We’ve all had one of those Monday mornings….you’ve had a busy weekend, enjoyed a few too many wines & didn’t get enough sleep. So you know you’re not looking your best self. Then here comes Sharon from finance mentioning ‘oh you look tired today’ AKA the polite way to of saying you look like sh!t.
Well not only is your lack of sleep dulling your glow, it’s also making you age quicker. Oh hell no!
To make life easier for you, we’ve done the hard work and looked into all the everyday elements that might be causing those fine lines and lacklustre hair.
First off, let’s circle back to last week when we talked about our new fav product– collagen. Collagen is a protein in your body that binds cells and tissues together while helping them maintain shape and integrity. These cells and tissues are found in your skin, hair and nails. Making it essential for maintaining healthy skin, hair and nails.
While there is no way to prevent the ageing process and depleting Collagen (our bodies slows down collagen production from your late twenties) you can help your body out by not doing anything to damage the collagen you DO have.
Gimme some sugar (or not)
Eating a high sugar diet increases the rate of glycation, a process where blood sugars attach to proteins to form new molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs damage nearby proteins and can make collagen dry, brittle, and weak.
No smoking zone
No surprises here – cigarettes are not your friend when it comes to skin. Many of the chemical in tobacco smoke damage both the Collagen and elastin in your skin.
Slip, Slop, Slap
The sun’s ultraviolet rays cause collagen to break down faster, damaging the collagen fibres and causing abnormal elastin to build. UV rays cause damage to collagen in the dermis (the layer of skin just below your top outer layer) which then causes the skin to rebuild incorrectly, forming wrinkles.
In addition to preserving our precious Collagen, keep reading for more things in your lifestyle that might be speeding up your aging process.
Get your ZZZ’s in
So not only will lack of sleep give you the next day results of dark circles, in the long term it also ages us. During sleep our stress hormone levels drop to normal which gives cells time to rejuvenate and repair themselves. Check out our previous blog here for tips on getting your beauty sleep on.
Stress Less
Avoiding is stress is wayyyy easier said than done, we know. From work to kids to money theres a plethora of stresses in our modern lives. When you avoid taking those few minutes of ‘me time’ just remind your self that stress increase a hormones called cortisol and norepinephrine in the bloodstream, kicking up blood pressure and suppressing immunity. Over time, stress that doesn't go away can delay healing, harden your arteries, and possibly shrink areas of your brain involved in learning, memory, and mood (scary!)
Plus, increased cortisol levels also increase oil production and can lead to bouts of acne.
You’re Not Getting Jiggy With It
We all know sex feels good and improves your mood but did you know recent studies have shown regular sex can make you look younger?! Dr. David Weeks, a British consultant clinical psychologist at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital found that older men and women with an active sex life appeared five to seven years younger than their actual age. Sex release anti-inflammatory molecules which help heal and repair damaged skin. It also increases estrogen levels, which stave off dryness and improve skin elasticity. And if that wasn’t enough, studies have also shown people having regular sex have stronger immune systems, less pain, a lower cancer risk, healthier hearts, and less stress.
While we know it's hard to always do the right thing when it comes to health and wellness we hope you've found some easy changes you can make to hit pause on aging.
Comments (0)