Aging is inevitable. It happens to all of us – despite all the anti-aging creams and lotions on the market. Yet, there’s still hope. The aging process can be slowed down, and you can facilitate rejuvenation. This can all be accomplished without any voodoo style products.
So, what am I talking about here? What is the relationship between women’s health and aging? And how can you – the Future Female – take a proactive and impactful approach to slow down the turn of time?
The Top 3 Things To Help Reverse Aging
Here are the top 3 things you can do to reverse aging and become the badass woman you know you are. After all, you’re in charge of your life – and not the other way around.
1. Stress – Find Ways to Reduce It!
Undeniably, the world is becoming a more and more stressful place. In the midst of the pandemic, stress and anxiety are high. In fact, the average stress of Americans has risen from 4.9 to 5.4 out of 10 (1).
Chronic stress ages you. It also comes with various adverse health effects. However, stress isn’t all bad. Acute stress is an innate mechanism that helps protect you and your body from harm. This dates back to hundreds and thousands of years when our ancestors were hunter-gatherers.
Usually, the situation went something like this: A threat, such as a bear, is identified. Our stress, ‘fight-or-flight’ system, kicks in. Your heart rate increases. Your breathing becomes more rapid. Your body quickly begins getting you ready to either run as fast as you can or stand up and fight the threat in front of you. This was a necessary reaction to protect yourself from harm or hazards.
Today, this system doesn’t play out quite the same. There are frequently no immediate threats (or not as many, such as a bear or coyote). But stress still exists.
When you have that deadline to meet at work, you might feel stressed out.
When you have to juggle multiple entities at once (such as having the kids home during the pandemic and having to work your day job or manage your clients), you may feel stretched too thin.
You get cranky, moody, and easily agitated. You can’t think clearly. And you probably aren’t sleeping all that great either. Your performance at work might suffer. Your relationships might take a hit. You might even become sick more easily. It all intersects.
Chronic stress frequently acts on the immune system in a way that damages or suppresses it, whereas acute stress may actually activate the immune system (2). This means that chronic stress may result in wide-spread inflammation or chronic illness. In turn, this accelerates aging and reduces one’s quality of life.
In fact, stress takes a serious swing at your DNA.
Get this: The telomeres, caps at the end of a chromosome, naturally shorten as the cell divides to make new cells (this is how your body replaces old cells and also how it prevents aging from happening). But when researchers checked the telomeres in highly stressed premenopausal women against a control group, these women’s cells appeared to be aged by 10 additional years (3).
Okay, so what does this mean? It means that stress isn’t just taking a couple of months or a few years off your life. It’s actually taking potentially decades off your lifespan.
So, what can you do?
Ideally, you want to find ways that work for you to reduce the stress in your life. Juggling multiple projects, a social life, and family might mean saying ‘no’ to other things. Or you may benefit from a daily practice or relaxation technique, such as meditation (4). Many women also find deep breathing exercises or activities, like yoga, to be very meditative and soothing.
These also only work when done on a consistent basis. They can help during one-off circumstances, but if they aren’t well-practiced, such as when you’re not under immediate stress or anxiety-ridden thoughts, they might not do a whole lot. In other words, practice, practice, practice! Make these a regular and daily occurrence – not just one-offs.
2. Skin – Treat Your Skin With Care.
Sunscreen wasn’t invented for no good reason. In fact, you should see the almost medieval-looking cover-ups women used to wear at the beach to protect their skin. Sometimes, this involved an entire blanket draped over top – as if you were dressing up as a ghost for Halloween – with eye, mouth, and nose holes cut out (I’m not kidding!).
In the modern-day, we are very much privileged to have the option of wearing sunscreen. While the body requires moderate sun exposure for the creation of vitamin D (which is produced via cholesterol within the skin and is an important hormone within the body), too much sun and UV rays can result in dark spots and wrinkles.
One study even claims that the sun is responsible for 80% of the skin’s visible aging (5). However, this may vary for different skin types. For instance, many people of color experience a slower decline in the aging of their skin. Yet, if these individuals don’t proactively protect their skin, the damage caused by sun exposure may eventually catch up with them.
The answer? Wear sunscreen. Cover up. Avoid direct sun exposure between 10 am and 3 pm.
Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It should be treated as such. It protects your body from foreign invaders. It keeps you hydrated. It provides the largest surface area to release toxins. It helps regulate temperature. It has countless functions. But when it becomes damaged, your health may decline, along with your youthful glow.
In addition to that, cleanse and moisturize your skin. It takes a few minutes in the morning and in the evening. Yet, you’re doing your skin some serious good. You wipe away any dirt or bacteria that can also cause blemishes and skin issues.
3. Sex – Go Ahead… Do It!
Sex isn’t necessarily an activity for the young. The truth is that sex is important – no matter what age you are. It brings you closer to your partner. It makes you feel more confident. And well – let’s cut to the chase – it feels good.
Here’s another thing: A low libido is a sign of hormonal imbalances. It’s an indicator that something isn’t going quite right. In reality, this may come down to numerous reasons, such as stress levels, diet, your relationship health or stability, your confidence, and more.
And yes, vaginal dryness can happen as you age. However, you can remedy this through lubricants, as well as improvements in your overall health.
But here’s the real question: Can sex keep you young?
According to some health experts, it can! In fact, having sex twice a week might even make you look years younger (6).
A low sexual quality of life may also contribute to depression and relationship stress. On the other hand, a high sexual quality of life is related to higher satisfaction, less stress, and a higher amount of relationship stability (7). This same study also linked a 5% decline in sexual quality of life with a 10-year increase in age. This means that a lack of sex might make you age faster.
Sex does this in many ways.
Sex may increase your mental well-being, which is undeniably linked to your physical well-being and health. Sex might strengthen your relationship, which can lead to increased social support and thus, less stress.
Another research study also showed that couples who had sex at least once a week had a higher telomere length (8). This indicates that the cells still have the capability to divide, rejuvenating their tissues, and slowing down the process of aging.
When it comes down to it, sex matters – potentially more than you think. So, go ahead, do it. Find new ways to make it fun and exciting. Remember, you’re an empowered and strong female who is attractive and deserves to feel wanted or desired.
Buy that new outfit and get down to it. Or look up a few ways to make sex fun, even when you’ve been with your partner for a long time (it’s entirely possible to have a healthy sex life despite being together for many years!). This can further build intimacy and connection within your relationship, which also brings about a more natural youthful spirit from within.
Start Today
It’s up to you to improve your life. And it’s within your power to control how you age. It starts with the 3 S’s above, Stress, Skin, and Sex – all of which are within your power.
Aging usually happens due to many variables. And no, you can’t entirely stop it. But you can take your power back by proactively doing the things that slow this process down and improve your quality of life and your health.
As a new year approaches, it’s time to start making some changes. Yet, waiting for the new year to happen is just an excuse. Instead, start today.
Begin right here and right now!
Book a Discovery Call with me today, and discover how you can begin your journey toward a better life and health by design – and where age truly is just a number.
