While plastic surgery and Botox has become the norm, there are millions of people who don’t want to go under the knife or needle to preserve their youthful appearance. There are plenty of ways to look 10 years younger and the good news it is never to late to end bad habits. Scientists now believe that we have the power to slow down 40 percent of how we age. Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O. is a NYC Osteopathic Physician Board Certified in family medicine and anti-aging medicine. Here are 10 of his suggestions:
1) Stop smoking.
“Cigarettes contain some 40,000 toxins, each deposited directly into the DNA of skin cells each time you take a drag,” says Dr. Calapai. “Numerous studies in identical twins have found that smokers look ten years older than non-smokers. That evidence is profound in lines around the eyes.” Talk to your doctor about methods to help you quit.
2) Flex your face.
“Facial muscles are just like body muscles,” says Dr. Calapai. “The more you use them, the stronger they get and the less likely they are to sag and atrophy.” Try this quick cheek workout to help build up sagging facial muscles: look in a mirror, smile as broadly as possible while keeping your lips closed and mouth corners turned up. Try to make your mouth corners touch your ears. Next, wrinkle your nose and see your cheek muscles move upwards. Stay like this for a count of five, then relax. Repeat 10 times.
3) Consider acupuncture.
Half of Hollywood is allegedly hooked on the face-saving, radiance-boosting power of cosmetic acupuncture. According to experts, it stimulates skin cells to lay down new collagen fibers under wrinkles, ‘filling them in’ literally while also toning different muscles to restore glow. The added bonus is that most cosmetic acupuncturists treat underlying problems that could be causing your skin to look older, such as insomnia and bad digestion.
4) Have more sex.
Having sex at least 3 times per week can make you look up to 10 years younger. According to Dr. Dr. Calapai, having more sex is the next best thing you can do after exercise to look younger because it also helps you to naturally release more growth hormones and it’s been proven that having more sex can help you live longer.
5) Avoid sugar.
“Too much sugar in your diet will lead to an age accelerating process in your body known as glycation and glycation does damage to the collagen in your skin making you lose skin elasticity causing wrinkles to appear,” affirms Dr. Calapai. Something as simple as cutting out sodas and sweet juices makes a difference fast.
6) Exfoliate your skin regularly.
“Exfoliation increases dermal volume, making skin look less wrinkly. It will also help fade brown spots. You can use a physical exfoliant like a scrub, or a chemical exfoliant, such as a glycolic,” says Dr. Calapai.
7) Start intermittent fasting.
The 2 main reasons why intermittent fasting makes you look younger is because intermittent fasting naturally increases your human growth hormone which amps up the production of collagen for younger looking skin. Dr. Calapai explains that, “intermittent fasting induces autophagy where the cells in your body repair themselves to make a newer much healthier cell to prevent aging.”
8) Exercise.
You may think you carry your age in your face, but people “guess” your age by how you move. The youthful figure is thin, muscular, flexible, and strong. Your exercise program should include lots of cardio (this allows you to move around without huffing and puffing (a definite “geezer” give-away). Also be sure to strength train with free weights, and add in some stretching to preserve flexibility.
9) Improve your posture.
One of the biggest giveaways for looking old is a curved back with slumpy sitting, and shoulders that ride up too high with respect to your neck. Dr. Calapai recommends fixing your posture by thinking of the top of your head as a flat surface and then try to get that flat surface as tall as you can. Consciously push down your shoulders. Do this as you walk and sit. Take a “posture check” as often as you think about it during the day. Young people may not have perfect posture, but correcting your posture will make you look more youthful.
10) Eat more oily fish.
Eating fish rich in Omega 3 is optimal but if you don’t like fish take a high-grade fish-oil supplement. Dr. Calapai says that, “none of us consume enough essential fatty acids, which as well as helping our brains to function more smoothly are considered vital to keep skin-cell-membranes in good health and therefore stop the skin from getting too dry.”
About Dr. Christopher Calapai
