7 Ways to Be Younger

About 10,000 people are turning 60 every day in the US. And if you are one of them, you’ll agree that there is a wide disparity in how people are aging.

​Years ago, I watched an Oprah show where 20 or so people lined up on stage and the audience guessed their ages. Some people were guessed to be in their late 20’s or 30’s, one lady was thought to be 60. Then, Oprah revealed every single person was 40 years old. What caused this apparent difference? Although genetics played a part, the biggest determinant was how these people lived… the choices they made, how happy they were, and how much stress they had. I never forgot this episode and then I went to naturopathic medical school. This is what I learned about anti-aging:

1. If you smoke, stop. It was the main difference that made people seem older. Smoking causes wrinkles and it also deprives your body of the oxygen that most non-smokers easily get more of. The woman who was guessed to be 60 years old was a smoker for over 20 years. She was crying on the stage. 
2. Reduce your alcohol intake, too much takes a significant toll on your body. So if you enjoy the vino, which most of us do, then imbibe with moderation. It’s actually be good for your longevity to do so.
3. Any exercise is better than none. A 30 minute walk a day will reduce your stress, increase your circulation and lift your mood. But if you really get the heart pumping, sweat some, lift and stretch and get a good all body workout, it’s even more youthifying. (Of course, check with your doctor before starting any exercise regimen. If you’re a natural couch potato, start slow before building up to more strenuous activity.)
4. Eat naturally. A whole food diet is the way our bodies were raised. And I don’t mean by your momma. No disrespect to your momma and kudos to those who did grow up with a whole foods diet, but many of us grew up on sugary cereal and other highly processed foods. Turns out your body’s real fuel comes from real food—fresh veggies, fruit, legumes, hormone and antibiotic free meat, and whole grains.
5. Manage your stress. Breathe deeply, meditate daily, even 10 minutes is better than none—it’s not true that the world will fall apart if you’re absent for a few minutes.
6. Sleep more. Sleep is when your body repairs itself, processes all the day’s events, and restores itself. Over 50% of Americans suffer from sleep disorders. If this is you, get help from a natural health practitioner—pharmaceutical sleep aids make you unconscious… this is not sleep.  
7. Learn positivity. Yes, this is a real thing—you can retrain your brain to be happy, to be positive and to become more sensitive to the good things in life.

Want to take Dr. Stella's workshop on Reverse Aging? It's will transform you! 

Want to know how much is too much alcohol? Check out this website.
http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/IsYourDrinkingPatternRisky/WhatsLowRiskDrinking.asp
Want to learn more about training your brain to be happy? Check out Rich Hanson’s book Hardwiring Happiness.
https://www.rickhanson.net/writings/books/hardwiring-happiness/
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