Ageing has been considered as the dark shadow of beauty which slowly devours it until nothing but ashes are left. Indeed, eternal youth was once a feature attributed to the ancient Greek gods, and was as sought after as immortality. Legends speak of a fountain of youth, a treasure, whose value far exceeds that of any gem. Ageing has been seen as a disease which plagues beauty and youth. Yet, no man or woman has been able to vanquish the effects of time on beauty.
However, science has been able to explain the causes of ageing and how to slow it down. It is speculated that one day scientists will be able to remove a gene from the human DNA responsible for ageing. But till that day, we will have to actively engage in slowing down the process of ageing through the only means we have i.e., a healthy lifestyle.
Ageing is not only a process in chronological sense, but it is also physiological and psychological, which has an effect over our entire mind, body and soul. As the human body ages, every fibre is affected, and while some changes are visible, like hair, nails and skin, others are less so. But their effects are far more detrimental. Old age causes our lungs to become less elastic, bones lose their density, metabolism slows down, while digestive system loses its ability to digest food and requires further assistance; nerves, muscles and reflexes slow down and all sensory human parts are deprived of the ability they once endowed.
This is coupled with a decreased capacity of kidney and liver to meet the demands of our body, and our muscles begin to lose elasticity, tone and strength. Overall, the body functions slow down. However, when people talk about ageing, they usually mean photogenic ageing, which reduces effects of ageing on skin, hair and nails. As we age, our skin loses elasticity, due to the free radical damage and our hair becomes thinner. Baldness is an important sign of ageing in men, and even some women suffer from it. Research has indicated that women’s skin and hair tend to age faster than men, while darker skin, with more melanin ages slower than lighter skin tone.
The process of ageing is intrinsically linked to our lifestyle, including the choices we make. While ageing is irreversible, steps can be taken to slow down its effects on the human body. Our generation has been blessed with the scientific research which taps into the causes of ageing, ways to reduce its effects and if these are incorporated into our lifestyle choices, ageing can be considerably slowed down, and freshness of youth can be extended.
The current scientific research places paramount emphasis on diet and nutrition to slow down the process of ageing. The age-old belief that salads and fish are healthy with important proteins, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants still hold considerable ground, while the new research is placing strong emphasis on fatty acids, including omega 3, 6 and 9.
Eating organic products is also healthier as they have less toxicity and synthetic chemicals than inorganic food. Keeping the body detoxified of inorganic and synthetic elements is also important in ensuring youthfulness. Red meat should be consumed in leaner portions to reduce cholesterol intake, and sugary products should be avoided at all cost. Smoking and alcohol should not be consumed if it’s prolonged youth you seek. These advices are what scientific and the cultural wisdom has held since generations, and still stand as true today as they did a generation ago.
Research has also indicated that a good, eight-hour sleep is necessary for healthy ageing, as it helps in cell renewal and improves metabolism. Stress is most detrimental to graceful ageing. Exposure to too much sun is perhaps the main cause of photogenic ageing. To prevent this, an effective sunscreen must be applied to the exposed body parts. Regular scrubbing of skin and taking antioxidants also helps in ensuring a younger looking and a healthy glow of skin. Furthermore, environmental factors play an important role in the ageing process. Exposure to chemical and harmful gases is detrimental to health and should be avoided.
A key ingredient in ageing gracefully is undoubtedly exercising enough to keep one’s weight and health within the optimal range. Modern advancement has provided us with technology which couldn’t be fathomed a hundred years ago, and because of this ease and convenience, we are deprived of the physical activity which is required for achieving a healthy state of our body. As such, by exercising regularly, the ageing process can be slowed down considerably and our life expectancy can increase by up to two to three decades!
To age gracefully should be everyone’s priority in life. Not only will we look aesthetically pleasing, but by ageing with good health, we can enjoy life in more prosperity than when we did during our adolescence years. There is so much to do in this world and so much to see, and we should keep our body healthy to enjoy the experience of life!