Do you look older than your peers? Change your lifestyle

Growing up is human nature and a sign that we are alive. With age you will get wrinkles, your hair will turn grey or fall out and your gait will no longer be as purposeful and assured as it is right now. That is all predestined and it should be celebrated.
However, if you look like the elder among your peers, it is time to stop and reconsider what it is you are doing that is accelerating your aging process.
Doctor David Okoth Dimo, a consultant plant nutritionist with Green World USA, says nature has an incredible plan for good health and long life. “This only happens when you fill your body with nutrients it needs to regulate itself. A healthy body can protect itself against illnesses and even slow down the aging process,” he adds. He reveals that your diet and lifestyle can add years to your face and may shorten your lifespan.

Junk food
According to Dr Dimo, the most prevalent diet mistake that accelerates the aging process is the consumption of junk food. Its convenience and affordability have made it a preference for our fast-paced lifestyle. “Junk food, however, is loaded with excessive fats and sugars that lead to obesity with its attendant problems such as high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure and organ damage,” he says.
“Obese people usually look older than they really are. They are more inactive and suffer from health problems earlier in life,” Dr Dimo says.
“The molecules found in sugary drinks and eats attach themselves to protein fibres found in body cells resulting in glycation, which manifests as a loss of radiance, dark circles under the eyes, loss of tone, puffiness and an increase in fine lines and wrinkles,” he adds.

Not eating enough food
Another dietary cause of early aging is inadequate food consumption through dieting and eating disorders. John Kalule, a nutritionist, reveals that the human diet requires both macronutrients, which are the main source of calories, and micronutrients which are required for virtually all metabolic and developmental processes. A person suffering from anorexia and bulimia deprives the body of the needed nutrients through starving themselves.
“An anorexic person does not only exhibit aging signs such as wrinkles, age spots, dark circles and bags, but they also suffer from long term effects such as heart complications, bone loss, osteoporis and kidney problems,” Kalule adds.

Dehydration
Our bodies need six to eight glasses of water daily to keep the organs healthy and skin moist.
“Do not wait to feel thirsty to drink water because by the time the body recognises thirst, you are already dehydrated,” Dr Dimo cautions.

Stress
Overwhelming stress caused by overloaded work schedules, depression and anxiety trigger the release of free radicals, the unstable molecules that damage cells and are responsible for aging. “I know that relaxing is not in our African culture but it is very important for everyone to give themselves a break from work and engage in stress-relieving activities,” Kalule advises.
Dr George Bwesigye, a general physician from Najeera Hospital, says we are as old as our brains.
“Forgetfulness and short-term memory loss are often associated with old age but they can also manifest in a younger person whose neurotransmitters have been undermined either by inactivity, lack of stimuli and other forms of brain damage,” he says.
Drugs and alcohol abuse
These cause depletion of thiamine and other neural-chemicals that are important for effective brain functioning. Dr Bwesigye further points out self-prescription as another cause of premature brain aging. “When a patient self medicates, chances are the drugs taken will counteract against each other resulting in neural damage,” he adds.
According to Dr Bwesigye, calcium deficiency does not only affect the proper functioning of the brain but also causes reduction in bone density leading to pathological fractures especially in women. Calcium deficiency can be caused by hormone disorder hypoparathyroidism or a decline in the hormone estrogen during menopause.
Dr Bwesigye recommends regular medical check up to find out calcium levels, taking calcium supplements and basking in the early morning sun to get Vitamin D.
A sedentary lifestyle also increases risk for kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, not to mention obesity. Exercising regularly helps to prevent these health issues and keeps you looking younger longer.

More tips Posture
Poor posture such as slouching while you walk or slumping over your phone can cause your spine to form an unattractive and potentially harmful hunched posture over time. Pain and fatigue often follow, and possibly spinal degeneration and a permanent deformity. Practice good posture by checking it throughout the day. Ear, shoulder, and hip should form a straight line when seated.

While asleep
Did you know that your sleeping posture could be causing you to look older than you really are? Sleeping on your stomach or on your side with your face smashed into the pillow makes the connective tissue and collagen in your face to become weaker and less supportive with age resulting in wrinkles. To avoid aging while you sleep, sleep on your back or invest in a satin pillowcase to keep skin smooth.