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Can we slow the aging process?
Since the beginning of time every one has been searching for the fountain of youth, a way to stay young beyond our years and delay the ravages of time.
A recent study published by the National Academy of Science suggests that it is actually possible to measure the biological effects of aging by monitoring certain biomarkers over time.
A biomarker is anything that can be used as an indicator of a particular disease state or some other physiological state of an organism. Biomarkers of aging would give the true "biological age", which may be different from the chronological age.
Like most of us know, there were individuals of the same age in numbers but who are different in their biological age and actually aged faster. This may explain why some people look or function younger than their stated age, and vice versa.
The study revealed that your lifestyle and habits in your 20s can result in increased aging, and effects can reveal themselves before you even hit your 40s. While the results of this study are still in their beginning stages, it leads to more research about how we can slow the effects of aging, and exactly which factors lead to a decline in physical function as we get older.
Though no one has found the fountain of youth quite yet, perhaps there are some things you can do to appear more youthful, or at least help minimize wrinkles which form when your skin loses moisture and essential building blocks, such as collagen and elastin, over time.
Exposure to UV rays from sunlight without the appropriate sun protection can age your skin, cause premature wrinkles and increase your chances of developing skin cancer.
Smoking can also lead to wrinkles. Nicotine in cigarettes narrows the blood vessels in your skin, and with these narrowed vessels, less blood, oxygen and nutrients can reach your skin.
The many chemicals in tobacco can also damage the collagen fibers of your skin. Both of these factors can cause your skin to sag and wrinkle. If you want to take years away from your skin, you might want to invest in some sunblock and kick out those cigarettes.
In addition to lifestyle factors, our diets can also affect how we age and how age manifests in our skin and hair.
Time magazine suggests that there are 10 foods you can eat to help improve the look of your skin and hair by providing the vitamins and nutrients necessary to promote healthy hair growth and increased cell turnover.
You can easily find 9 in Nigeria, though lobsters are rare.
Coffee
Watermelon
Pomegranates
Blueberries
Lobster
Kale
Eggs
Walnuts
Avocado
Let's focus on Avocados
Avocados are a well-known source of healthy fats to include in our diets, as most people know. Avocados are one of the best anti-aging foods you can eat, but you can also use them in your beauty routine!
Here are three ways to use avocado for your skin:
Avocado Anti-Aging Mask
The oleic acid (a healthy fat) in avocados, helps reduce inflammation, lowering redness and also fighting wrinkles. Apply this avocado mask below to give avocados a try.
Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado (should be soft to the touch)
1 tsp. coconut oil
Cut open the avocado, remove the pit, and mix all together in a bowl. Apply for 30 minutes. It will soften the skin and doing this every night may just help you wake up looking more youthful everyday, but don’t forget to take your makeup off with coconut oil first though.
Give this mask a try and remember to eat your avocados too. Avocados are a great natural dairy replacement to try, and they’re truly one of nature’s most miraculous foods you can use for so many things.
You can even use them as a hair mask and natural conditioner as another beauty aid. (I use them too, mixed with raw eggs and coconut oil and it leaves my hair shiny).
And, at least this way, you never have to worry if you have more ripe avocados on your hands than you can handle.
We’ll keep you posted on the continuous quest to find the scientific fountain of youth, but until then, sunscreen and avocados might be your best friend.
In the meanwhile, check out this comprehensive article on 13 health benefits of avocado, with some facts, list of nutrients, list of diseases that can be cured by avocado, how to consume it, by healthnfitnessshops.
