1. We're getting old (literally)!
The skin on your body starts to lose its elasticity and collagen fibers begin to break down. This causes wrinkles and fine lines on your face and hands. In addition, as our bodies age, cells become damaged and damaged cells are replaced with unhealthy ones. These produce free radicals that cause damage to healthy skin cells and lead to premature aging.
2. Too much sun exposure
The sun's UV rays can penetrate through even the thickest layer of sunscreen — leading to premature aging. Exposure to sunlight accelerates your natural aging process, causing pigmentation changes on your skin and accelerating the breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers. Darker skin tone naturally produces less melanin, making your skin look older than it actually is.
3. Stress
Stress has many effects on the human body; it can result in headaches, muscle aches, and fatigue. When stress levels rise, cortisol levels increase and blood pressure rises, both of which can have negative impacts on the skin. Cortisol affects the production of melanin, changing skin color from brown to grayish-white. High blood pressure damages capillaries in the skin, slowing the delivery of oxygen to the surface of the skin.
White hair isn't always a sign of aging, but rather a symptom. White hair happens when your body produces melanin, an antioxidant that protects from sun damage. Melanin is what gives our skin color and keeps us warm. But over time, this pigment can build up and cause discoloration and premature aging. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to prevent white hair.
The following foods help protect against premature aging.
- Fruits like apples, oranges, and berries contain Vitamin C which helps your body produce collagen, a protein that makes your hair look thicker.
- Dark leafy greens like collards, kale, and spinach provide iron, which increases blood flow to your scalp. This helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
- Salmon contains vitamin D which promotes healthy bones and teeth. Eating salmon may actually keep your hair stronger.
It’s no secret that our body starts to lose its natural color at around age 30. As we get older, our bodies change, and our skin loses some pigment to reveal our underlying flesh. We don't usually think much about this, but aging has many implications for our health.
As we age, our ability to fight off disease decreases. This can lead to a higher risk of developing cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, arthritis, breathing problems, vision loss, dementia, memory loss, depression and even early death.
The good news? There are things we can do to preserve our youthful appearance while maintaining healthy skin! Here's how you can keep your skin looking great as you enter middle age.
Take care of yourself. The first thing you need to do is take better care of yourself. Get plenty of exercise. A daily walk outside is ideal, but start slowly. Once you're able to walk without pain, try doing so for half an hour a day. If you already have trouble getting out of bed, consider walking 20 minutes three times per week instead of once. And make sure you drink enough water each day. Try to consume about 2 liters (0.5 gallons) of water each day.
Eat well. Make sure you eat right -- lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats. Eat fish twice weekly. Avoid processed foods, fried foods, sugary drinks, trans fats and sugar-laden snacks. You'll find healthier alternatives to treat cravings.
Get sleep. This may sound obvious, but if you're struggling to drift off at night, try changing your sleeping environment. Lighten the room by using darker curtains, fewer lamps and dimmer lighting. Also, avoid electronic devices like phones and tablets before bedtime. Use relaxation techniques, like listening to soothing music, taking warm baths, writing down your worries and concerns, reading and journaling, or meditating.
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