Three Great Anti AgingTechniques
Managing Stress
Stress has got to be the number 1 ager there is! It not only has serious consequences to our health, it can also seriously effect the quality of life. Until recently, people would have ridiculed the idea that a mental problem could have such an impact on the physical level. But increasing evidence from current research is showing exactly how the mind and body interact to effect health.You can’t deal with stress by using the mind alone because the chemical activity of the brain is not just the product of thought.
A stressful event can cause a number of things to happen. The adrenal glands pump adrenaline into the body and both heart rate and blood pressure increase. Our primitive response to stress (fight or flight) ensures fat and sugar enter the bloodstream in readiness for action.In modern man this is a big problem. Our response to stress will often far exceed that required of the situation having severe consequences for our long term health.
All that fat left in the bloodstream following a stressful situation makes the blood thicker and less able to flow, putting more strain on the heart. Very often the fat is not burned off and plaque will develop in the arteries. This can lead to hypertension and risk of a stroke. Exercise is great for alleviating the effects of stress because the fat and sugar are used up by the muscles allowing the blood to flow more freely.
By keeping an eye on what we eat and drink we can do a lot to alleviate stress. The trouble is, stress often makes us consume the wrong types of food.This type of stress eating is actually making the problem worse because it plays havoc with our blood-glucose levels, having a direct impact on the brain. What we eat and drink has a direct effect on stress which in turn determines what we eat and drink. A very hard loop to break – one reason diets never work.
What is actually needed is a stress management program that restores the balance of life. And this means a lot more than dealing with the mind alone. Anyone serious about anti aging techniques should never underestimate the value of stress management.
Calorie Restriction
There can be no doubt that calorie restriction can have a significant impact on longevity.This does not mean any old calorie restriction diet but one that is high in complex carbohydrates.Reducing calories but sticking to simple carbohydrates would surely shorten life expectancy.The body requires nutrition and this is not found in refined sugar, flour and fat so common to the western diet.
Lab experiments have shown that mice on reduced calorie diets (containing vital nutrients) live much longer than mice on a normal dietThe mice in the calorie restricted group also maintained their youthful appearance and remained active for much longer.
During trials at Washington University it was observed that a group of adults kept their blood pressure to that of a 20 year old. The average age of the group was 55! Other studies show that by reducing calorie intake you can lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL), decrease body mass index and lower inflammation. Also, lower insulin levels have been observed helping to prevent diebetes and improve memory. Who can argue with the obvious anti aging benefits of calorie restriction
But why does a calorie restriction diet work?
The body goes into survival mode when calories are restricted. It does this by lowering metabolic rate. Damage to cellular structure is lessened because less free radicals are produced.If you also consider that such a diet should only be conducted by maintaining a vital balance of nutrients (based on complex carbohydrates) there is the added bonus of plenty of anti-oxidants. Most complex carbohydrates are plant foods which are also rich in anti-oxidants. These anti-oxidants help keep the free radicals in check preventing any further cellular damage.
Key to reducing calories is ensuring the right balance of nutrients by following a mainly plant food diet. Studies throughout the world have shown that plant food diets reduce the risk of many diseases associated with affluent societies. In addition, youthful looks are maintained for much longer – great skin, hair and nails are just one benefit of a plant food diet. The nutritional aspects of our diet should always come before the need to reduce calories.
Present moment living
If you a looking for a true anti aging solution, look no further than the ability to live in the moment. Letting the future take care of itself and putting the past behind us, leaves no room for the negative emotions that are so damaging to our health. The present moment contains all the answers we need because now is all there is.
Living in this moment means all our awareness is focused on the current situation. We don’t dwell on the past, neither do we dwell on the consequences of our actions – we can’t know what the future holds so why waste our energy. It doesn’t mean we can do anything we please or that we should not plan. Awareness in the moment ensures the right thing to do is made clear to us, even if that means planning ahead! If someone makes the wrong choice it is generally because of the power time has over us and how the mind has been conditioned to think and act. If a person is trapped by mental time a person will base their decision on past experience and personal gain – with total disregard for what is happening now! Behavioural patterns are repeated over and over again as are the mistakes we make. Our mind constantly shifts between the past and future and thinks it normal. It clearly is not. After all, is there anything but the current moment?
Just a little examination will reveal that all negative emotions are a product of the mind. When you have the power to still the mind you become aware of the what the current moment holds – love, beauty and peace. Only action based on these realities keeps you from prematurely aging. All the spiritual leaders of the past were aware of this truth and so can we be, by learning to be present.
Forget about the past by practising forgiveness and being grateful for what you have now. Don’t try to master future events – it will lead to frustration and more stress. Accept the current moment and do what you have to do. The more you live in the present the less you will age because time will have lost its grip on your life.
Find Out About How To Meditate
Do you want to unwind at the end of a hard day? Here’s how: learn how to meditate.
You can how to meditate in many ways. They say the Buddha taught 84,000 different types of meditation But that doesn’t mean it’s hard to learn to meditate.
Most mystical schools teach various meditation techniques.
One type of meditative practice that you’ll find in most religions involves quietly contemplating a sacred text or prayer, looking for how it applies to your life, or illuminates some aspect of reality.
Similarly, every religion has ways to meditate where you stop your thoughts through concentration.
Here in the West, researchers have been trying to demystify meditation. They’ll show you how to meditate without any connection to a religion or spiritual lineage.
Something not to get tripped up about if you are learning meditation is that every tradition will usually tell you it has the best way to meditate.
Some of the arguments about why one technique is better are just silly.
I’ve heard meditation teachers debate whether your eyes should be shut tight or only gently closed when you’re meditating.
How do you sort through all this when you’re just learning how to meditate?
My suggestion is don’t get too serious. If a meditation teacher says “I have THE way,” don’t forget that there are lots of other teachers who say the same thing.
Try the meditation technique and see if it is something that you like. If it seems to take more effort to meditate than not to, maybe that’s not the best technique for you.
There’s nothing wrong with trying different techniques[/span] until you find one you like.
Boise.
Don’t believe anyone who says Zen meditation is the best if it doesn’t seem to be working for you.
Meditation should be easy and enjoyable or you won’t continue, especially at first.
Learn meditation to bring enjoyment to your life, now.
