It has sometimes been said that getting older is inevitable, but that looking old is optional! Although we all age, we deal with it in different ways, with different results. So what are some of the secrets of those enviable people who manage to look far younger than their years?

One of the easiest ways to achieve slow growing older is by eating the right types of food. This can be done by eating vegetables that are high in antioxidants, which protect our body from oxidative stress. This results in having a body that has clearer skin and ages slower than normal.

It is never too late to quit smoking for in order to slow aging. Smoking not only increases the risk of lung cancer and emphysema, it is associated with a number of other cancers, cardiovascular disease, and a decreased resistance to illness. Of course, it also has a terrible effect on skin. By quitting smoking, the growing older process can be more comfortable and you can extend your life expectancy.

Drink eight or more glasses of water every single day. Water does a lot of things that help your body combat the signs of getting older. It makes your skin look healthier, it removes toxins from your system and it brings important nutrients to the cells in your body. Make sure you have enough water in your diet, you will feel better for it.

As you age, watch your sugar intake. Sugars have been been found to be directly linked to the negative effects of getting older, including a decreased lifespan! To increase your longevity, take sugar out of your diet and replace it with natural sweeteners. It can add years to your life.

Progress feels good for everyone. If you find things to accomplish every day, you are going to feel great when you accomplish them. Find problems to solve. This could be helping someone who needs the help or just completing a simple jigsaw puzzle. The accomplishment will feel great, either way.

If you want to have the feeling of being forever young, then you will want to maintain a healthy lifestyle and laugh. Laughing reduces stress and stress is not good for anyone, whether they are young or old. Laughter also helps circulation, lowers blood pressure, reduces negativity, improves respiration and encourages digestion. These are all good things, when living a healthy lifestyle, so laugh and laugh often!

See a doctor every year. This is generally suggested for everyone, but as you age it becomes even more important to be under a doctor’s care at least once a year. As the body gets older, there are things that will start to happen that you may not be used to, and having a doctor check your progress is a great idea.

Try to remember that aging is a part of life, not a disease or illness! Bodies do become more vulnerable to common infectious diseases during growing older, so taking care of yourself and getting adequate exercise will help you feel youthful. Keeping active is very important to keep your body strong and your mind sharp.

Why not try some proven and well-received Chinese methods which can be either preventative or pro-active? Adding shiitake, maitake, morel and reishi mushrooms in your diet will help lower cholesterol, give you an energy boost, can help prevent high blood pressure and give your immune system overall protection. If the thought of mushrooms is distasteful to you, you can take them in supplement form.

Sign up to a new class. It is never too late to learn something new, so consider attending some public lectures or joining a community class. Choose a topic you are interested it, whether it is computers, gardening, crafts, philosophy, foreign languages, or quantum physics. Continuous learning will stop your mind from being idle.

Have regular eye exams. As you get older, you have to start paying special attention to the health of your eyes, which may be new for you if you have never worn glasses. Reduced eye function can decrease your independence and make it hard to do things you used to do, so have a doctor examine them regularly.

To combat the aging process one of the things that you can do is get some sun. This will help you to maximize the way that you feel and get vitamin D into your system, which can be very beneficial for your looks. During the spring and summer, spend at least an hour in the sun to look much younger and feel great during the day.

Make sure that you only do things that make you happy. This might be common sense, but for many people, it is easier said than done. When you are in your advanced years, there is no reason why you should waste your remaining years on trivial matters that make you unhappy. Be selective on what you think about, and make the rest of your life as happy as possible.

To limit the signs of getting older, try to reduce the times that you go out for fast food. Fast food contains a lot of fat, which can stay in your body and make you more prone to conditions such as heart disease. Combat the cravings that you have and be strong if you want to improve the way that you look.

Practice safe sex. Seniors in their 70’s, 80’s and upward are having sex more often than ever. Unfortunately, more are getting hepatitis B, syphilis, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Medicare already pays for HIV testing and there’s talk about covering other STD tests. Please use lubrication and wear condoms (polyurethane or latex).

Are you starting to notice the appearance of unsightly spider veins? There is a rather simple procedure for this that is fairly quick as well. Eliminate the appearance of these veins and turn back the clock by getting this procedure done on your lunch break. You have time to do this one!

If your goal is to age gracefully and with dignity, it is our hope that the contents of this article have been helpful to you. You are, after all, only as old as you feel! So if you still feel young at heart, let that reflect in how you look!