10 Things We didnt Know were Aging Us!

It’s coming and we can’t stop it! It is horrible but true: the threat of getting old is inescapable.

While ageing is an inevitable part of life, how quickly or well we age depends on many different factors. Although there are some obvious causes of premature ageing, there are many seemingly harmless things that can also add on the years.

Here are top 10 surprising things that age us.

Watching TV:

While we all know that spending hours in front of the television is bad for our waistline, we may not know that it can also shorten our lifespan. Researchers found that for every hour we watch TV you may shorten our life by as much 22 minutes. Furthermore, research has suggested that watching TV could increase our risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Increased television viewing can also lead to obesity.

Too Little (or too much) Exercise:

The benefits of exercise are immeasurable for keeping us looking and feeling young. Not only does a lack of exercise shorten our life and increase risk of obesity and heart disease, but exercise can also keep our brain young by protecting against Alzheimer’s, boosting our mood and leaving us feeling alert and energized. Furthermore, increased blood flow to our skin can help keep our complexion clear, bright and youthful-looking. On the flipside, while we should all make an effort to stay active, too much exercise can cause stiffness in joints and increase risk of arthritis.

Sugar:

Eating too much sugar is clearly bad news for our waistline; however sugar consumption is also up there with sun exposure and smoking when it comes to the major causes of wrinkles. When blood sugar levels are high, a process called glycation occurs which damages the collagen in our skin. Once damaged, the normally springy collagen hardens, leading to wrinkles and sagging.

Listening to an IPod:

Hearing loss is a common symptom of ageing, yet many of us may suffer from diminished hearing early on due to listening to loud music through headphones. While listening to music sparingly and at a moderate volume is unlikely to do us much harm, a study has shown that listening to music on headphones for an hour can temporarily affect people’s hearing, while some researchers have suggested that listening at full volume could put us at risk of permanent damage.

Our Pillowcase:

We may think we’re indulging in a bit of beauty sleep when we hit the hay at night; however the opposite could in fact be true. If we regularly sleep with the same side of our face pressed against a cotton pillow case this may cause creases on the skin which can eventually turn to fine lines and wrinkles. To help stay youthful overnight try sleeping on our back instead, or switch to a silk or satin pillowcase to create less compression wrinkles and help maintain skin’s moisture levels.

Low Fat Diets:

Many of us switch to low fat diets to help shed excess pounds. However, cutting out good, healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids could negatively affect the speed and way in which we age. Omega-3 fatty acids – present in oily fish, walnuts and flax seeds – are essential for keeping us looking and feeling young. Not only do they help keep skin supple and wrinkle-free, but they help boost brain health, keep our heart in good condition, and can even increase our lifespan.

Stress:

It's critically important to recognize that belly fat is a barometer to how we cope with stress in our life. We've known excess stress lowers our immunity, boosts the risk of heart disease and generally makes us feel crummy.

Central Air and Heating:

Many of us spend a fortune on anti-ageing skin products, yet we may regularly accelerate skin ageing without even being aware of it. The central heating and air conditioning systems that many of us use at home and at work can severely dry out skin, leading to premature ageing and wrinkles. To help keep skin youthful and soft, try turning down the heating and wearing more layers to stay warm. Keeping a glass of water in the room can also increase humidity, while wearing a protective face cream can help relieve dryness.

Drinking from bottles and through straws:

We probably know that what our drink can affect our looks, but we may be surprised to hear that how we drink can also influence how well we age. In fact, sucking on straws and drinking out of sports bottles causes the same pursing action – and therefore the same fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth – as smoking. Try drinking directly from the glass whenever we can to help keep the wrinkles at bay.

Our Job:

While having a job is pretty essential for most of us, it can also be one of the biggest causes of premature ageing. Firstly, work is a big source of stress for many people, which research has found can increase risk of heart disease and speed up cell ageing. Secondly, spending too many hours in the workplace can mean us have little time for essentials such as exercise, proper meals and sleep. To help minimize damage, try to avoid working exceptionally long hours and make the most of your evenings and weekends as times to relax.