5 Little-Known Secrets for Looking and Feeling Younger

Posted byLisa at Micro of the MacroPosted inHealth & Well-Being, Hydration, NutritionTags:, , , , , , , , ,

I can remember the first time I heard the expression Youth is wasted on the young.  It came from a 40-something character sitting on a beach during an episode of Beverly Hills 90210.  At the time, I was too young to understand the meaning, but for some reason, the curious sentiment stuck with me.  Now, I get it. The vitality, fitness level, and lightheartedness of youngsters can become enviable as we age.  And although it’s impossible to return to those carefree days, there are natural ways to reclaim or retain youthful attributes, regardless of our current age.

We live in a beauty-obsessed society; Americans spent more than $9 billion on plastic surgery for purely aesthetic reasons in 2020. (And who knows how much we invested in beauty products!) With this kind of money being spent on little procedures, they can start to become the norm. This kind of normal can cause us to forget the fact that the human body is a revitalizing marvel.  Countless rejuvenating processes are going on at all times in our bodies below the level of our awareness. We were designed to heal ourselves with proper support; our cells work unceasingly to help us feel and look better. No liposuction, tummy tucks, or facelifts required.

After many years of studying the workings of a healthy body, I want to share a few of the best ways I’ve found to support my body’s efforts to help me look and feel younger.

  1. Daily Stretching – Dr. Gil Hedley, Board President for the Institute for Anatomical Research, produced a YouTube series called The Integral Anatomy Series: Deep Fascia & Muscle. Working with a cadaver, he shares The Fuzz Speech, demonstrating how fascia creates a fuzzy connection to muscles as we sleep.  When we stretch each morning, the fuzz dissolves, he says.  But when we forget to stretch or refrain from stretching due to injury, the fuzz gets thicker and thicker, resulting in stiffness, limited movement, and chronic pain often associated with growing old.  To continue enjoying the full expression of the physical body throughout life, stretching each day is a must.
  2. Proper Hydration – Gina Bria, Anthropologist & Founder of the Hydration Foundation, has done much to shed light on the critical importance of hydration.  This is an example of the extraordinary information you can find on her website: Fascia has recently been discovered . . . to be not only our connective tissue, holding us up and together like a crocheted sack, but a hidden irrigation system, a hidden electrical system, conducted by water, that sends cell-to-cell communication instantly.  To work well, it must be fully hydrated. Most of us go through our lives chronically dehydrated, which can present as low energy, various adverse conditions, disease, pain, and premature aging.  (For more on this, check out my article Hydration – No, Really.)  Additionally, Dr. Christiane Northrup, in an interview with Gina Bria, says that properly moisturizing the skin begins with internal hydration. Mineralizing water with a bit of fresh lemon juice or a pinch of Himalayan salt, eating fruits, getting outside, and taking Epsom salt baths can all contribute to better skin health and cellular communication.
  3. Fasting – Fasting has been a part of many spiritual traditions for eons, and for good reason. In his life-changing book, Conscious Eating, Dr. Gabriel Cousens writes, During a fast, digestive enzymes are relieved from their digestive role and mobilized for the cleansing and rejuvenation of the body . . . rapidly removing dead and dying cells and toxins.  Aging occurs when we have more cells die than are being built. Autophagy is the process described by Dr. Cousens, and according to Nutrition Expert Naomi Whittel, the process starts in as few as 16 hours.  Intermittent fasting for this period of time could be a good starting point for first-timers who have their physician’s consent.
  4. Protect your Telomeres – In an article on NutritionFacts.org, Dr. Michael Greger, author of the book How Not to Die, shares that a plant-based diet is foundational for longer telomeres, the protective caps at the end of our chromosomes that typically shorten with age. Other lifestyle factors, like normalizing weight and regular exercise are important, but without the right kinds of fuel, the telomeres continue to shorten, research shows.  Dr. Greger writes, Swapping just 1% of saturated fat calories in our diet (for high-fiber plant foods) can add nearly a whole year of length onto our telomeres. By slowing the shortening of the telomeres, he says, we can slow the aging process.
  5. Up your DHEA – In his book Ageless Body, Timeless Mind, Deepak Chopra, MD, discusses how DHEA, a hormone that is depleted by stress over the course of a lifetime, is found in elevated levels among regular meditators of any age.  Studies show DHEA improves physical and psychological well-being, muscle strength and bone density, and reduces body fat and age-related skin atrophy stimulating procollagen/sebum production. (It also) reduces total cholesterol and improves sexual satisfaction and insulin sensitivity.  But, according to Dr. Chopra, oral DHEA supplementation is not very beneficial due to it being broken down in the digestive tract.  From other sources, I’ve read that, in addition to meditation, DHEA levels may be naturally increased by sufficient rest, regular exercise, time in Nature, and a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (think walnuts & chia seeds.)

Reading through these tips, I’m noticing parallels of a healthy diet and regular movement. The bottom line, I believe, is this: youthful aging results from a commitment to a lifestyle that supplies your body with what it actually needs. Making good choices each day brings about beneficial ingrained habits. Soon, you’ll realize, trying to be healthy doesn’t feel like extra effort – it’s just what you do.  And your body will thank you.

Aging doesn’t have to be a dreaded or lamented process compensated for by plastic surgery.  Healthier skin, a stronger body, increased energy, and a joyful disposition can be ours throughout our time on the planet by making daily choices contributing to optimal body function.  Cheers to the phenomenal design of our bodies!

Blessings for Youthful Aging,

Lisa

The content of this article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented herein. Any statements about the possible health benefits of any subject discussed have not been evaluated by medical professionals or the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or illness.

109 thoughts on “5 Little-Known Secrets for Looking and Feeling Younger”

  4. Thank you for this post and resources. I have been interested and somewhat confused about the benefits of intermittent fasting in particular. It has been brought to my awareness several times over the last few months and this information makes the idea of intermittent fasting make more sense. Im going to check out Naomi Whittle. ( Thank you Lisa). 💗

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    1. Hi, Ladonna, I’m happy you found the post useful! I go through periods of fasting & not fasting depending on what else is going on in my life. I am just now reentering a fasting cycle. It always makes me feel lighter & more energetic. Let me know how it goes for you if you try it! Have a great weekend! 🌞

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  12. I love how you used the picture of a butterfly. I think they are the most beautiful creature by GOD in fact they can’t see their own beauty. In fact, they are young themselves considering the metamorphosis.

    For the past few years, I been really looking after myself. I exercise regularly, I go on intermittent fasting, I explore a lot, continue my learning outside of school, hangout with friends and family. I definitely think these things make me feel young.

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    1. Hi, Rosy, thanks for your visit & kind comment! I thought butterflies were a good choice for this subject matter – I’m happy you appreciated that, too! It’s good that you’ve been taking care of yourself for the past few years. I hope you continue your good habits for the rest of your life! 🌞

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  13. Ah, it’s another great post Lisa! First of all, I love the photo’s of the butterflies – how beautiful are they!
    And just want to say that there’s something really satisfying in stretching my body just after I’ve woken up – right there in bed (sometimes even before I open my eyes 😁)! My grandmother used to say that’s how we align our bodies for the challenges of the day ahead.

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  15. A wonderful article, as always, dear Lisa. You write so well, and the tips are awesome. When I switched completely to a plant based diet, my skin cleared up quite a bit. And, I’ve written here many times what that did for my energy and mind-body balance. Amazing. Food, like knowledge, contains power. Now, I simply need to add more stretching into my mornings. Not quite habituated to that yet. Am working on it…🤗 Have a lovely evening, and Sunday! 😊

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    1. Jeff! Thank you for your kind compliment & comment. Agreed, food is powerful beyond what most of us can imagine! You did yourself a huge service by making changes in your lifestyle & your story is inspirational! Glad you found my post useful. Hoping your day is glorious as well! 🌞

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  16. Very enlightening post as always Lisa, your nutrition tips are fantastic. And while there are always practicalities involved into how fast and well one can transform, I have found an urge to change after reading your blog. We have recently substituted Nutella with avocado, they are of differing tastes but a good substitute I think.

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    1. Hi, Deb, good to see you! When you say that my blog posts inspire you to change,
      I feel I have succeeded in my reasons behind sharing the information I do. Thank you wholeheartedly for saying so. Agreed, changing lifestyles requires lots of initial effort! But, we both know that on the other side of that hurdle, there are benefits beyond measure! Have a great week, my friend! 🌞

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  19. GREAT article! After reading this very interesting article, I began “checking off” one by one, for my own self, the “best ways” you have found to support your body’s efforts to help you look and feel younger. Daily stretching check, Proper Hydration check, Fasting check, Protect your Telomeres WHOA! I need to do a little research on this, and # 5 Up your DHEA check. I found a nutritional supplement that has been “proven” to lengthen telomeres. What do you think about taking supplements vs. changing your diet?

    Liked by 4 people

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    1. Hi, Array, thanks for visiting & leaving your supportive comment. As for supplements, I always choose food first. I’ve read studies showing some supplements don’t work at all; others work a bit, but not as well as food; and some are just dangerous. Changing your diet/lifestyle is not easy and doesn’t happen overnight, but so worth the effort. Have a great week! 🌞

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  21. Fabulous post Lisa with all of the needed elements to have us live optimally in our bodies! I’ve never heard of the fuzz but i like it. Now I just have to remember to do all of those that tell otehrs to do daily. It’s always a work in progress.. 💖💖💖

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  25. Nice collection of secrets. 1 (odd for a runner) and 4 (there usually isn’t a lot of color on my plates) have always been my weakness. I always take each day as a challenge to do my best to stem the effects of aging – never completely successful, but any improvement is always a win.

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      1. Guessing we all have those things we should do, but for some reason or other we don’t – fortunately at my trail race distances there is plenty of miles to get the legs warmed up – it was different in my younger road years when I was going zero to full blast at the gun.. then again, I was younger ha!

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  33. I found the post insightful… stretching is something I am definitely going to have to do more frequently… I have been stretching my my mind almost daily, now I am going to work more on my body…
    🇯🇲🏖️

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  37. Hello Lisa…I have practised intermittent fasting for the last few years now and can agree that it is beneficial…telomeres is something I was not aware of..thank you I will be checking into them further most interesting and anything which helps the ageing process is a definite plus…Thank you for following CarolCooks2 🙂

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  41. I love how you used butterfiles in your post. I find it almost as a symbolism since they are creatures who are not able to see their own beauty but the rest of the world is able to.

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      3. Can you show me where it says Being more mindful because that’s just the name of my name, but the link is the one I sent above

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