When you are younger, we do really take things for granted; we act like there is no tomorrow. But as you age, things take a different turn. When you reach the age of 40, you now look at life with a different mindset. You start to think of the old days and wish that you had done things a little bit differently. 

You might be thinking, why the sudden change of perspective? As you age, you start to feel things differently. Your body does not move like the way you want it to do so. Your reactions are a little bit slower. Your sense of balance is a bit out of whack. And your skin … your skin has lost that youthful glow and elasticity. It is not the same anymore. You will start asking yourself, when did this happen?

Truthfully, you should have taken care of yourself when you were still younger to enjoy growing old in a graceful manner. When you are still in your prime, one should start a great skin regimen and have a healthy lifestyle. To know more about how to grow old gracefully, check out liveyouthfully.com.

However, it is not the end of the world, you can still have that youthful glow by following these tips.

Exercise

There is always room for exercise in your life, and you do not have to slave hours in a stifling gym as you can do your own exercise routine, something that can fit into your lifestyle and something that you can do at least twice a week at home.

There are various exercise or workout programs that you can adopt; you do not need a fitness workout that is tailored to other people. What you need is something that will be effective for you. 

Try everything while you are still young. You can do Pilates, yoga, cardio exercises, aerobics, running, and other exercise programs out there. Try everything out and see what you like and what works for you. 

Eat a Balanced Diet

We talk about having a balanced diet, but what is it? A balanced diet is a meal composed of fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, lean proteins, nuts, whole grains that is full of good calories. According to health experts, a single individual needs 2,000 calories on a daily basis. However, one’s intake would depend on age, physical activity, and gender. Men need more food intake to maintain their body mass and energy levels compared to women.

If there are good calories, there are also bad calories, and the latter are what most people eat on a daily basis. Remember, what you put in your body matters. Our body is similar to a machine — if you put in good fuel and oil, you will get a better performance out of it and further its lifespan. On the other hand, if you use low quality fuel and oil then expect to break down sooner than expected. 

Food Groups to Opt for to Have a Balanced Diet

Fruits

There are a lot of fruits that you can munch on and be healthy. Fruits are high in natural sugar, which is a good kind of sugar that can help boost one’s energy.

Proteins

Some of the best sources of protein are meat and beans. For meats, you can opt for lean meats, chicken and fish. For beans, you can try soy, lentils, peas, kidney and black beans. You can also opt for tofu. Nuts are also a high source of protein. However, nuts also contain a high percentage of fats, so you don’t want to overdo it on the nuts.

Whole Grains

Try not to go for white refined grain flour; instead go for something whole grain. Nowadays, there are a lot of whole-grain products on the market.

Oils

The best oil for consumption is olive oil; there are a lot of good health benefits when you consume it or make it a part of your diet.

Dairy

This is the best source for calcium and vitamin D. However, instead of opting for cow’s milk try plant-based milk like soy and almond milk. This is far healthier and has lesser fat content.

Foods to Avoid

• Sausages, bacon or other processed meats

• Cakes

• Ice cream

• Pizza

• Sodas

• Sports drinks

• Donuts

• Cookies

• Sugary drinks

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate 

Water is life — this is so true. This liquid gold is essential for our bodies to function well. Drinking a minimum of 8 glasses a day helps our bodies to dissolve needed nutrients and flush waste products away. 

Take Extra Good Care Of Your Skin

Our skin easily shows how we live our lives; it easily mirrors your earlier lifestyle. If you look around, you can see some men and women who still look good even at the age of 50 or more. 

Men and women who took care of their skin while they are still young look great even at an older age. How do they do that?

1. Always use sunscreen when going out. This is very important. There are a lot of harmful UV rays even inside a building. Therefore, it is better to use a good quality sunscreen than risk damaged skin or skin cancer.

2. Opt for a quality toner. After scrubbing your face clean, you might think that it is OK to leave it that way but this is not the case. You will need to use a toner to remove remaining traces of makeup, oil and excess dirt. Plus, a toner helps correct and balance your skin’s PH.

3. Moisturize Always do this to keep your skin smoother, softer, and younger-looking. The best time to do this is when your skin is still damp or shortly after cleansing it. You can also follow up with a great eye serum like the one from Miami MD.

Final Thoughts

Now you have an idea of what you need to do to keep looking young even at an old age. Do this while you are still young. For sure, in the future,  you will thank the younger you for doing so.