Don"t Let Age Hold You Back 6 Ways to Keeping a Younger Look

 

Written by Rachelle Wilber

 

Age is inevitable, but aging well is something that requires more than just celebrating another birthday. If you want to keep the years from showing, here are the best six ways to keep that youthful glow.
Eat More Fat
Fat has always been the bane of diets everywhere, but did you know that fat is actually essential for a healthy body? Along with maintaining healthy bones and reducing wrinkles, fats keep your skin beautifully healthy. Get these by either eating more fish and nuts or taking an Omega supplement.
Exercise
Working out for even 20 minutes per day is enough to help you lose weight, tone your body and otherwise feel great about yourself. Its health benefits also translate to Alzheimer’s prevention. Run, walk, swim or jog. Just make sure it’s something you love doing.
Pamper Your Skin
While gravity can’t be forever negated, the typical signs of aging are caused mainly by a lessening of nutrients in the face. Along with regular spa treatments, cosmetic work, laser rejuvenation and regular supplement-rich face masks, you can keep the dark spots and wrinkles at bay. To see what would work best for your skin, it may be wise to speak with a specialist, like Austin Dermatologist Dr. Ted Lain.
Train Your Brain
Just because your brain is inside doesn’t mean it doesn’t have an effect on your appearance. After all, a huge part of looking younger is all about how sharp your gaze is. To keep this honed, engage in mental gymnastics with puzzles, video games and other stimulants.
Stress Less
We’ve all seen the effects of a stressful situation on a person. They start off looking young and come back with 10 years added to their appearance. This is because stress accelerates aging by causing spikes in blood pressure. The best way to beat this? Meditate. Knowing how to calm yourself down prevents the onset of early aging.
Drink Water
Overly sugared, highly caffeinated beverages, even in diet form, sap water from your body. Water, however, is what gives your skin a healthy glow and keeps under eye circles at bay. Be sure to drink at least eight glasses per day for maximum rejuvenation.
Don’t simply let age happen without doing your best to keep looking young. From watching what you eat to covering your face in the best vitamins and minerals, a dedicated routine is exactly what you need to look and feel young at any age.

 

Categories: Age, ways, younger

Age & Class: How to Grow Old as Gracefully as Possible

With all the anti aging products on the market nowadays, you could be forgiven for thinking that Britain has forgotten how to grow old gracefully. In actual fact, that is quite the reverse. Anti aging is about much more than simply clinging to a vision of youthfulness, it is about preserving your wellness and wellbeing as you grow older, ensuring that your body is in peak physical condition to help you cope with the challenges presented by all stages of your life.

 

First of all – aging is not a bad thing at all. Grey hair and laughter lines can be just as beautiful and sophisticated as any younger style, and so the most important thing to really change as you get older is your outlook. Start realising that old age is something to embrace, and you will also find that people react to you accordingly. If you act like you are past it, they will treat you as such!

 

There are also some really simple and almost obvious ways to help you keep some of the harmful effects of old age at bay, and these are things that you should start while you are still young. Firstly, make sure that you always wear sunscreen. The sun does enormous damage to your skin and eyes. When you are young, you will not see the effects as you will simply admire the golden glow that sitting in the sun all day provides, but believe me when you get older the damaging effects will start to show (and of course it is then too late to fix).

 

Secondly, don’t smoke. Not only is smoking terrible for your lungs and overall health (as well as your wallet!), cigarette smoking is terribly aging for your skin. It makes your skin more yellow and much more susceptible to germs and bacteria.

 

Too much alcohol can also be really bad for your body, so make sure that you only drink in moderation.

Categories: Age, aging, anti aging, Effects, nbsp, older, skin

Do Girls Who Start Their Periods Early Have Sex Early?

When a girl starts her period, it is a sign that her reproductive system is kicking into action. She may have started to ovulate, and this is great news for her future wellness and wellbeing. It can be a worry for some parents, however, as they fear that their daughter’s sexual health is now an issue, and that she may be more inclined to proceed with a physical relationship. This can be even more of a worry when girls start menstruating earlier than their peers, as some fear it is a sign of early sexual maturity.

 

They will be reassured, then, by a newly published study that shows that girls who start menstruating earlier than average do not have sex any earlier than their peers.

 

This study was carried out in Australia, looking at data from 554 girls who were followed throughout their childhoods. Those that started having their periods before they got to age 12 did not start having sex any earlier than the average age for the group.

 

Around 25 percent of the group who started their periods earlier had had sexual intercourse by the time they turned 15 years old, which was actually slightly lower than the 29 percent of girls from the group that had started their periods at an average time. Most girls start their periods when they are 12 or 13, but the span of what is normal can vary quite significantly.

 

The study confirms that physically maturing earlier does not in any way indicate that a girl is likely to start initiating sexual behaviour. This is contrary to previous studies, which had appeared to link early menstruation to earlier sexual encounters, but those studies all focused on women who were recalling their experiences as opposed to date from girls who were actually going through menstruation and early sexual encounters in the course of the study.

Categories: Age, Menstruation, period

Seniors: Get a Better Night"s Rest With These Tips

As we age it becomes increasingly difficult to get a good night’s sleep, as our sleep patterns change dramatically. The great restful sleep we used to enjoy in our younger days gradually dissipates until it’s difficult to even fall asleep, let alone be well rested. By the time we reach 70, our night time sleep has shrunk by almost half meaning we get just 6.6 hours, compared to 11.6 when we are infants. There are a number of problems which can interfere with our ability to sleep, from dietary complaints to bone problems, which should be examined by a GP, but these are some ways to improve your sleep pattern. From lifestyle changes to simply being more active, your lifestyle choices could be to blame for your lack of sleep. These are easily modified though, so that you can rest and sleep for longer – effective sleep is vital for our wellbeing.

 

Exercise is a great way to help your ability to sleep. Studies suggest that seniors who exercised slept an average of 50 minute more each night than those who led a sedentary lifestyle. In addition to that, women who were physically active rated their quality of sleep far higher than those who didn’t exercise. A brisk walk could be enough each day to improve your ability to sleep – if you’re new to exercise, build up to regular exercise to avoid injury and stress to the body. Changing your routine could actually help seniors to fall asleep more easily. Light meals in the evening are advised, such as fish and vegetables instead of spaghetti, as this will cut the risk of a disturbed nights sleep. The same can be said of liquids right before bedtime, which will only increase the need to wake up in the middle of the night needing the bathroom. It’s also helpful to avoid stressful activities right before bed, so save the tax forms or potentially stressful phone calls until the morning – they will only serve to upset a calmed mind. A nice warm bath and reading a book, or listening to music, to help you calm your mind before bed can be beneficial for many people.

If you live in a busy area, or are easily woken by noises outside, this will lead to a regularly disrupted sleep. Ear plugs can solve this problem fairly easily, helping to block out any unwanted noise to help you drift off peacefully and get a restful nights sleep. There are many varieties to choose from and they’re easily found – your local supermarket or pharmacy should stock them. Paradoxical thinking can also be effective – this works by tricking your body into trying to stay up as late as possible, instead of trying to fall asleep. This technique has proven effective for many people over the years. There are various variations on this concept, which may be worth looking into if your other changes haven’t work. Medication can be used, of course, but should be an absolute last resort. You should speak to your GP if you think you may need sleep medication to help you sleep more thoroughly, and this should be monitored closely as it is easy to form a habit with these pills. You may find that a combination of the above changes leads to a better nights sleep, but if there are health problems you have which are leading to a disrupted sleep these should be solved first – for example, people with arthritis often struggle to sleep because of the pain. Resolving these issues with the help of your GP could help you regain your sleep pattern again.

Categories: Age, disrupted sleep, easily, exercise, fall asleep, night, nights, nights sleep, seniors, sleep, sleep pattern, techniques

Lifestyle Changes to Boost Your Life Expectancy

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the average American will live to the age of 78.5 years. But what do you do if you want to live another 20 years on top of that and see in the century marker? There are the obvious lifestyle changes, such as avoiding smoking and exercising regularly, but are they enough to boost your life expectancy? A good diet that’s low in fats can only do so much, so follow these guidelines for a healthy and long life.

 

Floss more

Periodental disease has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and systemic inflammation, so flossing your teeth could help to strengthen your defence. It’s not yet been clinically proven, but there have been studies which suggest that good dental hygiene could help to keep your heart healthy. In fact, research shows that people with gum disease are twice as likely to have heart disease – this is because inflammation in the gums can lead to your arteries building up plaque.

 

Eat spicy foods

Turmeric contains curcuminoids that are active compounds used for centuries as healing agents in Eastern medicine. There have been several studies that show curcumin’s can help to protect the body from cancer, inflammation and liver complaints. Eating spicy foods such as Indian food, which often contains turmeric, could help to keep your body healthy and improve your defences.

 

Take an aspirin

If you suffer from heart problems, have previously suffered from a heart attack or had a stroke, taking an aspirin could extend your life. The consumption of aspirin in this way has been up against a lot of controversy over the years, but one study recently published in The Lancet suggests that taking one aspirin every day could significantly lower your risk of premature death from cancer. In fact, participants who had taken as aspirin each day for five years had a 40 percent lower chance of developing cancer compared to those who didn’t take anything. Speak to your GP before actioning this, however, as there can be a risk of gastro=-intestinal bleeding in some people.

 

Eat more omega-9 fatty acids

Everyone knows the benefits of eating more omega oils, but omega-3s usually get the front page slot. Omega-9 fatty acids shouldn’t be forgotten, though, as these are great for extending your life. They help to protect against the risk of stroke in older people and reduce inflammation in the brain, promoting a better function of the nerves.

 

Eat more dark chocolate

Dark chocolate has long been seen as the healthier choice when it comes to the sweet stuff, but many people don’t realise that it can actually do you good as well. Dark chocolate has been proven to lower your blood pressure and can help to protect against cardiovascular problems in people with metabolic syndrome.

 

Check your hormones

Hormones play an important role in your health, so check that your levels are accurate. People over the age of 40 who want to remain energetic and lively will require a balanced hormone production – they are chemical messengers that are vital for our health. It’s natural for our hormone levels to drop as we age, with the prime age for production being between 25 and 30. After this, they begin to decline and do so rapidly the older we get. There are supplements and treatments available to keep them topped up though, so speak to your GP if this is something you’re concerned about.

Categories: Age, aspirin, Disease, fatty acids, health, life, life expectancy, lifespan, nbsp, nbsp eat, people, spicy foods

Lifestyle Changes to Boost Your Life Expectancy

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the average American will live to the age of 78.5 years. But what do you do if you want to live another 20 years on top of that and see in the century marker? There are the obvious lifestyle changes, such as avoiding smoking and exercising regularly, but are they enough to boost your life expectancy? A good diet that’s low in fats can only do so much, so follow these guidelines for a healthy and long life.

 

Floss more

Periodental disease has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and systemic inflammation, so flossing your teeth could help to strengthen your defence. It’s not yet been clinically proven, but there have been studies which suggest that good dental hygiene could help to keep your heart healthy. In fact, research shows that people with gum disease are twice as likely to have heart disease – this is because inflammation in the gums can lead to your arteries building up plaque.

 

Eat spicy foods

Turmeric contains curcuminoids that are active compounds used for centuries as healing agents in Eastern medicine. There have been several studies that show curcumin’s can help to protect the body from cancer, inflammation and liver complaints. Eating spicy foods such as Indian food, which often contains turmeric, could help to keep your body healthy and improve your defences.

 

Take an aspirin

If you suffer from heart problems, have previously suffered from a heart attack or had a stroke, taking an aspirin could extend your life. The consumption of aspirin in this way has been up against a lot of controversy over the years, but one study recently published in The Lancet suggests that taking one aspirin every day could significantly lower your risk of premature death from cancer. In fact, participants who had taken as aspirin each day for five years had a 40 percent lower chance of developing cancer compared to those who didn’t take anything. Speak to your GP before actioning this, however, as there can be a risk of gastro=-intestinal bleeding in some people.

 

Eat more omega-9 fatty acids

Everyone knows the benefits of eating more omega oils, but omega-3s usually get the front page slot. Omega-9 fatty acids shouldn’t be forgotten, though, as these are great for extending your life. They help to protect against the risk of stroke in older people and reduce inflammation in the brain, promoting a better function of the nerves.

 

Eat more dark chocolate

Dark chocolate has long been seen as the healthier choice when it comes to the sweet stuff, but many people don’t realise that it can actually do you good as well. Dark chocolate has been proven to lower your blood pressure and can help to protect against cardiovascular problems in people with metabolic syndrome.

 

Check your hormones

Hormones play an important role in your health, so check that your levels are accurate. People over the age of 40 who want to remain energetic and lively will require a balanced hormone production – they are chemical messengers that are vital for our health. It’s natural for our hormone levels to drop as we age, with the prime age for production being between 25 and 30. After this, they begin to decline and do so rapidly the older we get. There are supplements and treatments available to keep them topped up though, so speak to your GP if this is something you’re concerned about.

Categories: Age, aspirin, Disease, fatty acids, health, life, life expectancy, lifespan, nbsp, nbsp eat, people, spicy foods

Could Your Child’s Egg Allergy Disappear as They Get Older?

More and more parents have health concerns for their children that are linked to food intolerances or allergies. The good news is that new research is indicating a positive step forward for those whose children are affected by egg allergies.

 

Egg allergy is one of the most common allergies, affecting the wellness and wellbeing of thousands of children around the world. New studies are being carried out, however, that indicate that these allergies may be less serious than previously thought.

 

One such study, for example, suggests that children who are allergic to hen eggs could still safely consume the eggs if they are baked at a high temperature for a long time. Further research revealed that parents who were prepared to do this, and to incorporate those eggs into their child’s diet over a period of time, could actually help to immunise their child against their egg allergy, and thus cure them altogether. The outcomes for this method were far greater than for those who simply avoided egg allergies altogether.

 

Another study has indicated that many children who are allergic to foods actually grow out of their allergies by the age of 10, allowing them to safely increase the range of foods that they can eat as they get older.

 

Experts warn, however, that parents should be extremely cautious when introducing allergy-causing foods back into their children’s diets, and say that this should only ever be done under the close supervision of a medical expert.

 

A leading expert who carried out the research said that upwards of 600,000 children in America are allergic to hens’ eggs, but that most of them will grow out of it by the time they hit their teens. Egg avoidance in the meantime, however, can lead to significant dietary limitations and can impact on the child and family’s quality of life.

Categories: Age, allergies, allergy, Child, Children, egg, egg allergies, egg allergy, Eggs, nbsp

Tricks to Help You Keep the Weight Off

There’s more than enough information on the market about how to lose weight, but when it comes to keeping that weight off it suddenly falls silent – so how do we maintain our new bodies once we’ve worked so hard to achieve them? Studies show that after the age of 40, a woman gains an average of a pound a year, which means by 60 you could be carrying an extra 20 pounds in weight. Such an increase in weight could also affect your health, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. On first glance it seems an easy formula to solve – eat more than you expend and you’ll gain weight. However, hormones and lifestyle changes could also be to blame. Your diet may not be the only thing which needs to be monitored. The better you can understand the common changes to one’s weight, the better prepared you’ll be to combat those changes and keep the weight off – education is the best way to deal with it.

 

Weight gain with age is normal, as muscle tissue begins to slacken from the late 30s. Muscle burns around three times as many calories as fat, even when you’re resting, but as you age your muscles don’t work as efficiently as they used to. The result is that you’re not able to exercise as hard as you could when you were 20 and you have less muscle mass to burn off those extra calories. The trick? Resistance bands, weights and even your own body weight can be used to build up strength and improve your muscle mass. The more physical activity you do in general, as well as weight training, the better equipped your body will be to burn those calories off.

Your hormones play a big part in the bodily changes you experience as you age. As oestrogen is an appetite-regulating hormone, many women find that they experience more craving or the need to eat more after the menopause. As your hormones change, you may find that fat starts to migrate from the hips and thighs to the waist. Not only is this more difficult to shift, but it also increases your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Unfortunately there isn’t much you can do to prevent your hormones shape shifting. There’s also no proof from researchers that hormone-replacement therapy can help. However, a sensible diet and a solid exercise regime will help to keep you healthy. Reducing your stress can also help, so be sure to get plenty of sleep, rest and exercise to calm the mind.

There are many milestones which come with age that can lead to weight gain. Marriage, for example, often leads to people packing on the pounds, as does having children. Studies show that women in households with children eat more fat and calories than childless households – the equivalent could be as much as a slice of pepperoni pizza every day. The way to combat this is to weigh yourself more regularly – those who weigh themselves every day are, on average, between seven and eight pounds lighter than those who don’t. This is because tracking your weight gives you the opportunity to make changes before your weight gets out of hand. If you’re noticing that you’ve put on a few pounds, you can reel it in over the  coming weeks and lead a healthier lifestyle to correct any weight gain before it becomes unmanageable. In any case, a healthy approach to your weight will help you to keep it in check so you can stave off any weight-related conditions.

Categories: Age, calories, gain, heart disease, hormones, Muscle, muscle mass, Tips, weight, weight gain

Four Signs You’re Getting Old – And How to Hide Them!

What is it about the human body that suddenly makes you say “Wow, they’ve aged!”? Is it just the odd wrinkle or receding hairline, or are there other giveaways that show your anti-ageing wellness isn’t what it should be? Let’s take a look at some of the ways in which age gives your wellbeing a battering, and how you can fight back.

 

Thinning hair – According to A. Bobby Spence, a trichologist at The Hair Loss Clinic in Alexandria, Virginia, ‘Elevated testosterone levels have a miniaturizing effect on hair follicles, which causes thinning.’ However, you can increase thickness and shine by taking a daily multivitamin that is rich in amino acids and B vitamins. Otherwise, speak to your doctor about a prescription for Rogaine, as this can thicken your hair by enlarging your follicles.

 

Yellow teeth and receding gums – Lawrence E. Brecht, D.D.S., a prosthodontist in New York City, explains, ‘Excessive plaque build-up can lead to gingivitis, a disease that causes bleeding and tenderness in the tissue around the teeth.’ However, he adds, daily flossing is ‘a must to help maintain healthy gum tissue and keep it from receding.’ You can also hold on to those pearly whiles by using disposable toothbrushes after every meal and drink, and whitening strips every six months.

 

Sparse, brittle eyelashes – Jan Marini, founder and CEO of Jan Marini Skin Research, notes that your eyelashes shed when you frequently rubs your eyes, and your natural replenishing system slows down as you age. Therefore, you might want to try OTC remedies to make your lashes more resilient. If your eyelashes are brittle and weak at the ends, you can probably blame your old mascara, so make sure you replace mascara every 90 days and use a gentle eye makeup remover.

 

Damaged nails– Hands are a dead giveaway of ageing, because your skin and nails lose moisture over time. Jin Soon Choi, a salon owner in New York City, adds, ‘Constant use of polish and coarse nail tools will also weaken the nails. She recommends a good hand and nail moisturiser, and skipping the polish every few weeks and buffing your nails instead. Choi explains, ‘It gives nails a shiny finish and a chance to air out.’

Categories: Age, Damaged Nails, hair, jan marini, nails, nbsp, signs, Thinning Hair, Yellow Teeth, york city

Age and Sexuality: Understand Your Sex Life as You Get Older

There is a common myth that as people get older they stop wanting to have sex, or stop being able to have enjoyable sex. Whilst it is true that you have to safeguard your sexual health as you get older, in truth there are plenty of older people who enjoy fulfilling sex lives.

 

In order to make sure that you preserve your sexuality as you get older, you need to first look at prioritising your wellness and wellbeing. For women, this is often a mental or emotional thing, where they see their aging bodies in a certain way and feel that age has somehow ‘broken’ their bodies. The media is also extremely guilty of playing a strong role in this, by only portraying certain kinds of women (young, firm and perky!) as being sexually attractive.

 

The menopause and other changes that occur in the midlife period can have some difficult effects on sexuality, but they no longer need to be considered as a barrier to future healthy sex lives. It has become a bit of folklore in a way, and many women fear that after the menopause they will no longer want to have sex with their partners, or will not enjoy sex. In truth, with the modern options (both hormonal and non-hormonal) that are available to help counteract the effects of the menopause, sex after the menopause can be just as good as before.

 

Sexuality is important for human wellness, and adults should be encouraged, as they grow older, to continue to engage in sexual behaviour as they get older. This can either mean continuing to actively seek out sexual contact with your partner, or to enjoy sexual behaviour that doesn’t involve actual intercourse (such as intimacy with a partner, or with yourself). The more sex or sexual response that you have, the more that you will find that you want it. Sexuality and arousal work best when they are regularly stimulated.

Categories: Age, older, Sex, sex lives, sexual, sexual behaviour, sexuality

How To Tell If Your Child Will Grow Out Of Their Asthma

Childhood asthma is one of the most serious health concerns for parents, who feel paralysed with fear as they watch their children struggle for breath. Despite knowing that it affects the wellness of millions of children around the world, parents find it a very worrying condition, and most of them pray that their child grows out of their asthma.

 

Childhood asthma is quite common, but up until now it has been impossible to tell whether your child has the kind of asthma that they will grow out of, or the kind that will affect their wellbeing throughout their life. Now, a new genetic test could help to predict whether or not your child’s asthma is likely to turn into a lifelong condition.

 

The new genetic test is the result of a 40 year-long study into asthma, which found that half of children grow out of their asthma by the time they reach adolescence. Now the study has managed to identify genetic factors which increase the likelihood of childhood asthma becoming a lifelong condition by up to 36 percent.

 

This study could show that genetic testing is useful to predict which children are at risk of developing a long-term condition and which can feel reassured in the knowledge that it is a limited condition that they are going to grow out of in a few years’ time.

 

Experts stress, however, that this research has not yet produced a test that is advanced enough to be used in day-to-day medical practice, although this is obviously the hope for the future, as tests could well be developed to help assess the risk.

Categories: Age, Asthma, genetic

How Do Our Diets Change As We Age?

As we get older, our eating habits change and develop – as babies, we require different nutrients compared to those as we enter old age. So what is it about our diets that define our key life stages? As babies, up until the age of six months, we don’t require any solid food. Some babies are allergic to the cow’s milk in formula milk, but your GP will be able to suggest an alternative if this is the case. In order to get the most amount of nutrients in your baby’s diet, breastfeeding is advised – this will give your baby all the vitamins and minerals they need before they move on to solid food, a process known as weaning. Once this stage has been reached, you can gradually introduce new textures and flavours into your baby’s diet. It’s important that you don’t add salt to a baby’s meal, as their kidneys aren’t developed well enough to cope with it. The same can be said of honey, until they are one year old, as there are come varieties which contain bacteria that can be harmful to younger digestive systems.

 

Children develop very quickly, and it’s for this reason that they need plenty of energy and nutrients in order to grow healthily. Toddlers can’t cope with large portions, so they need smaller snacks which are healthy and give them plenty of vitamins and minerals. This may be chopped fruit or carrot sticks. Dairy is important as well, as their bones will be growing and will need the calcium to stay strong. This can be sourced from milk, cheese and yoghurt – children under the age of 5 should be given whole milk and full-fat dairy to give them the extra energy boost. They should have a varied diet in order to ensure they get all the nutrients they need – this means plenty of fruit and vegetables, protein and whole grains. It will also help to avoid children going through the dreaded ‘fussy’ phase.

 

Teenagers need even more nutrients and energy than children, as their bodies are going through growth spurts and hormonal processes. Teens tend to stock up on junk food and fizzy drinks, but during this important stage it’s important that they eat a diet that’s packed with vitamins, minerals and protein to keep their energy levels high. Body image is an issue for many teenagers, as their bodies are changing, but this can be combated with staying healthy, doing plenty of exercise, and maintaining a positive self image.

 

As adults, we don’t go through many dietary or nutritional changes unless pregnant or breastfeeding. Adults should ensure that they have plenty of fibre-rich foods, lean protein, and fruit and vegetables to stay healthy. Calcium, as with other stages of life, is important for healthy bones, and a small amount of healthy fats. Our metabolism decreases as we get older, so it’s likely that older people will do less exercise. This means that it is normal for older people to perhaps start eating slightly less. It’s still important that the main food groups are included in your diet though, to ensure that the body has all it needs to stay healthy, as well as plenty of calcium for strong bones. Older people sometimes find it difficult to cook, or find themselves less motivated to do so, so nutritious ready meals and quick-to-prepare dishes are a handy way to make sure you don’t skip meals. There are also services, such as meals on wheels, which can help those who don’t feel able to cook for themselves anymore.

Categories: Age, diet, eating

Sleep Your Way to Better Skin with Your Perfect Night Cream

You may remember watching your mum put on her anti-ageing night cream when you were young, but when is it your turn to follow suit? Are night creams really beneficial to your skin wellness, or will your regular old moisturiser do?

According to Dipikka Topiwala, beauty expert and head of marketing at Tips & Toes, ‘Any kind of beauty treatment should be done when you are completely relaxed and stress-free, to help the nutrients absorb into your skin better. Night creams work on your skin when you are sleeping; moisturising and nourishing it.’ Sufyan Kapadia, make-up expert at Clere, adds, ‘Night creams contain ingredients like retinol and AHA fruit acids that fight wrinkles and fine lines. Thus it is a must for every woman to use a night cream on a daily basis.’

So with all those brands and types out there, how do you choose a night cream? Firstly, consider your age. Every night cream has been formulated with a specific age in mind, so, if you’re in your 20s, go for a cream containing natural ingredients like aloe vera, honey and other essential oils. When you hit your 30s, its time to turn to more active ingredients, such as amino acids, ceramides, retinol and other antioxidants. If you’re in your 40s, opt for a night cream that can fight puffiness, wrinkles and pigmentation, which requites ingredients like peptides, soy extract and vitamins. Finally, for the Big 5-0 and beyond, you need something with a little more moisture.

Plus, you need to think about your skin type. For dry skin, you need the maximum moisture you can find, from creams based in glycerine. Vivek Sahni, director of Kama Ayurveda, says ‘Creams that contain avocado, almond oil and shea butter are great for your skin type.’ A danger for oily skin is creams that trigger acne or rashes, so try to find a cream that’s oil-free. If you have sensitive skin, neem, cucumber, tea tree and Aloe Vera creams are your best bet, and you should avoid heavy, perfume-based creams, as these can cause rashes. Then, all you have to do is apply the cream half-an-hour before you go to bed, and sleep your way to better skin.

Categories: Age, Night Cream, skin type

Could your Health Problems be Caused by Chronic Stress?

Middle-aged women could suffer from emotional wellness issues, and this could, in turn, affect their wellbeing in a more physical way, according to a new study.

 

Mental health, and stress in particular, can be linked to health problems in women aged between 40 and 60, according the study carried out by researchers at the University of Gothenburg. Health complaints that could be caused by stress include muscle aches and pains, join pain, gastrointestinal issues and headaches or migraines.

 

The good news is that although it does seem that stress causes these physical illnesses, the researchers failed to find any links between stress and premature death, meaning that stress could make you feel pretty rubbish, but it won’t kill you.

 

Carried out at the Sahlgrenska Academy, the study followed 1,500 women from 1968 until the present day, regularly asking them to complete questionnaires about their health and their stress levels. They found that stress levels for women seemed to peak during middle-age, with one in five women of that age group saying that they had experienced stress either constantly or frequently during the previous five years.

 

Of the women who reported that they were suffering from stress, around 27 percent also report that they had joint pain, and 15 percent were suffering from gastrointestinal issues, too. The link between emotional and mental stress and physical symptoms seemed clear, as they were still evident even when adjustments were made for other factors such as smoking, physical activity and weight.

 

This evidence adds to the growing body of recent research which shows that women are actually suffering not only from increased stress levels these days, but from greater stress levels when compared to men. This could be because women tend to internalise tension, which results in turmoil, stress and anxiety.

Categories: Age, middle, Stress

Older and Wiser: You Age, but Your Brain Doesn’t Have to!

When you get older, your mind can let you down in some areas, such as where you put your glasses (hint: check your head), but in other areas you’re more able to tackle certain problems. The wisdom of age allows you to see the bigger picture, and handle complicated situations, and scientists have now discovered why.

Your brain grows in two ways: it makes new cells (grey matter) and it makes new connections between cells (white matter). The former slows down dramatically after childhood, so by the time you’re 50 your brain cells die faster than they are made, but you can go on making cell connections indefinitely, and this is what counts in the mental competence stakes. You make connections through experience and repeating events. However, white matter needs to be kept ‘live’ by carrying messages so you need to keep your brain busy.

You may have seen interactive games that are specifically designed for brain training. However, while using these games repeatedly improves your skills at playing the game, it is more doubtful that brain training games prepares your mind in any real-life terms. According to a 2010 study, published in the journal Nature, six weeks of game training did nothing to improve the cognitive wellbeing of some 11,000 participants, either in terms of memory or general reasoning.

So what can you do to boost your brain wellness? You can maintain circuits concerned with a particular activity by repeating that activity, but doing something new will help you create new connections. If you’re good with numbers, challenge yourself to a crossword. If you have strong political opinions, nudge your neurons into making new connections by reading a newspaper with the complete opposite perspective. It may be frustrating, but that irritation is proof that you’re being subjected to new patterns of thought.

However, mental competence is not just about intelligent thought, but also sensations, communication and emotions. Challenge these things, just like you challenge your thinking, and you’ll help to keep them alive and kicking. Keep trying new kinds of music, exotic foods, strange new places and art exhibitions that you know nothing about. Variety is the spice of life, after all.

Finally, and most importantly of all, getting together with others is the best way to maintain your cognitive fitness. Happiness and mental health is near-impossible without a lively and enjoyable social life, as studies have shown, and even just two minutes of social interaction can boost your performance. So connect to different ideas, new experiences, and old friends, and it will have an anti-ageing effect on your brain.

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Older and Wiser: You Age, but Your Brain Doesn’t Have to!

Categories: Age, Brain, older