Why We Age
Sun exposure, skin care products, air pollution are all reasons we age. Lack of exercise, stress, internal disease, lack of sleep, dehydration, and sugar consumption are a few of the reasons some of us look and feel better or worse than others.
Many of these factors are under our complete control, yet many of us lack the understanding or desire to address what might take years off our lives.
If you're looking for the quick fix - look the other way. Nothing changes over night! But start today addressing areas that you have neglected and over time you will feel and see the difference.
Free Radicals
Free radicals are created in high levels though out the body whenever there is trauma, infection, or inflammations. Any of the above stresses will promote free radical damage and encourage aging.. Fortunately we have a few defense mechanisms against this damage called antioxidants, found in Vitamin C-E , beta carotene, and the super anti oxidant green and white teas.
Coffee
Coffee raises levels of cortical and insulin, hormones that accelerate aging and store body fat.As few as two cups of coffee per day raise levels of cortical. Coffee can increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol. When this hormone is released it has an adverse effect on the immune system, brain cells, sugar metabolism, and weight gain.
When coffee drinkers substituted tea, they discovered that it helped them lose weight.
Cortisol
Hormones unfortunately decrease with aging. Hormones are an important part of maintaining a youthful appearance and feeling young and energetic. We should try to avoid anything that cause negative hormonal changes. There is a decline in growth hormones determining muscle mass, bone density, immune health, skin thickness, and mental capacity.
Cortisol is one hormones that increases as we get older. This is one hormone which the body is affected adversely when it is present for long periods of time.. High levels of cortisol can destroy the immune system, shrink brain cells and other vital organs, decrease muscle mass, cause thinning of skin. Cortisol is known as the death hormone because it is associated with old age and disease.
Cortisol is essential for our internal system. However the problem arises when cotisol is raised for long periods of time.
Sun Exposure
When we walk outside in the sun we immediately begin to trigger free radical damage formation in our skin, which causes damage to our skin.
Sleep.......ZZZZZZ
Besides making you cranky, studies are showing that less than 8 hours sleep a night may contribute to weight gain by dramatically disrupting the hormones that control your eating habits and metabolism. Deprived sleep interferes with carb metabilism. which leads to the storage of body fat.
Take a walk... Regular exercise raises body temp which primes us for sleep. Drink decaf tea at bed time with sleep aids
Sugar
Your body MUST have good carbs in order to function! Simple sugars - including table sugar - cause a burst of inflammation in your body. This causes a sharp spike in insulin levels resulting in accelerating the aging process, increase risk of heart disease, every form of cancer, memory loss, and mental deterioration.
Sugar also causes the skin to cross link, laying the foundation for wrinkles, sagging, and loss of tone. Add coffee to the mix which future increases insulin levels and cortisol, and you'll be storing even more fat in your abdominal region. If you do choose to eat your refined sugars - combine with good fats, fiber, and protein to slow absorption.