Anti-Ageing is the mantra of the western world. We hail age reversal as a feat, and being ‘young’ is seen as the way to be. In other cultures the increased wisdom and life experience is rewarded with reverence. Ageing is a victory over all what life can throw at you. The GOODista looks at how we can age naturally and gracefully, with positive attitude and lifestyle changes that make a difference – tips that impact body and mind. Do feel free to share how you move onwards and forwards on your life journey.
Anti-Ageing: The Art of Ageing Naturally
Age is but a number if you think about it. To age is a natural process, and the only truth known to all is that life ends in death. How we travel on our life’s journey is the process of ageing with grace, with respect for what life has given us – and to a large extent how we choose to control our predestined fate.
Can we age naturally, yet keep all our looks and faculties in their best shape? Is anti-ageing a fad that works against its very purpose? Do anti-ageing media messages add pressure to an already stressed-out person? Looking younger than your years is all about keeping a healthy lifestyle, understanding of some basic facts about body and mind – and most of all an attitude. Read on to find some natural ways that make a difference to the ageing process.
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Ageing: What Is It?
Ageing is a process that starts when life begins. It represents the accumulation of physical, psychological and social changes in a person over time. Ageing is a multidimensional process. Some dimensions of ageing grow and expand over time, while others decline. Reaction time, for example, may slow with age, while knowledge of world events and wisdom may expand.
Research shows that even late in life, potential exists for physical, mental, and social growth and development. Ageing is an important part of all human societies reflecting the biological changes that occur, but also reflecting cultural and societal conventions.
Ageing: Chronological, Social and Biological
Chronological Age is its measurement in time, and in many societies this is marked by a yearly birthday. Interestingly – in some cultures age increases with ceremonial events. The Maasai measure by age-sets marked by ceremonies. Each age set carries importance, and as such respected is gained along with mutual responsibilities.
Social Ageing
If age is measured chronologically, it would imply that the process of getting older is the 
same for all. We all know this is not true. Some of us act older than our years, perhaps based on what society expects. For instance, a walking cane was an indispensable fashion accessory and coming of age gift for a man in the 1800s. Today we often see women in their late 60s wear miniskirts or leather pants. It is up to you to decide which is more fitting :). This process is called ‘social ageing’.
The forces that make us believe that drinking from a fountain of youth is possible belong to today’s society and why the anti-ageing mafia has such success. Age is but a number, and it is up to you to tackle it healthily. You can look at life as a cup half full or half empty, right?
Biological Ageing
Biological ageing is the organisms physical state as it ages. Whereas age changes happens to all, it is also a fact that what life throws at us impacts our ageing process. If you get a disease this may speed up the ageing process despite your years. When life events – such as loss of a loved one – occurs you get impacted mentally and physically.
The impact of lifestyle, stress and increased risk of disease brings a major factor to ageing. The irreversible changes that occur inevitably end in death. The question is though how we choose to live our lives before this event.
Anti-Ageing: What Is It?
Chronological age does not correlate perfectly with functional age, i.e. two people may be of the same age, but differ in their mental and physical capacities.
After a period of near perfect renewal (in humans, between 20 and 35 years of age), organismal senescence is characterised by the declining ability to respond to stress, increasing homeostatic imbalance and the increased risk of disease. (US National Library of Medicine)
Anti-ageing as a word relates to any product or procedure claiming to reverse or slow down the effects of ageing. We take claims of absolute revolutionary impact on skin products with a big pinch of salt. Yet, how often have we been drawn to buy a product that promises more than it actually does?
Even today, in our supposedly enlightened age, claims of miraculous remedies and therapies to overcome ageing run rampant, despite many of these products having no effects whatsoever. (US National Library of Medicine)
Anti-Ageing: What You Can Do
For all the miracle creams and treatments promise, there are some scientific facts that one cannot ignore. Further, an irrefutable truth is how we decided to lead our lives.
Lifestyle changes can most definitely impact how we age naturally with grace, and give you the appearance of looking ‘younger.
Anti-Ageing Naturally: Top Tips
You can make changes to your lifestyle that impact body and mind.
A more realistic and promising approach in ageing intervention and prevention makes use of the body’s intrinsic capacity for self-maintenance and repair. (US National Library of Medicine)
These natural ways to reduce the ageing process have a great impact on your overall health, and the result is also a healthier glow, and a more youthful appearance:
Add Years To Your Life….
Research has shown how the increase of fruit and vegetable – so-called Rainbow foods – has a positive effect. By reducing processed foods you make a difference to the ageing process. - Adding spices and herbs to your food has a great impact – for instance
Turmeric (Curcumin) is scientifically proven to help the body repair itself – which also means the biological ageing process.
- The addition of Omega 3, also found in fish like Salmon is a great helper.
- The obvious choice to reduce your alcohol intake, and stop smoking are very important steps in the right direction.
…And Life to Your Years
- You can get relatively cheap cosmetic products that do impact the quality of your skin. Q10, AHA, Retinol and Vitamin C are ingredients you want to look for.
Hydration is vital to life, and not drinking enough water will slowly make you wither away. If you drink 6-8 glasses of water a day, you will have drunk from the fountain of youth. Your skin will change from looking dry and papyrus like to glowing.- To move daily is as important as oxygen that we need to breathe. Inactivity can literally kill you.
- Stress can shorten your lifespan, as well as speed up the ageing process. Whether stress is brought on by external events such as loss, disease or work – or by internal anxiety – the best favour you can do yourself is to assess, and get help to address stress.
Anti-Ageing vs Ageing: Quality Life Choices
Defining ageing as a disease and then trying to cure it is unscientific and misguided, as per the US Library of Medicine.
Mature Approach
To adopt a more mature approach to our life journey by making choices that positively impact your quality of life, vitality and longevity. A healthier lifestyle is all about choices.
By enjoying the increased wisdom, and experience that comes with age you can rest secure that you have learnt a few lessons from your life. This allows you to make judgement calls and take informed decisions. You can also positively impact those around you, by sharing your experiences. You transmit knowledge, communicate and do good.
Anti-Ageing Attitude
Your life journey is also about attitude. You can choose to sit back and wait for ‘fate’ to come and get you, or adopt a more serene approach by scaling down on stressors and look at life as a positive challenge.
You are only as old as your attitude. A wise lady once told me that she wanted to go for a rave in Ibiza – but that her 80-year-old body wouldn’t quite follow her there. The positive approach was catching, and her overall youthful energy contagious. It was not age that defined her, it was her approach.
Anti-Ageing: A Lifestyle Choice and Attitude
You can make choices that impact body and mind positively – and get some great products to reward your lifestyle change efforts, too! 🙂 – subscribe to The GOODista and get special offers and discounts.
Ageing naturally while devouring all that life can give you is a challenge. You have a responsibility to yourself, and your loved ones, to take this challenge on.
Anti-Ageing? Your Choice
Only you can decide to skip breakfast, eat McD for lunch, and a take-out in front of the TV.
Adding malicious gossiping, negative news addiction and attraction to sad reality TV to this mix? We have just taken a few years out of our lives, as well as made ourselves pretty miserable to be with.
Anti-Ageing Choices
You can also decide to take your life on a different road by making healthier choices, drinking more water, exercising, stopping addictive behaviour, thinking positively and stressing less. This may mean making some life altering choices and very definite wellness decisions. Maybe this means changing jobs, dealing with long forgotten trauma, or committing to new healthier lifestyle?
Overall – the choice is yours. It does all end in the same way as life leaves us – but the journey can be endured or enjoyed, right? You choose your roadmap, and move onwards and forwards. 
If you like this post, why not follow The GOODista to get inspiration to a healthier lifestyle? For instance – check out how to reduce wrinkles – naturally. All in the spirit of positive ageing and lifestyle changes you can do 🙂
Recommended and Related:
- Ageing Naturally and Gracefully – WebMD
- Age Proof Yourself: 30 Tips How To Look and Feel Fab – thegoodista.com
- On-Line Guide For Living a Longer, Healthier Life – Pacific Medical Training
- 5 Natural Anti-Ageing Techniques – How Stuff Works
- Happiness and Age is an Attitude – livescience.com
- Ageing: What to Expect – MayoClinic
Thank you for your wisdom and all good advice! And great links and proposals for natural products! You clearly know what you talk about, and I recommend this encouraging site to anyone who wants to age naturally – and look younger than their years!
Thanks for your comments and recommendation. Age is an attitude, right?! Please feel free to tell your friends to subscribe for free to The GOODista Newsletter – special offers, weekly updates and inspiration.