The sun s UV rays are the main case of premature aging in women who do not smoke and who have generally healthy lifestyles. By the way, if you do smoke, then quitting smoking should be top priority where antiaging and general health is concerned.
The sun s UVA and UVB rays damage your skin at cellular level. Sunlight damages the DNA in your cells. Though your body rapidly repairs the damage, if the damage is too much, your skin gets red and blisters form as you develop a sunburn. Even a tan is a sign of skin damage as the darkening of the skin wit melanin is a defense mechanism against sun damage. UV rays damage the skin s collagen
Sunblocks have chemical or physical sunscreens to block off the UV rays. SPF or Sun Protection Factor tells you how much longer you can stay in the sun before you burn. For example, an SPF 4 sunscreen allows you to stay in the sun 4 times longer than if you had gone without any protection.
For optimal protection, go for at least SPF15, and reapply frequently if you sweat a lot or get into the water.
2. Eat your fruit, veggies and nuts.
These are rich in antioxidants. To cut the long story short, we are constantly bombarded by free radicals. These could be the by product of oxidation within the body, through the body s natural processes, or could be due to environmental factors.
Either way, free radicals wreak havoc on out bodies. Free radicals are unstable and steal electrons from their neighbors, rendering them unstable too, leading to a chain reaction. In this way, cell membranes and even the DNA of cells get damaged which in turn, speeds up the aging process.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating electrons to them and stabilizing them, even while they stay stable themselves. In this way, antioxidants eliminate the threat.
Fruits and veggies are rich in vitamins A and C, both of which are potent antioxidants. In general, fruits and veggies with darker, richer colors are richer in antioxidants. Nuts are rich in vitamin E, another potent antioxidant. By eating your fruit and veggies and some nuts, you get the antioxidants your body needs to beat those free radicals.
3. Sleep at least 8 hours every night.
When you sleep, your body repairs itself most effectively, producing new cells to replace the old, worn out cells. By depriving yourself of sufficient sleep, you do not allow your body to regenerate itself properly and end up aging more quickly than you should. No doubt, this regeneration of cells is ongoing even when you are awake, but when you sleep, the natural renewal process is at its peak. When you don t get enough sleep, your body produces more stress hormones that interfere with your skin s collagen production. Collagen is what supports your skin and as collagen levels decrease your skin begins to sag and wrinkles form. Look at yourself after a sleepness night. Lack of sleep gives you puffy eyes and dark rings which makes you look much older.
So grandma was right after all. Eat your veggies, stay out of the sun and sleep early every night to preserve your youth.
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