I definitely didn’t think about it when I was in my twenties, but I certainly do now. Part of that is seeing my body and realizing that I am aging, but slowing aging is something that is important to me for health reasons- not just aesthetics. I look at my life in the future and I want to make sure that I’m as health and active as I can possibly be right up until the end. I once met a lady name Alice, who at 80 was skydiving in the winter in Arizona (I made a jump with her!), and kayaking in the summer in Colorado! Amazing. She has always been an inspiration to me.

Some of the key things I have found to be important include the following:

• Taking care of my “shell”. Since the skin is truly my barrier to the world, it seems appropriate that a certain amount of energy be dedicated to taking care of it. And hopefully, maybe some of that will translate into better looking skin later as well. My skin care regime is pretty simple. I make sure to give myself good all-over moisture at least once a day, usually when I get out of the shower, and I make sure I buy something good quality. Sunscreen is something I bring with me always, but I don’t use it right away, and here’s why. As for my face, it does get a daily coat of sunscreen, along with anti-oxidant vitamins everyday in a serum, and a good cleanser that is neither abrasive or riddled with chemicals. I also exfoliate my face and body on a regular basis to remove old skin and keep it fresh.

• Supplements! I have experimented with so many supplements that I  could open up a store out of my closet. Unfortunately, I am not that good at remembering to take everything all the time, but here are the ones I do remember because of their importance.
  • Probiotic- your immune system resides in your digestive track, so a daily probiotic will help keep your immune function running like a champ
  • Antioxidants A, C, and E- helps rid the body of free radicals which age your body.
  • Alpha-Lipoic-Acid (ALA)- another powerful antioxidant.
  • Omega 3′s- acts as an anti-inflammatory, improves brain function and cardiovascular health
  • Vitamin B supplement- B vitamins can help reduce stress and even keep your memory in tip-top shape, among other things. B12 in particular can help lower Homosysteine, which is a damaging amino acid that triples the amount of telomere (cap of your DNA) length lost during cell division (thinking aging cells).
  • Proper amount of vitamin D (either from the sun or from a supplement if necessary).
• Exercise for muscle maintenance. Every decade, we lose approximately 3 pounds of muscle! Exercise improves immune system function, lowers blood pressure, improves circulation, improves your balance and coordination, and keeps you feeling strong and healthy. My tip here is find something to do that you love, so you’ll stay with it for the long haul!
• Eating Right. The old saying “you are what you eat” holds especially true here. Making proper choices in your daily intake of food is an important part of slowing aging. I have written number articles on diet and nutrition, so explore A Splendid Life to find out more. A great place to start is my Quest for Health Series, but I think most of us already know the big ones: eat lots of fruits and vegetables, reduce or remove processed foods from your diet, and regulate your intake of things like sugar, dairy and gluten (remove them entirely if you can).

There are probably many different ways that people have found to slow aging. These are just my tricks, but I would love to hear some other ideas! Aging is inevitable, but we can at least fight the good fight, and hopefully end up like Alice in the end!

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