As I was saying in Part 1, balance is pretty crucial in anti-aging techniques.
Some other products, that will, over time, age us faster are: sugar, salt, alcohol, smoking, caffeine, soda, aspartame containing products, processed foods, and foods that we know are allergens for us, and some that we may not realize are problematic.
So, I just negated many possible offenders. Some might ask, “What’s left to eat?”
My answer……“Quite a bit.”
I really love food, and don’t like being restricted, but once you start making healthier choices, you’ll realize how many options are left open to you.
Let’s start in the vegetable aisle, you’ll find a lot of choices there.
If you’re not sure how to prepare some of these, the internet is a wonderful source of recipes and information. Filling up on vegetables is not a bad thing, but I’m not talking about just the tuberous root veggies. I’m referring to leafy green choices and the cruciferous types!
These provide antioxidants that will feed your cells and drive off the oxidative damage that happen with aging, stress, and pollution, to name a few.
By eating organic fresh fruits, especially berries, organic vegetables, lean cuts of meat that are hormone free (grass-fed preferred), a smaller amount of grain, or root vegetable (also organic), flavored with herbs, spices, and healthy oils, you’ll give your body the building blocks that it needs for fuel, immune support, and to keep it healthy and young.
Another area, that unknowingly may be impacting our health and aging, is how we deal with life’s stressful situations (this being the Mental component.)
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Like water off a ducks back”?
If you realize that life will always throw problems your way, but learn to shake it off like a duck, it will lessen the impact internally.
Don’t allow stress to take over!
Stay positive and see the glass half full, instead of half empty. This type of mindfulness is so important to our good health and longevity.
Take the current economy, for example. It affects pretty much everyone.
You can choose to either let it consume you, wreaking havoc on your body, by effecting your sleep and sanity, or….. realize that there’s only so much you can do, then do it, and let the rest of the worries go. They don’t serve you.
Negativity is another “ager.”It becomes such a part of some people’s “makeup” that they don’t even realize how it’s affecting them, let alone those around them.
Harmful habits to avoid would be….holding grudges, being judgmental, finding fault with our self or others, harboring resentment, as well as the hardening your heart, so hurts don’t penetrate.
All these things can end up causing bodily harm over time, creating problems internally, and age us.
I really love the works of Louise Hay. She wrote the book, “Healing your life”, which is one of my favorites. She explains how emotional and mental choices can, over time, lead to many disease processes.
Some may not believe this, but if you start observing some of the common issues around you (family, friends and co-workers), you’ll recognize the patterns in them, even if they can’t see it in themselves.
She also lists some great affirmations to help us change some of these perceptions, which can in turn lead to wellness and youthfulness.
A strong constitution, (your genetics), can also play a part in how well we age.
In Oriental Medicine we’d call this aspect: jing.
It’s something that we’re born with, and depending on the health and genetics of our parents, especially at the time of conception, can make a difference in how well our body deals with traumas and health related issues.
Chinese herbs and acupuncture can be very helpful in supplementing and regulating your system, to lessen the effects of aging and illness.
However, some things are out of our control.
We can’t help which hand we’re dealt, but we can still make good choices, to enhance our life and wellbeing, which will keep us younger longer.
For best results, focus on the following:
1. Getting enough good quality sleep (asleep before 11pm if possible)
2. Eating good healthy organic foods and purified water (see earlier list)
3. Being around positive people and emulating their behavior
4. Realizing what’s truly important in your life and keeping focused on that
5. Drinking 6-8 glasses of good quality water daily
6. Feeding your spirit with things that make you happy….and know what those are for you! Laugh, and do it often!
7. Avoiding those things that you know are toxic to your body and spirit
8. Spending time doing one or all of the following: Meditate, pray, yoga, exercise, getting massage and/or acupuncture
9. Thinking of what and who you’re grateful for in this life and letting others how they’ve helped you
10. Be a duck! Shake off what you can do nothing about, and change what you can
Contact Shelly today to learn more about your health and set up an appointment (760) 419-6863
