Youth
– Rediscover Yours!
by
Margaret Durst
The Green House
Previously
by Margaret Durst: Digestion
– You Are What You Eat…
Youth is wasted
on the young. Adults are the ones who need youth and
search for things to make them feel and look young again.
You probably
already know that there is no magical fountain of youth that comes
in a pill form. There are some things that are more important than
just pills and crèmes to help people feel and look good.
One the first
is to look at your diet. Are you eating junk food, highly processed
food, and foods made with white sugar and white flour? If so, switch
to something more natural.
Also, chose
low glycemic index foods. The most prevalent health problem in America
today is faulty glucose metabolism and you do not have to be diabetic
to have it.
High blood
sugar and insulin resistance cause significant damage to the cells
in the body and impair the ability of certain organs and glands
to function properly. Symptoms of problems with glucose metabolism
include belly fat, heart disease, high blood levels of triglycerides,
atherosclerosis, cataracts and neuropathy.
Another dietary
problem that causes aches and pains of aging is food sensitivities.
Many of the foods we eat frequently cause inflammation in the body
which over time is linked to many disease conditions. The most common
food allergens include white flour, white sugar, white potatoes,
orange juice, coffee and soy. If you consume any of these frequently,
take a food vacation and see if you dont feel better (after
you get through symptoms of withdrawal.)
Another tip
for feeling and looking younger is to clean the body on regular
intervals. Think of what would happen if you never dusted your house,
then think of never cleaning your internal organs and glands. Yuck.
There are many good cleansing products on the market. I recommend
cleaning twice a year, but once a year is better than not at all.
If you want
to look and feel younger, exercise regularly. Exercise of all types
and intensities helps maintain healthy weight and reduces risk of
diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. Exercise
also promotes higher energy levels, sounder sleep, and a brighter,
more positive mood.
Another well
researched aspect of an anti-aging regime is calorie restriction.
It works by decreasing harmful free radicals and a specific enzyme
associated with the aging process. There is one substance that does
seem to be able to mimic the effect of calorie restriction. That
is resveratrol, a chemical component of red wine that functions
as an antioxidant.
Finally, there
are anti-aging supplements that help reduce inflammation which is
linked to tissue damage and disease. These work well with the lifestyle
changes I have already mentioned.
Anti-inflammatory
supplements include omega 3 oils, vitamin C, coenzyme Q-10, alpha
lipoic acid, pycnogenol, resveratrol, grapeseed extract and special
anti-inflammatory formulations containing turmeric such as New Chapters
Zyflamend. One of my favorites is a multi vitamin called Vasculosirt.
It contains great quality vitamins and minerals along with high
levels of several of the antioxidants I mentioned above.
Also, green
supplements work really well in terms of reducing inflammation and
increasing antioxidants. You can eat a lot of greens too.
Try changing
some of your habits that are slowing you down and see if you dont
feel younger.
March 19, 2012
Margaret
Durst owns The
Green House, a vitamin, herb and health food store in Mason,
Texas.
Copyright
© 2012 Margaret
Durst
The
Best of Margaret Durst
|