs, low fat yoghurt and cheese all contain B12.
Eat fermented food – The Koreans and some other Asian cultures swear by the anti-oxidant benefits of fermented food for healing the gut and therefore having a positive effect on the body. They contain probiotics, a super food. Think fermented cabbage so kimchi, sauerkraut and tempeh. They can calm skin and even brighten it from within.
Own a Dog – Pets, especially dogs can keep your stress levels down, and your oxytocin up. They also reduce loneliness and can keep you young. A long term, anti-ageing elixir.
Have plenty of alcohol free days – Alcohol is anti-ageing and dehydrates the organs in the body and that in turn dehydrates the skin and causes premature ageing. Wine – both red and white have high acid levels and can stain teeth, which is also aging.
Having carbon tablets whilst drinking is a great idea as they can absorb some of the toxins, and having a glass of water next to your wine glass is another way to reduce your consumption during a special occasion. The number of fabulous alcohol free drinks around these days also helps.
Reduce the caffeine– This is a controversial one, as studies come out seemingly weekly with different results, some saying it is good for ageing, others saying its the worst, but the basic facts are that caffeine dehydrates your body and therefore the skin. Have one a day if it makes you happy, but not more than that.
Good Fat, Bad Fat – Not all fats are created equal, and knowing which ones are good (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) will help keep your body function well and your skin soft and supple. Think nuts, seeds and fish.
