Stress
and Aging - Your Cells Are Taking a Beating
from Your Daily Grind
Everyone remembers seeing the
comparison pictures of the past presidents from their first day
in office to their last days. The difference is astounding. Apparently,
the evidence is in that stress really can affect aging, and our
presidents’ graying hair and sagging skin is just one highly
publicized example. The stressful situations we encounter everyday
are taking a toll on our cells. Our DNA is protected by telomeres,
a protective coating around our DNA strands. As we age, those telomeres
wear down, resulting in aging bones, skin, eyes, and even hearing.
Recent studies have shown that high levels of stress directly relate
to telomere deterioration. The good news is that there are some
things you can do to protect your telomeres, including:
- Keep a positive attitude –Even when
your stress levels are high, if you keep a positive attitude
you can prevent damage to your telomeres.
- Stay hydrated – Cellular degeneration
occurs rapidly when you are dehydrated. By keeping your body
constantly hydrated, you’re protecting your cells.
- Stay nourished – Taking vitamin and
mineral supplements can give your body an edge over stress.
When fighting against stress and aging the
best strategy is doing everything you can to combat it. Staying
positive may seem difficult at times, but when you look at the alternative
(keep in mind those images of the aging presidents), it may not
be too difficult to take a step back from whatever is causing you
stress. Your skin will thank you for it.
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