The power of your thoughts can have a significant impact on your physical health and the aging process. By focusing on three simple changes in your attitude and adopting positive lifestyle habits, you can protect your body and potentially slow down the aging process.
Reducing Stress and Anxiety
High levels of stress and anxiety can create faster aging on a cellular level. One study conducted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital showed that a form of anxiety called phobic anxiety could reduce the layers of telomeres, the caps at the end of chromosome areas that offer protection to the cells’ DNA. Telomeres naturally become shorter as you age. When they become too short, they can cause significant issues, since cellular division is negatively affected. To avoid shortening telomeres and aging faster, learn how to manage your stress and anxiety effectively.
Changing Your Attitude Toward Aging
Your perspective on aging and how you perceive yourself can influence your cognitive health. A study from the University of Exeter in England discovered that your attitude toward aging has a direct impact on your vulnerability to dementia. When seniors saw themselves as older, 70 percent of them met the criterion for dementia on a standard screening test. In contrast, only 14 percent of those who considered themselves younger met the criterion. To maintain better cognitive function as you age, embrace a younger attitude and engage in activities that challenge your brain.
Embracing Meditation and Mindfulness
Meditation provides numerous benefits for overall brain health and can slow the aging process as well. Research found that meditation could promote positive psychological changes, leading to higher levels of telomerase, an enzyme that rebuilds and lengthens telomeres. These improved psychological changes include a sense of control, increased mindfulness, purposefulness, alongside a decrease in negative emotions.
The most effective habits that can reduce aging come from the choices you make and the activities you engage in daily. By minimizing stress, adopting healthier attitudes towards aging, and embracing mindfulness, you’re giving your mind and body the power to slow down and even reverse the aging process. To further enhance your lifespan and mental well-being, combine these lifestyle changes with physical activities, brain-boosting exercises, and a healthy diet to optimize your current physical and emotional state and protect your future well-being.
