After about 35 or 40, I’d say “the real you” starts to show, and it will typically go one way or the other. Some will almost hit the pause button, and they’ll look that age (or even younger) for decades, in some cases. Whereas others start to look like someone pushed a fast-forward button. And while some of it might be genetic, a lot of it is lifestyle.
For me, that person is my Dad. When he was in his 40s, people thought he was 30. Same when he was in his 50s. In his 60s, people pegged him in his 40s. And now he’ll be celebrating his 74th birthday the day before Thanksgiving and he still looks like a guy who’s 60.
His brothers—and one is a twin—on the other hand, are quite a different story. And that’s where lifestyle comes into play. Research has indicated that when it comes to the health of twins, for example, lifestyle outweighs genetics when it comes to health. Even my dad’s younger brother looks remarkably older—and had substantially worse health—than my father.
Part of the reason for this is that my dad developed and stuck to routine that promoted anti-aging, even if he didn’t think about it at the time. He made a point of waking up early to engage in physical activity. He ate plenty of fruits and vegetables, remained socially active, and committed to regular exercise. All of this stuff added up to a younger appearance and more physical capabilities. When some of brothers, for example, are unable to muster up the energy to get off the sofa, he’s out on the roof cleaning eavestroughs, raking the lawn, gardening, and lifting heavy stone!
So, what can you do to slow down the aging process to improve your health and natural glow? Here are a few ideas:
- Commit to a physical activity like snowshoeing, hiking, dancing, tennis, or golf, and do it a couple of times per week
- Build a consistent sleep schedule with a set bed and wake time
- Enjoy yourself—and occasionally indulge
- Lift weights a couple of times per week
- Stay active with friends and social groups
- Eat healthy fats and vitamin E (for glowing skin and heart health)
- Limit processed foods that promote inflammation
- Moisturize
The sooner you get involved with a healthy lifestyle, the more it will help stave off aging. It’s never too late to reap the rewards of doing your body good.