How do I slow my Ageing process?

Here are the top eight factors that make you age faster . If like most people you want to age at the slowest rate possible, make sure you take note of these eight lifestyle issues.

In no particular order, let's now look at the Top Eight Nasties

Sun Exposure

From increasing wrinkles and sagging, to skin cancer, the sun can create havoc on your skin and will age you if you do not protect yourself . If you are out in the sun on a regular basis especially on holiday use a good quality sunscreen with a minimum SPF15 level.

Not Enough Sleep

Lack of regular sleep can increase the risk of poor health ranging from cardiovascular to increased stress levels to name a few. Health risks associated with insufficient sleep will in the long run have a negative effect on the way you age.

Alcohol

In moderation, alcohol is fine. However, excessive drinking of alcohol over a long period of time can cause serious health issues from cardiovascular, stomach and liver damage, to memory loss and depression, all of which age the body. The skin is also affected as alcohol will dehydrate the skin which will result in faster face ageing.

Stress

Stress is a growing problem in the UK today which results in millions of days every year taken off from work. Other than the negative physical effects on the body caused by stress and increased skin ageing, if you suffer from long-term stress this will result in blood being diverted from the skin to the muscles. This may give a poor and older-looking skin appearance as the years go by.

Lack of Exercise

Lack of exercise is a leading cause of heart disease. Yet many people take none at all in a typical week! It has been found that seven out of ten women and six out of ten men are not getting the health benefits from regular exercise. You need to do at least 30 minutes of exercise a week to make you feel warm and just out of breath - otherwise you are inactive! It's a sobering thought that 36 per cent of deaths from heart disease in men and 38 per cent in women are caused by lack of exercise.

Taking regular exercise is one of the best preventative medicines you can get. You halveyour risk of getting heart disease. Exercise lowers blood pressure and prevents your blood pressure becoming too high, avoiding strokes. It increases HDL-cholesterol level - that's the good cholesterol in your blood - reduces or stabilises your weight, prevents blood clotting and lowers your chance of developing diabetes.You can make a start by moving around more every day to feel more energetic and fit.

Diet

It has been said that a good way to stay looking and feeling young is to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants. Many of these fresh foods as well as green tea contain additional benefits from powerful phytonutrients, members of the antioxidant family which are great for slowing down the ageing process. This is because they mop up the "free radicals" - oxygen molecules that can contribute to cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease.

The secret is to choose brightly coloured fruits and vegetables for example, red, green and yellow peppers, courgettes, carrots and squashes, apples, oranges, grapes and mangos. The list is endless and raw fruits, salads and stir fries are certainly one of the great secrets of staying young and vibrant!

It is also essential to avoid foods that are high in saturated animal fats. Aim to replace red meat with fish especially the oily kind and try some vegetarian protein such as tofu, beans and pulses and wholegrains such as wholewheat, brown rice, buckwheat and quinoa. Choose semi-skimmed or skimmed milk and low fat cheese over the full fat versions - and you have the perfect kind of diet to delay the ageing process for a great many years!

Smoking

Smoking is responsible for so many increased health risk factors that can contribute to premature death, and it is certainly ageing to the skin.

This was proved by research conducted at at the University of Michigan in America Smoking is one of the UK's biggest premature death risks. If you smoke try to stop or at least cut down to a minimum. Smoking robs the body of valuable vitamin C and other essential nutrients.

Winter Weather

Cold weather dries out the skin which over time causes it to age more quickly, due to lack of moisture in the skin cells which affects its ph balance. Making sure you use a good quality moisturiser for your skin will help you combat this problem.