50 is the new 40

We have recently been delving into the importance of plant-based foods and a high fat/ protein diet in our blogs.

Just to rehash:

#1 We are seeing an increase in studies and publications highlighting the importance of a variety of plant-based sources in our day-to-day diet for our cardiovascular health, energy and weight management. We are becoming aware if the importance in reduction of inflammation for a healthy, functioning body.

#2 There is more and more available to us- as long as we make the right choices! Fast/ convenient food places like Pret A Manger, Leon and M&S Express have vast amounts of budget-friendly choices. Even service stations now have an array of healthier choices. We are no longer limited to crisps, chocolates and soft drinks.

#3Things that were never spoken about or available to us before are now sold everywhere. Think fermented foods and drinks, bone broths, vitamin C shots, turmeric lattes and collagens.

#4 We are eating more sources of good fats(nuts, avocados, oily fish) and, as a result of new research, foods which are also great for our skin.

#5 We are switching up our afternoon sugar-laden caffeine hits for herbal teas, green juices and turmeric lattes. 

#6 Furthermore, we are also savvier at reading food labels.

Exercise is trendy; so, “catching up with someone” could mean getting a healthy breakfast after a sweaty workout with a friend. And this is not just for millennials.

Truth’s Medical Director Dr. Harrison Weisinger, himself a competitive cyclist, says:

“Exercise is not optional, as far as I’m concerned. It’s the second most important health-promoting activity, behind proper nutrition and fasting.  Exercise powerfully stimulates anatomical, physiological and psychological changes such as increased lean muscle mass, increased insulin sensitivity (so less is produced – this has all sorts of benefits downstream) and improved mood. As well as this, physical activity has been shown to be an effective treatment strategy for depression, but this is unfortunately not reflected enough in medical treatment guidelines.[2]  Exercise need not be arduous.  It can be as simple as 10-15 minutes a day doing yoga, pilates or body-weight strength exercises.”

We now know the importance of protecting our skin from the harshness of the sun with sunscreen. This isn’t just to prevent skin cancer; which is a nasty killer, but also to keep our skin youthful.

A Study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that participants who wore sunscreen daily showed 24% less skin ageing after four years than those who were less consistent about applying it.[4]

We are also using skincare products, and really paying attention to the ingredients. We know that our skin is the biggest tell-tale sign of ageing and have found that with a combination of topical product and eating antioxidant-rich foods we can keep our skin rejuvenated.

We haveslowed down on alcohol and cigarette consumption-

‘since 1990, per capita consumption has dropped by almost 10 per cent in the UK’.[5] It is no longer “cool” to smoke with almost two million fewer smokers now than in 2011! [6]

We have found that there are more ways to socialise than at the pub with friends, and instead are choosing to take part in the above-said exercise and drinking things like kombucha, green juices, herbal tea varieties, fancy mineral waters and loading up on plain old H20.

There has been a shift in the way we want to work and live.

Mental health is important and #selfcare is a buzzword.

We are understanding the importance of having awork/life balance and making a conscious effort atslowing down to reduce stress.

Mindfulness and meditation are both billion-dollar industries with the leading meditation appCalm valued at a whopping 1 billion USD alone.[7] With this came a huge growth in meditation, breathing techniques, yoga and health retreats attempting to bring peace back into the modern world.

We can now spread the word with ease through all the social media sharing platforms.

If a new study is released on the benefits of red wine or coffee, you can guarantee that article has been shared numerous times and on numerous platforms!

We have so many platforms available to us, like- email, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter, that there is an inundation of information made readily available to us daily.

Last week's blog explored the imperative role relationships play in longevity, health, and our general happiness.

Material goods, success, and fame just won’t cut it. We now know it is important to reach out when we aren’t feeling our best and ask for help. We also are seeing the value in connection and community rather than isolation. Overall this is having a huge impact on us living a happier and longer life.

Now that you have read about the 7 reasons we are ageing better, we hope you can apply some of the areas you may be lacking into your life!