As published in Sweat Equity Magazine: "8 Anti-Aging Tips”

by Grace Van Berkum, R.H.N. page 50

2.  Eat nourishing foods.  You already know that eating the right foods helps to keep you healthy. More specifically, an alkalinizing, anti-inflammatory, enzyme-rich approach to food can slow down, and even reverse the aging process. I have seen it with my own eyes!  Eating plant-based foods protects against diseases that could limit your life, including diabetes and heart disease. These foods help keep your body functioning at its best which is important for your heart, vision, hearing, memory, and skin, amongst a myriad of other things.  Consume lots of brightly colored vegetables high in anti-oxidants and phytonutrients, such as red, orange and yellow peppers, kale, spinach, cabbage and broccoli, anti-inflammatory proteins and fats such as hemp seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, avocados, coconut butter, and 100% extra virgin cold pressed olive oil. Completely avoid refined sugars, white flour products, and hydrogenated and trans fats that inflame your skin and overburden your internal organs. You can literally notice changes in your skin appearance just after a few days on an anti-inflammatory diet!

3.  Wear sunscreen.  Sun damage is behind almost all of the signs of aging skin such as wrinkles and age spots. To prevent damage to your skin make sure to use a chemical-free sunscreen daily.  Raw Elements USA Sunscreen is rated #1 for safety and efficacy from The Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org)  and made with 100% all natural and certified organic inactive ingredients, and no harsh or synthetic chemicals.

4.  Move your body.  Consistent exercise is anti-aging medicine and a great anti-stressor. A sedentary lifestyle accelerates aging while an active lifestyle can help you look and feel younger, maintain a healthy body weight and muscles mass, improve bone density, strengthen the heart, and increase circulation improving skin complexion and tightness.  Consistent exercise and movement helps to prevent diseases and maintain a positive and vibrant outlook on life.

5.  Take care of your teeth.  Brush regularly, floss, and take care of your gums.  Avoid beverages like tea, coffee, and red wine that will stain your teeth making you look older (and dehydrate your skin and body).  Periodontal disease might be directly related to systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risks as studies are indicating that inflammation of the gums can cause the arteries to accumulate plaque, so floss daily to have beautiful gums and protect your heart.

6.  Smile.  Flash your beautiful teeth to light up your face and increase positive vibrations. We are drawn to people who smile!  The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Not to mention that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin, boosts immune system, lowers blood pressure, relieves stress, and all these things help slow down aging.

7.  Rest.  The body needs time to repair itself. Lack of sleep disrupts the body’s metabolism and speeds up age related conditions. Adequate sleep also facilitates detoxification which is important for anti-aging. (For more on the importance of sleep, see page 28.)

8.  Respect and honour yourself. Learning to process emotions and release stress will significantly slow down the aging process.  Deal with grief, anger and loss in your life. According to Karen Chrappa, “One of the most insidious accelerators of aging is the relentless judgments and harsh criticisms we hold against ourselves on a daily basis.”  Learn to forgive others, but more importantly learn to forgive yourself. Learning to release toxic emotions from your body will add years to your life.

You are what you eat. You are what you think. ~Gracious Living Lifestyle  XO