Be young in old Age

Be Young in Old Age

Young in old age!  Quite  interesting to hear. But is it possible to remain young in old age?  Difficult to believe.

Hours roll into months, days into months and months to years. The old saying ‘Time and tide wait for no man’ is perfectly apt.

We can’t stop time ticking off. As days pass on, we get older. Our thinking changes, our attitude changes and our physical body changes.

Ageing is a natural process. We can’t completely change the effects of old age; but we can, of course retard the deterioration of the body to a certain extent by leading a healthy and positive life style.

Effects of Ageing

As we get older, changes take place both in the physical and mental levels. Increased blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, diabetes, cholesterol, cancer …. are some of the major common problems of old age.

The body cells start deteriorating and function less effectively; the skin loses elasticity, tissues break down, muscles weaken, eye sight reduces, hearing becomes weak, decayed teeth, increase in degenerative disease- all manifestations of old age.

The absence of care, love and affection from children and other close relatives and friends further add chances for depression and increased mental tension.

Causes of Ageing

As discussed earlier, aging is a natural process and we can’t completely reverse the process of aging. The main causes of premature aging are:

Faulty Life style:

Improper food, lack of physical exercise, increased mental tension- these all come under the category of faulty life style.

Heredity

The genes inherited from parents have got an important effect on aging. However one can’t do anything to influence the genes.

Free Radicals

Free radicals are highly corrosive oxidizing molecules. It is considered that free radicals are the main cause of aging and to a certain extent to cancer. The causes of these free radicals are – poor nutrition, cigarette smoking, strong sun light and air pollution.

Reversing the Process of Aging

The aging process can be reversed to a certain extent by taking the following steps.

-          Have balanced, nutritious food

-          Take anti oxidants : Vitamins A, C & E and the mineral selenium

-          Proper physical exercise

-          Sufficient rest and sleep

-          Avoid mental tension and worry

-          Engage in some sort of mental activity

-          Have a positive attitude

-          Involve in  creative social activity

And finally remember the old saying:

                        Unborn tomorrow and dead yesterday

                        Why fret if today be sweet?

                                   

                        *******************************