1Sleep in the buff
There's no need for PJs when it comes to anti-aging. On her blog, Natasha Turner, MD, wrote being too warm when you sleep — by wearing too many clothes — can actually prevent your body from cooling down, which disrupts the release of your anti-aging hormones. So sleep in the buff! It feels good and it will help you prevent wrinkles.
2Stop Sitting So Much
Sitting around feels oh-so-good, but it's oh-so-bad when it comes to aging. A study published in BMJ Open found sitting less than three hours a day could boost your life expectancy by a whopping two years. Yes, just from getting off your booty whenever possible, whether that's through a standing desk at work or multiple walking breaks during the day to get your body moving. And Here's Exactly How Many Calories You'll Be Burning.
3Stop Drinking So Much Coffee
Coffee might be the one thing that helps fuel you through long, tiring days. The only issue? When it comes to aging, it's not doing you any favors.
"Caffeine stimulates your adrenals and puts stress on them," says Mona Dan, Chinese traditional medicine expert and founder of Vie Healing in Beverly Hills. "Our adrenals hold onto our lifelong essence — it's what our bodies come into the world with — and as we age, we lose our essence. We start getting shorter and our memory and vision starts getting spotty. To keep the adrenals happy, we must support them by reducing caffeine. This will assist with long-term anti-aging."
Coffee might be the one thing that helps fuel you through long, tiring days. The only issue? When it comes to aging, it's not doing you any favors.
"Caffeine stimulates your adrenals and puts stress on them," says Mona Dan, Chinese traditional medicine expert and founder of Vie Healing in Beverly Hills. "Our adrenals hold onto our lifelong essence — it's what our bodies come into the world with — and as we age, we lose our essence. We start getting shorter and our memory and vision starts getting spotty. To keep the adrenals happy, we must support them by reducing caffeine. This will assist with long-term anti-aging."
4Take Regular Naps
If you miss out on crucial sleep hours, taking a regular nap is definitely necessary — yes, even as a full-grown adult. A six-year-long study of 24,000 participants found those who caught some Zs occasionally during the day actually kept their hearts healthier. In fact, those who napped three times a week for 30 minutes had a 37 percent lower coronary mortality than those who didn't nap at all.
5Stay Positive 
It's not always easy staying positive, but those who do reap some anti-aging benefits. A 2012 study published in the journal Aging found being optimistic and having a good attitude was linked to living a longer life.
6Hit Up the Pool
If you're looking for a reason to buy that fancy gym membership just so you can have access to a pool whenever you want to go for a swim, here you go: A 2008 study published in the International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education found in terms of anti-aging, swimming was a much better form of exercise than running, walking, or being sedentary. In fact, it cut the risk of death by 50 percent, keeping the body in tip-top shape.
7Joke Around More
People just don't laugh enough, but there's an important reason to make sure you're giggling on the regular: it can make you live longer. A 2012 study published in the journal Aging found the simple act of laughing was an incredibly important aspect in looking and feeling young. Just think: Less stress equals less wrinkles, and getting your laugh on can definitely boost your mood.
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Stock Up on SunscreenWearing sunscreen every day — even when it's summer or wintertime! — isn't just important for protecting yourself from skin cancer. It's also crucial in keeping your skin from aging more quickly.
"It's your best friend in preventing aging," says Dana Stallings, director of spa at La Valencia in La Jolla California. "Whether you're hiking or headed to the office, generously apply sunscreen daily. And don't forget those especially vulnerable — and visible — areas like your hands and neck, which are more easily prone to sun damage.
Wearing sunscreen every day — even when it's summer or wintertime! — isn't just important for protecting yourself from skin cancer. It's also crucial in keeping your skin from aging more quickly.
"It's your best friend in preventing aging," says Dana Stallings, director of spa at La Valencia in La Jolla California. "Whether you're hiking or headed to the office, generously apply sunscreen daily. And don't forget those especially vulnerable — and visible — areas like your hands and neck, which are more easily prone to sun damage.
9Get a Humidifier
If your skin continues to be dry no matter how much moisturizer you use, get a humidifier. Since it adds water vapor to the air, it will help perk up your skin, finally allowing it to retain some moisture and smooth our any fine lines that popped up from being so dull and flaky.
10Meditate on the DailyMeditation isn't bogus: The practice has been scientifically proven to help with everything from better sleep to decreased anxiety, and one of the biggest benefits is less stress — something that can age you like crazy if you let it get the best of you.
"I don't think enough emphasis is placed on our stress levels and how it relates to internal disease as well as skin health," says dermatologist Hal Weitzbuch, founder of JuveTress. "Both meditation and relaxing exercises like yoga can have enormous effects on your overall well-being. After all, anti-aging isn't only looking or feeling younger — it also relates to using knowledge acquired with age to keep yourself healthy."
Meditation isn't bogus: The practice has been scientifically proven to help with everything from better sleep to decreased anxiety, and one of the biggest benefits is less stress — something that can age you like crazy if you let it get the best of you.
"I don't think enough emphasis is placed on our stress levels and how it relates to internal disease as well as skin health," says dermatologist Hal Weitzbuch, founder of JuveTress. "Both meditation and relaxing exercises like yoga can have enormous effects on your overall well-being. After all, anti-aging isn't only looking or feeling younger — it also relates to using knowledge acquired with age to keep yourself healthy."
11Eat Tomatoes to Prevent Wrinkles
What's not to love about tomatoes? They're plump, juicy, taste good in and on everything, and — surprise! — they can even prevent wrinkles."The antioxidant lycopene in tomatoes may help prevent wrinkles by helping to protect your skin from UV damage," says Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition in the New York City area. "I love fresh tomatoes in a salad or as a pairing with your favorite dip. Cooked tomatoes are also fabulous because research shows that the lycopene in cooked tomatoes is better absorbed by the body."
12Up Your B12 Intake
You might take vitamins every morning, but are you taking B12? If you become deficient, it could result in everything from depression to memory loss and incontinence — all things you want to keep in check as you age, says Harvard Medical School. Make sure you're getting enough in your diet, and if you think you're low, pop some vitamins and start using nutritional yeast on everything.
13Eat More Mushrooms
What's not to love about mushrooms? The veggie is low cal, full of vitamins, and is completely delicious. Oh, and it also has some anti-aging benefits. A 2017 study published in the journal Food Chemistry found they're the highest dietary source of the antioxidants ergothioneine and glutathione, which protect your body from the harmful effects of oxidative stress from free radicals that can lead to everything from Alzheimer's to heart failure down the line.
14Enjoy Your Sweets
People who still smiling in their older years still eat their sweets — guaranteed. They definitely have a place in a healthy diet; you just have to eat them properly.
"Sweets and alcohol can be consumed afteryou meet all of your other nutritional requirements," says New York City-based facial plastic surgeon Dr. Michelle Yagoda. "That includes one 8 oz. glass of water before every meal, four ounces of protein at every meal, plenty of veggies and fruits, and complex carbs/whole grains. You'll crave less after eating healthy."
People who still smiling in their older years still eat their sweets — guaranteed. They definitely have a place in a healthy diet; you just have to eat them properly.
"Sweets and alcohol can be consumed afteryou meet all of your other nutritional requirements," says New York City-based facial plastic surgeon Dr. Michelle Yagoda. "That includes one 8 oz. glass of water before every meal, four ounces of protein at every meal, plenty of veggies and fruits, and complex carbs/whole grains. You'll crave less after eating healthy."
15Go Nuts for Almonds
There are so many things to love about almonds. They're delicious, full of plant-based protein, and they make for the perfect grab-and-go snack. Oh — and then there's also the fact that they're super anti-aging.
"Almonds are packed with vitamin E, which fights aging. By eating just 20 almonds a day — or a couple scoops of our delicious almond butter — you can get your daily dose," says Julie Fox, founder of Julie's Real. "They also fight inflammation, one of the single greatest contributors to aging."
There are so many things to love about almonds. They're delicious, full of plant-based protein, and they make for the perfect grab-and-go snack. Oh — and then there's also the fact that they're super anti-aging.
"Almonds are packed with vitamin E, which fights aging. By eating just 20 almonds a day — or a couple scoops of our delicious almond butter — you can get your daily dose," says Julie Fox, founder of Julie's Real. "They also fight inflammation, one of the single greatest contributors to aging."
16Hydrate with Herbal Water
Want to give your water a boost? Make it herbal. No matter which tea you go for, it will do your body some good as you get older, giving your skin and heart an anti-aging boost. In fact, as I talk about in Becoming Ageless,this is one of four ways to increase your daily water intake."Herbal water — in other words, tea — has beneficial properties to remove excess fat in the blood and drain them," says Mona Dan, Chinese Traditional Medicine expert and founder of Vie Healing in Beverly Hills. "For example, the reason why green tea is so popular in Asia is because of its bitter nature and ability to hold onto "dampness" — aka fat — in the body, assisting your body in draining it better. Not only is this level of hydration good for your skin, but also calming for the heart."
17Remain Curious
How often do you actually learn something new? It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, but remaining curious and opening up your mind as often as you can is a great way to prevent your brain power from slipping as you age."One of the best things we can do for our brains is seek out new information," says Amy Smith, recreation and events manager at The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina. "Science shows that when we're naturally curious about something, it helps improve our memory and opens our minds up to absorb and retain information. You can always find something new to explore in your hometown or go to the library and explore a range of topics that you've always been curious about.
"One of the best things we can do for our brains is seek out new information," says Amy Smith, recreation and events manager at The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina. "Science shows that when we're naturally curious about something, it helps improve our memory and opens our minds up to absorb and retain information. You can always find something new to explore in your hometown or go to the library and explore a range of topics that you've always been curious about.
18Avoid High-Carb Diets
When it comes to keeping your both as healthy as possible as you get older, a super high-carb diet isn't the answer. Add healthy choices like brown rice and whole grains into your diet, but going overboard could cause problems down the line.
"High-carb diets raise blood sugar and insulin and have now been convincingly associated with every major degenerative disease, from Alzheimer's to obesity, cancer, and heart disease," says board-certified nutritionist specialist Jonny Bowden, Ph.D.
When it comes to keeping your both as healthy as possible as you get older, a super high-carb diet isn't the answer. Add healthy choices like brown rice and whole grains into your diet, but going overboard could cause problems down the line.
"High-carb diets raise blood sugar and insulin and have now been convincingly associated with every major degenerative disease, from Alzheimer's to obesity, cancer, and heart disease," says board-certified nutritionist specialist Jonny Bowden, Ph.D.
19Cut Back on Sodium
Sodium is in everything. Even though salty foods taste good, the Cleveland Clinic says they also wreak havoc on your skin, sucking out all its moisture. If you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles from popping up, ditch the salt and instead keep your body hydrated with plenty of water.
20Sneak Extra Nutrients Into Your Food
It's hard to meet all of your nutritional needs every day — especially when you're trying to juggle a career and a family. That's exactly why it might be a good idea to invest in an extra healthy, anti-aging boost in the form of a powder."If you're too busy to prepare home-cooked, balanced meals, or if you — like 33 percent of adults — have a medical condition that leads to decreased absorption of nutrients even from a healthy diet, consider supplements," says New York City-based facial plastic surgeon Dr. Michelle Yagoda. "Powder supplements are the most bioavailable. I use BeautyScoop, a clinically-proven nutritional beauty supplement that helps deliver younger-looking skin, lustrous hair, and longer, stronger nails thanks to being packed with peptides, collagen, lipids, biotin, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and minerals."
"If you're too busy to prepare home-cooked, balanced meals, or if you — like 33 percent of adults — have a medical condition that leads to decreased absorption of nutrients even from a healthy diet, consider supplements," says New York City-based facial plastic surgeon Dr. Michelle Yagoda. "Powder supplements are the most bioavailable. I use BeautyScoop, a clinically-proven nutritional beauty supplement that helps deliver younger-looking skin, lustrous hair, and longer, stronger nails thanks to being packed with peptides, collagen, lipids, biotin, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, and minerals."
21Stock Up on Coconut OilCoconut oil is one of those things that works just as well in your dinner as it does on your face. Because of that, it offers up plenty of anti-aging benefits, from keeping your health in check to making your skin silky-smooth.
"I use coconut oil on everything. As a deep conditioner for my hair, make-up remover for my eyes, moisturizer for my cuticles.
"I use coconut oil on everything. As a deep conditioner for my hair, make-up remover for my eyes, moisturizer for my cuticles.
22Have More Fun in the BedroomYou don't need to hear this advice twice. In a 10-year-long study of 3,500 people from 18 to 102 years old, researchers at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland found couples in a healthy relationship who have sex at least three times a week look an average of 10 years younger. You're welcome.
You don't need to hear this advice twice. In a 10-year-long study of 3,500 people from 18 to 102 years old, researchers at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland found couples in a healthy relationship who have sex at least three times a week look an average of 10 years younger. You're welcome.
23Exercise Your Lines AwayAs I talk about in the book, one of the best anti-aging secrets you can possibly do is simply exercise regularly and moving your body throughout the day.
"Walk everywhere you can. Take the stairs when possible. Walk briskly with friends or pets. Lift weights and stretch regularly," says New York City-based facial plastic surgeon Dr. Michelle Yagoda ."Do something for a total of 30 minutes per day. Not only does exercise give you a healthy glow, but it also builds collagen and elastin to minimize the effects of aging."
As I talk about in the book, one of the best anti-aging secrets you can possibly do is simply exercise regularly and moving your body throughout the day.
"Walk everywhere you can. Take the stairs when possible. Walk briskly with friends or pets. Lift weights and stretch regularly," says New York City-based facial plastic surgeon Dr. Michelle Yagoda ."Do something for a total of 30 minutes per day. Not only does exercise give you a healthy glow, but it also builds collagen and elastin to minimize the effects of aging."
24Take Biotin Supplements
If you prefer keeping your hair healthy with something as simple as a supplement, meet your perfect match. For youthful looking hair, all you need is to add some biotin to your morning vitamin roundup.
"I stress taking a biotin supplement year-round," says Lucy Garcia Plank, New York City-based hairstylist at Bergdorf Goodman. "It's a natural supplement that many people don't get enough of and that could be a contributing factor to dry, brittle hair — especially in the winter months. You can really tell a difference when taking it."
If you prefer keeping your hair healthy with something as simple as a supplement, meet your perfect match. For youthful looking hair, all you need is to add some biotin to your morning vitamin roundup.
"I stress taking a biotin supplement year-round," says Lucy Garcia Plank, New York City-based hairstylist at Bergdorf Goodman. "It's a natural supplement that many people don't get enough of and that could be a contributing factor to dry, brittle hair — especially in the winter months. You can really tell a difference when taking it."
25Stay SocialIt doesn't matter if you join a club based on one of your favorite hobbies or volunteer: Those who spend time around others tend to live longer — even if that means not being able to binge-watch Netflix every night.
"Studies of ultra-long-lived people show that belonging to a group like a church, a social club like a bridge or card group, a mutual interest group, or even close friendships are one of the key factors to long health," says Steven Gundry, MD, leading heart surgeon and author of The Plant Paradox.
It doesn't matter if you join a club based on one of your favorite hobbies or volunteer: Those who spend time around others tend to live longer — even if that means not being able to binge-watch Netflix every night.
"Studies of ultra-long-lived people show that belonging to a group like a church, a social club like a bridge or card group, a mutual interest group, or even close friendships are one of the key factors to long health," says Steven Gundry, MD, leading heart surgeon and author of The Plant Paradox.
26Take the Time to Breathe for 5 Minutest
Breathing is something we do 24/7, but its importance is so overlooked. Even taking deep breaths throughout the day is a great way to reduce stress, giving your body a reset and helping you channel your energy where you need it most.
"Stress releases cortisol, which contributes to heart attacks. It kills brain cells and literally causes your brain to shrink," says board-certified nutritionist specialist Jonny Bowden, Ph.D.. "Even five minutes a day of deep breathing will get you started. The reason they tell you to put your own oxygen mask on first is that you can't help anyone else if you don't take care of yourself."
Breathing is something we do 24/7, but its importance is so overlooked. Even taking deep breaths throughout the day is a great way to reduce stress, giving your body a reset and helping you channel your energy where you need it most.
"Stress releases cortisol, which contributes to heart attacks. It kills brain cells and literally causes your brain to shrink," says board-certified nutritionist specialist Jonny Bowden, Ph.D.. "Even five minutes a day of deep breathing will get you started. The reason they tell you to put your own oxygen mask on first is that you can't help anyone else if you don't take care of yourself."
27Eat Less MeatSorry, meat lovers, but if you want to take advantage of one of the best anti-aging secrets, you're going to have to cut animal protein out of your diet. According to a 2013 studypublished in JAMA Internal Medicine, vegetarians have a 12 percent lower risk of dying than those who eat meat on the regular. Luckily, there are plenty of great alternatives: Give the super-realistic Beyond Burger or Impossible Burger a try and you'll never look back.
Sorry, meat lovers, but if you want to take advantage of one of the best anti-aging secrets, you're going to have to cut animal protein out of your diet. According to a 2013 studypublished in JAMA Internal Medicine, vegetarians have a 12 percent lower risk of dying than those who eat meat on the regular. Luckily, there are plenty of great alternatives: Give the super-realistic Beyond Burger or Impossible Burger a try and you'll never look back.
