Ageing with Aplomb

While an addiction to youth is bound to be disappointing, here are some keys to staying vital at any age.

American psychologist Candace Pert says the access to the fountain of youth is “passing up sweets, as well as those muffins, pastas, bagels, and pancakes.” She’s spot on. Overeating these types of foods will spike your insulin levels and encourage you to gain weight and age prematurely. Too much alcohol and caffeine will also raise your insulin.
Stick to simple, unprocessed organic foods. (It’s more expensive, but not nearly as expensive as chronic illness.) Include a range of fresh vegetables and fruit, healthy proteins, and good fats. A diet high in trans fats and omega-6 fats (corn, safflower, sunflower and soybean oils) will speed up the ageing of your skin and your body. As we get older our digestive capacity can decline, so take digestive enzymes if you need to.
Drink plenty of water. Dehydration puts stress on your body. Aim for about 30ml per kilo of body weight each day (so if you weigh 60-70kg that’s around 2 litres — maybe more in hot conditions).
Another key to staying youthful is exercise. As we age we need a well conditioned heart, lungs and blood vessels; good balance so we remain sure-footed and confident; strong muscles and bones to manage the demands of everyday living; and flexible muscles so that we can continue to bend and stretch. Although it has become the norm, it is not at all necessary to be stiff, frail and disabled in our older years.
Also important is getting a good night’s sleep and addressing emotional stresses. Meditate, do yoga, tai chi, use relaxation techniques, massage, acupuncture, whatever works best for you. While many forms of exercise are draining, some (including yoga postures) are restorative and help to balance our mental and emotional state. Deal with negativity, grief, sadness and anger in your life.
Having a passion or a purpose in life keeps you youthful, as does intimacy, fun and joy. It’s never too late to become the woman you want to be.
As much as possible get some sunlight exposure each day. This helps to keep your vitamin D levels topped up and lifts your spirits.Inflammation has been identified as the source of degenerative diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. The major causes of inflammation include stress, cigarette smoke, radiation over-exposure, drugs and chemicals (including pesticides and pollution), trans fats, high blood sugar, sleep deprivation, nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin D or excesses such as iron, and carrying too much fat, especially around the middle. Look at how to remove these potential sources of inflammation from your life. A blood test will indicate your vitamin D levels (more about that in the article on Building Better Bones).
Work with a good holistic doctor or naturopath to have regular health checks, including hormone levels, liver function, iron, homocysteine, skin cancer and a pap smear. Healthy hormone balance is key to healthy ageing, so check the article on How to have Healthy Hormones.
Finally, remember that ageing well is about both attitude and lifestyle. Even if you haven’t taken the best care of yourself until now, quality food, exercise, relaxation and sleep bring improvements at any age.

Shirley MacLaine talks about the 20-40-60 rule. She says that at 20 we’re obsessed with what others think of us, at 40 we start to not care what they think, and at 60 we realize that when we were 20, the only ones judging us were ourselves. She concludes that no matter what age we are, it’s time to be 60!

Ageing with Aplomb

Further reading