Here's How to Feel Like You're 20 Again, Say Doctors
Aging is a natural, biological process. But how young you feel at any age is highly influenced by a few things you do every day. In recent years, studies have found that it's possible to look and feel younger—even decades younger—by making some simple lifestyle changes. Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.
Get Enough Sleep
When you were 20, "I'll sleep when I'm dead" was probably your mantra. Today, if you're feeling like you've got one foot in the grave, look at your sleep patterns. Chances are you're getting less than when you were 20. Poor sleep stresses the body and is associated with an increased risk of disease associated with aging, including heart disease, cancer, dementia, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Experts recommend getting seven to nine hours of quality sleep every night.
Take a 10-Minute Run
A 2018 study found that older men and women who had exercised for decades were almost 30 years younger, biologically, than their chronological ages—and had muscles similar to people in their 20s! It doesn't take a lot of exercise to make a real difference in your health. Experts say every little bit helps protect against diseases that become more common with age, including heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and dementia—and recent studies have found that just a 10-minute run can boost your brain function and improve your mood, and only 20 minutes of daily exercise can prevent heart disease, even at age 70.
Eat This Carb
It may be a health tip you associate with your grandparents, but eating more fiber may keep your brain younger, longer. In a new study published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience, researchers tracked the dietary habits of 3,500 Japanese adults for more than 30 years. They found that those who consumed diets higher in fiber had a lower risk of developing dementia. Soluble fiber (found in foods like oats, beans, apples and citrus fruits) seemed to provide the most benefit. Researchers theorize that two well-known benefits of dietary fiber—improving gut health and reducing bodywide inflammation—may be responsible.
Stress Less
Stress feels awful when you're going through it. So it should come as no surprise that chronic stress ages the body: A recent Yale University study found that prolonged stress can actually accelerate biological aging. It may also slow your metabolism, raising your chance of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Have More Orgasms
Sex might make you look five to seven years younger, according to a British psychologist who spent a decade interviewing people about their sex lives. Study participants between the ages of 40 and 50 who looked younger than their peers reported having sex 50 percent more often, reported Dr. David Weeks. The potential reason: Orgasm releases human growth hormone and stimulates other biological processes that keep you looking and feeling young. And to ensure your health don't miss these 101 Health Habits You Didn't Know Were Deadly.
