Ask any woman what concerns her and I’m sure that aging is up there at the top, quiet close to weight loss. But there are quiet often things that we can do to slow the aging process, without having to take drastic steps, such as cosmetic surgery.

If you were to leave a new t-shirt on the washing line day and night in wind, rain and sun for three months, by the time you collect it from the line, it will have faded, the fabric will have stiffened and the fabric will have broken down. This is in effect, what happens to your skin with faced with the daily elements.

So what can we do to reduce our exposure to these elements? The following steps will assist you in the anti-aging process:

To assess your own nails, they need to be washed, nail polish removed and examined in good light. The following may tell you something about your diet, lifestyle, or healthy that you would have otherwise been unaware of:

1. Awareness: the first and most probably important step is awareness. Whilst good old mother nature works away quietly, as long as we are aware of our habits, routines and environment, then we too can work at looking after our skin and body to maintain that fresh, young look;

2. Take care of your skin: the daily grind takes its toll on your skin, in particular, your face and your hands. Whether it is out in the sun, wearing heavy makeup daily, having your hands regularly in water, or chemicals, or working in polluted environments.

Whether you are male, or female, a good cleansing routine for your face morning and night will help to keep your skin fresh and clean. Include a cleanser, face wash, toner and moisturiser. Wear sunscreen and hat whenever outdoors. There are many moisturisers on the market that have both spf15 and spf30 sun protection already in them.

Some of the larger department stores, beauty salons and chemists offer advice on skin types and skin products and may be a good source of advice.

Protect your hands wherever possible. Wear rubber gloves and use a barrier cream during the day. Also use moisturiser cream at regular intervals;

3. Quit bad habits: bad habits such as alcohol and smoking rob the skin of antioxidants and leave it looking aged and weathered. Quitting such bad habits not only helps to slow the aging process, but it is also a healthy decision for your organs and your budget;

4. Review and renovate your diet: foods high in fat, sugar and salt all take their toll on both your skin and your organs. They assist the onset of aging and bring about a range of diseases.

Foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables are high in antioxidants and are really good for your overall health and wellbeing. Ensure that you eat lots of fresh, brightly coloured foods, as they contain photochemical, again really good for your general wellbeing. Berries, nuts, legumes, seeds, yoghurt, green tea and proteins such as red meat and fish are all another good source of anti aging proteins.

Water is another way to keep your body hydrated and your skin looking crisp. Water flushes out the toxins in both your body and skin and hydrates your skin, brain and kidneys;

5. Regular exercise: exercise can slow down, halt and possibly even reverse many of the trends associated with aging. Exercise can reduce and maintain weight, improve cardiovascular health, strengthen bones and increase stamina;

You do not need to join a gym, or push heavy weights. Something as simple as a regular brisk walk around the block all works to reducing the onset of old age;

6. Review and rejuvenate your mind set: today’s pace is one of deadlines, mobile phones, traffic jams, continuous bills, unhappy jobs, all of which impact our overall health. Stress and environment has a significant impact on how we age.

Why not change the radio to a classical channel next time you are stuck in traffic. You just may be surprised at how much it alters your mood and your thinking. Try turning your mobile phone off for twenty minutes in the morning and night and have some quiet time. Walk to the shops at lunchtime and breathe in the fresh air. Find a job closer to home, one that requires less hours, or even better, one that you may enjoy. Taking baby steps to feel more relaxed, happy, and less pressured by everyday life will not only prevent the onset of illness and disease, but it will also slow the aging process;

7. General health: speak to your local doctor and have them perform a general check up. Early warning signs of significant health issues can often be detected in simple a check up, allowing your doctor to treat the symptoms before they become too serious.

Ask your doctor about vitamins and minerals that may benefit your well being, skin and bones.

Have your eyes and ears checked every two to three years and if you are meant to wear glasses, wear them. Forgetting to use your glasses will only result in your eyesight deteriorating at a faster pace;

In summary, our bodies are our vehicles and should be treated with care and respect as you would your motor vehicle. As when you buy a car, you ensure that it has enough petrol to run, enough oil to lubricate, good tyres to drive on, where possible, it is stored in a garage, or carport for protection, it gets cleaned and washed regularly and it receives quarterly services to maintain its engine. Without such attention, the car becomes unreliable, breaks down and turns into an old bomb. The same goes for our bodies.

The more care you take of your mind and body, the more mileage you are like to get out of it;

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