Many people fear getting older.  Age is just a sensitive topic in our culture, as aging reminds one of death.  Therefore, rather than respecting our elders for their experience and wisdom, we shut them away in institutions, shun them, pay someone else generously to care for them — just so long as we don’t have to.

Perhaps because of this negative association with age in our culture, most people don’t like their age to show as they grow older.  Here are a few ways you can keep yourself looking younger.  It may be putting off the inevitable, but many of these things make you healthier and happier as well, so it’s a win-win-win situation!

• Stay active.  Activity has been proven to delay the appearance of aging by keeping the skin more elastic, the back straighter, etc.  Consider signing up for classes for something at your ability level to keep you on track.  Things you might consider include water aerobics, pilates, yoga, dance, etc.
• Don’t smoke.  Smoking ages your skin as well as the rest of your body, making you look older faster.  If you are a smoker, stop.  If you aren’t, just be sure you don’t start — and stay away from secondhand smoke as much as possible!
• Eat well and drink lots of water.  You are what you eat — no, really.  Recent studies have shown that eating red meat regularly can take 10 years off your life, but it can affect your appearance as well as your health.  A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and plenty of water will keep you looking younger, longer!
• Consider hair replacement.  A receding hairline or thinning hair can make you look older much faster than you might otherwise — and not only men suffer from this, either, though hair replacement for men is understably more common than it is for women.  Hair restoration cost isn’t as much as you might think, so it’s worth looking into!

You’ve heard it before, but your body is the only one you have.  Take care of it as best you can, and it will take care of you!

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