Healthy Aging
The question is this...what to do about aging?
It seems we have little
choice but to accept that we are not going to look 24, every year,
until we are 94.
"Learn to love your body and don't buy magazines" is my advice.
In many cultures, older women (complete with normal skin for a 60 or 80 year old) are considered wise and beautiful, and the family respect them. Sadly in North America and parts of Europe many women are striving to achieve the unachievable.
Taking care of yourself certainly helps. In my experience, practising mindful movement also reduces stress and assists in rejuvenating the body.
Not fighting the aging process is a healthy way to age.
The fact is we are alive and each day we go to sleep a day older, so surely accepting aging is a far more empowering and healthy way to live each day with JOY?
I do Feldenkrais work on a daily basis; taking this mindful timeout to rest, relax, move, sense, listen and be aware is all part of caring for myself inside and out.
I love Lavinia Plonka's 'Unstress Through Movement' series. They are easy to understand and by doing it every day, or regularly throughout the week, it builds on each lesson and your awareness increases. I find I have more mental clarity and also feel less stressed, through doing a daily Feldenkrais lesson. I also can't remember the last time I had a bad night's sleep!
I highly suggest taking time out for you, Feldenkrais is a great way to reconnect to self!
Journalling is an ideal way
to air your concerns and leave room for the real YOU to live
life.
What can we eat to help the aging process?
Eat Real food is my advice:
- fresh fruit
- vegetables
- eat seasonally
- avoid SUGAR!
- eat some raw vegetables with apple cider vinegar & olive oil
- grass fed butter
- coconut oil
- olive oil for salad dressings- they are easy to make - 1 part vinegar to 2 parts olive oil.
- filtered water
- grass fed meat
- soaked grains; rice, quinoa or lentils soaked in a little lemon & water
This is essentially a traditional balanced diet. The rampant promotion of "low fat", is, thought to be, contributing to many wrinkly faces, we need real fats for health. Avoiding trans fats or hydrogenated fats is vitally important as these tweaked fats are highly processed and not what nature intended us to eat!
Interestingly cod liver oil, taken orally, helps maintain soft skin and minimize wrinkles. [1] I take a teaspoon of Blue Ice fermented cod liver oil and butter oil and have noticed that my hair is stronger and skin looks healthier.
The Weston A Price foundation, and many other scientists, promote eating saturated fat to:
Assist with cell membrane integrity
Enhance immune function
Maintain bone health [2]
One could surmize that the "low fat" promotion of foods is actually not beneficial? Immune disorders and bone disesases, such as osteoporosis, are widespread in North America. I feel that is due to what we are now eating, or not eating?
It is sad that claims on a
packet are trusted more than the experience of a farmer.
Skin care tips for aging gracefully
Using Miessence,
certified organic skin care, is providing the skin with real plant
nutrients that feed the skin, such as aloe vera, rosehip oil,
sunflower oil and calendula.
Having suffered with acne for over ten years having clear skin is a huge blessing. I realise now that I was stressing my body through not eating well and using synthetic chemical skin care. Now having removed the synthetic chemicals from my daily skin care regime, and stuck with the detoxification process, my skin is completely clear!
Becoming a label detective and knowing what you are smoothing into your skin on a daily basis is paramount. Regulations are such that we are not overly protected and there are ingredients in many body washes, moisturizers and shampoos that are known carcinogens!
Most plants and oils have vitamins and minerals naturally present and that is why I recommend using genuinely certified organic skincare. Marketing claims are widespread and, sadly, many times the box claims can not be fully substantiated, only creating disappointment.
Download this free factsheet on real certified organic skin care ingredients!
There are many plant oils that are reported to be good for the skin, and I am currently using Neal's Yard Remedies Rosehip oil, my sister gave it to me for Christmas! I usually use Rejuvenessence serum which works superbly well to nourish the skin. I use it at night.
SLEEP the vital antiaging component.
Talking of night, brings us to SLEEP. Sleep is absolutely vital for healthy skin. We need sleep to rest our body and allow it to detox and renew. A lack of sleep is often seen in the sallow complexion and 'tired' look. With 24hrs television, computers and radio, we can find that sleep is the thing that gets overlooked, which is highly unwise.
A restful evening routine is
vital;
- A warm non-caffeinated drink
- A good book
- Comfortable bed clothes
- A warm bath can assist the body in sleeping well.
- A cool room, preferably with a window open
- Bed before 10pm ideally. If there is a TV show you love- record it!
- Sleep is not a time to miss, it keeps us healthy
- A drop of lavender oil on your pillow can calm your mind & relax the body.
References:
[1] Terkelsen LH, Eskild-Jensen H Barker JH, Hjortdal VE, Topical application of Cod Liver Oil accelerates would healing: an experimental study in wounds in the ears of hairless mice. Scand. J.
[2] Weston A Price Foundation traditional foods and dietary guidelines
©Actual Organics 2009