STRESS LESS
Getting older-without being doomed to wrinkle-dom and jiggly
thighs-does not require a high-priced trainer and a bucket o’ Botox.We swear
it.We know it.We asked top researchers to share their stay-young secrets for
winding back time naturally.Their advice will help you stay young and have you
looking and feeling everyday fabulous,by doing everyday smart
thing:exercise,eat healthy,de-stress-not so hard,right?Try it today.
FOLLOW THIS SECRETS
1.GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK
Recent studies show that stress causes physical changes in
the body that can accelerate aging.Surges of the hormones adrenaline and
cortisol cause blood pressure to rise and the heart to beat faster.These
days,when our stressors seem unrelenting(a steady stream of job pressures,traffic
jams,money problems),chronic doses of adrenaline and cortisol take a heavy toll on our physical and emotional
health.”Sixty to 90 percent of all doctors’ visits each year are related to
anxiety,depression,obsessive anger and hostility,insomnia,high blood
pressure,heart attacks-all problems caused by stress,”says Herbert
Benson,MD,author of the landmark book The Relaxation Response and a founder and
director emeritus of the Benson_Henry Instute for Mind Body Medicine in Boston.
The most effective way to halt this destructive chain of
events is to meditate,using what Dr.Benson calls “the relaxation response”.The
technique involves repeating a mantra-a word,sound,phrase, or prayer-for as
little as 10 minutes a day.A 2005 study conducted at Massachusetts General
Hospital in Boston showed that meditation helped prevent age-related changes in
the brain.
Try it once or twice daily,for 10 to 20 minutes(yes,you do
have the time-you just have to make it),sit in a quiet place,close your eyes,relax
your muscles,roll your head,neck,and shoulders, and breathe deeply.On each
exhale,repeat your mantra.If other thoughts try to invade,says Dr.Benson,tell
yourself,”Oh,well.”and return to your word or phrase.When you’re done,keep your
eyes closed for an extra minute;slowly allow allow everday thoughts to flow
back into.Still not into the idea of meditation?Do yoga,or something active and
repetitive,like running,instead.Focus on your breathing and how your feet land
with each stride.Get your to do list out of your head,says Dr.Benson.
2.CONSUME MORE FAT
The healthy kind,that is.Omega-3 fatty acids (found in
salmon,walnuts, and seeds) help stabilize your mood,maintain bone strength, and
help prevent visible signs of aging by reducing inflammation in the
body,explains Nicholas perricone,MD,a leading anti-aging expert and author of 7
Secrets to Beauty,Health,and longevity.”Omega-3s also boost the ability of the
body’s enzymes to pull fat out of storage-from your hips,say-and use it as
energy,”he says.”Omega-3s keep you healthy and your skin radiant.”
Try it!”virtually every expert agrees that you need two
grams of omega-3 fatty acids a day,”says Michael Roizen,MD<chair of the
division of anesthesiology at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and coauthor of You
on a Diet.Eat plenty of fatty fish such as wild salmon(a 3-ounce serving has
6.9 grams),as well as walnuts(one-half ounce has 9.2 grams),says Dr.Roizen.If
you aren’t getting enough omega-3s from your diet,consider taking fish-oil
supplements.
3.GET OFF THE COUCH
Not only does regular exercise help you lose weight,tone
muscles,build healthier bones,and boost mood, it can also help you think
clearly.Studies cited by the National Institute on Aging demonstrate a
connection between physical exercise and better brain power.”Walking for just
10 minutes a day lowers your risk of Alzheimer’s by 40 percent,”says Gary
Small,MD,director of the UCLA Center on Aging and coather of The Healthy Brain
kit.”Physical conditioning reduces stress and anxiety,which wipe out your
memory bank”.
Try it!Make time for three 20-minutes workouts a
week.run,bike,swim,dance-do whatever you enjoy most.
4.FEEL THE LOVE
Anyone who’s ever fallen head over heels head over heels or
discovered an activity that makes them eager to jump out of bed in the morning
knows that passion is a powerful drug.”It’s the central motivation of all human
activity”,says Gail Sheehy in her new book,Sex and Seasoned Woman.The ability
to embrace life boosts self-esteem,fuels the immune system,and improves
cardiovascular health.Passion in bed can be particulary beneficial:”Loving
touches release hormones,including oxytocin,that reduce stress and anxiety,”says
Mehmet Oz,MD,professor of surgery and vice chairman of cardiovascular sevices
at New York-presbyterian/Columbia Universty,as well as the Coathor of You on
Diet.”If sex is a purely hedonistic process,it won’t have the same results.”
Try it!Banish boredom and isolation at all costs.Rekindle
the flames with your partner.Or discover a new love in the form of a mental or
physical pursuit:Take up painting,join a book clup,Start a running program(you
‘ll find motivation tips and connect with other women like you through Team
FITNESS, our personalized online exercise community, at
fitnessmagazine.com/teamfitness).
Do whatever It is that makes you feel energized and alive.
5.DRINK RED WINE
Last fall,a groundbreaking study showed that mice on a
high-fat supplemented with resveratrol,a substance found in the skin of
grapes,had longer average lifespans than those not give the
resveratrol.According to the study’s Co-lead researcher Rafael de Cabo,PhD, of
the National Institute on Aging,resveratrol clearly reduced the risk of
diabetes and liver problems in mice,leading to a significant decline in
obesity-related deaths.but here’s the cath:”You’d have to drink 180 bottles of
red wine a day to get the same benefits,”says Dr.Roizen.
Researchers are working now to improve the potency of
resveratrol in order to develop a pill tha contains the optimum amount of the
substance.In the meantime,there’’s plenty of evidence that a little red wine
can offset a host of health problems.A new animal study from Johns Hopkins
university suggested that red wine can diminish brain damage caused by stroke
by as much as 40 percent.And research released last year showed that grape-seed
procyanidins,found in red wine,helps reduce arterial clogging,resulting in
lower blood-cholesterol levels nd a reduction in deaths from heart disease.
Try it! Until an optimally potent resveratrol pill is
available,enjoy red wine,but it’s best to follow the latest alcohol guidelines
from the American Medical association and drink no more than one glass (5
ounces) a day for your health.
6.DO YOGA
More energy,better posture, greater flexibility,improved
mood, and less stress are just some of the rewards of this mind-body
workout.”Yoga means ‘union’ in sanskirt,”says Cyndi Lee,founder of New York
City’s Om Yoga and a FITNESS advisory board member.”Through conscious yoga
breathing,you become aware of the connection between mind and body.”That
translates into major anti-aging advantages.Yogic breathing has been shown to
oxygenate the cells,ridding them of toxins,helping prevent illness,and making
skin radiant.Unlike other exercises,says Lee,yoga poses are designed to work
the inside of your body as well as outside,which helps rejuvenate the digestive
system,the reproductive system,even the immune system.”Yoga is like wringing
your body out like a washcloth,”she says.”it’s one of the best ways to keep
things moving”.
Try it!Practice yoga or other mind-body activities at least
twice a week,says Lee,to give yourself an energy boost,help build bone mass,
and de-stress.
7.BITE INTO A SUPERFRUIT
There’s good reason we’re hearing so much about pomegranates
these days.”Current studies show that they are more beneficial than other
fruits,”says Dr.Oz.Pomegranate juice has been found to lower cholesterol and
blood pressure,possibly delay the onset of atherosclerosis,and potentially help
reduce the risk of Alheimer’s disease;researchers believe it may also help
prevent some forms of cancer from starting or progressing.Pomegranates can also
protect the skin from damage caused by UV rays,according to a study published
last March.
Another promising anti-ager is the goji berry,a fruit
natives to Tibet that boasts 500 times more Vitamin C by weight than an orange
and is considered to be the most abundant sources of carotenoids, a type of
antioxidant,on earth.This little nutritional powerhouse—which tastes like a
denser,sweeter cranberry-Also ccontains more iron than spinach,18 amino
acids,calcium,magnesium,Zinc,selenium, and vitamins B1,B2,B6 and E, according
to Dr.perricone.The goji berry stimulates the release of human growth hormone,
a natural substance in the body that improves our ability to sleep, helps us
look younger,reduces fat,improves memory,boosts libido, and enhances the immune system, he says.
Try it!Snack on handful of dried goji berries(available at
Whole Foods Market)throughout the day.Be sure to buy one from Tibet,because
they have high serum,advises Dr.Perricone.In addition,drink pomegranate
juice.Not a fan of the flavor?Buy it in concentrate and add a tablespoonful
daily to kefir(or plain yogurt),suggests Dr.Perricone.For dewy skin,try
Rodial’s wrinkle smoother,a pomegranate-infused anti-aging serum with marine
extracts and vitamins C created to plump wrinkles,block sun and give a youthful
glow(available at blissworld.com).
8.SLIP GREEN TEA
The health buzz about this brew keeps getting stronger:last
year,green tea was found to reduce the risk of breast cancer and prevent
remissions, and now it’s being tested as a way to help prevent
bladder,colorectal, and lung cancer recurrence.”green tea is an amazing
compound in terms of blocking the signaling network that is linked with the
progression of cancer,”says Amy Yee,PhD, a professor of biochemistry at Tufts
University and principal investigator of the cancer study.It’s also an
effective weight-management agent
because it appears to rev up metabolism,says Dr.Roizen.Preliminary research
indicates that green tea may even help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.a Japanese
study published last year in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found
that drinking at least one cup a day can help keep your brain sharp as you get
older.
Try it!Sip two or three cups daily for the ultimate health
benfits,says Yee.We like Tazo China Green Tips tea.
9.SLATHER YOUR SKIN WITH SUPPLEMENTS
Retinol, a type of vitamin A(and a
nonprescription,weaker-strength relative of Retin-a),is considered the most
effective over-the-counter treatment to smooth the skin and prevent
wrinkles,says David Colbert,MD,founder of the New York City.Retinols cause
cause the skin to gently peel,revealing a silkier,rosier,and more supple
layer.Dr.Perricone touts the benefits of alpha lipoic acid,a potent antioxidant
that naturally occurs in the body.”Alpha lipoic acid is a wonderful anti-aging
mechanism.”he says.It has been shown to reduce fine lines,improve skin
texture,tighten pores, and give a general radiance.
Another powerful age-defying ingredient is madecassol, or
madecassoside(found in La Roche-Posay’s Redermic,available at select CVS
locations),an Asian plant extract that helps plump the skin,minimize fine
lines, and restore a youthful glow,says Dr.Colbert.Madecassol has been used in
France for decades to help heal scars and wounds.European studies have also
found that it helps diminish wrinkles,restores firmness to skin, and hydrates
skin cells.
Try it! Look for skin creams containing retinols,such as La
roche-Posay’s Biomedic Retinol Cream(available at dermatologists’ office) or
RoC’s retinol actif Pur Night(at drugstores).Use it only at night,since it
doesn’t include an SPF.Or try products containing alpha lipoic acid.
Another good way to ensure cell turnover,protect your skin
against free radicals, and stimulate collagen growth is to apply vitamin C
serum under your moisturizer and makeup,says Dr.Colbert.Some expert-approved
choices:Is Clinical C& E serum(available at dermatologists’ and other specialists’
offices),SkinCeticals C E Ferulic(at dermatologist’ offices),Noah’s Naturals
Honest to Goodness Anti-Puff Eye Therapy(at drugstores).Finally,be sure to use
a board-spectrum sunblock every day to protect against UVA and UVB rays,which
cause aging and skin cancer.One we like:Anthelios SX Daily moisturizing Cream
with mexory SX(available at select CVS locations).
10.DO MENTAL AEROBICS
A study published in last December’s Journal of the American
Medical Association shows that brain exercise can prevent cognitive decline,and
the benefits can last for as many as five years.In his own research,Dr.Small
has found that a two-week program of mental training can actually rewire the
brain.”We’ve seen evidence on brain scans that memory improves,”he says.
Try it!Strengthen your mind every day by doing crossword
puzzles,Sudoku, or Brain Games, a handled electronic game developed by Dr.Small
that uses numbers,sequences, and word play to condition the left and right
spheres of the brain(available at Wal-Mart and Target stores).
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