Protecting Our Bodies after 40

How to Beat the Inevitable

So, you are approaching the wonderful age of 40 and would like to know what to expect when you do. Either that or you have passed the milestone and wonder what happened. The good news is that nothing is going to be drastically different from the day before. You can relax and enjoy your birthday, knowing that time really doesn’t move as fast as it seems.

However, that doesn’t mean we should just ignore the aging process and what it does to our bodies. Because, while we don’t have control over the actual aging and what it brings with it, we do have some options on how to handle some of it as it happens, or even before it does.
So, read on to learn how you can best fend off the natural process, at least a little.

Cancers

Let’s start with the least desirable topic, to get it out of the way. Cancer is a horrible disease, and can attack anyone, at any time. Look at the number of children battling leukemia, if you have any doubt. However there are certain forms of cancers that are more likely to offend those over the age of 40.

Of course that doesn’t mean that everyone over 40 will get it, obviously. But, it does mean that we should be more aware of our bodies and pay close attention to any changes, which could be a warning sign…in our favor. Some of these cancers include:

•  Cervical
•  Colon
•  Breast
•  Prostate

In addition to noticing changes, we should also get routine exams with our doctor. Getting a physical once a year will not guarantee early detection, but it’s a much better chance than not having a physical at all. They will most likely order some new testing for you, unless you have had problems in the past.

However, there was a recent controversial decision by a U.S. Government task force, in which they decided that things such a mammogram is no longer necessary at age 40, and believe the testing shouldn’t start until 50 now. This was an outrage for many in the medical field, as well as breast cancer survivors…many in their 40’s.

I strongly recommend that you don’t listen to this ‘recommendation’, and listen to your head, as well as your physician instead. Early detection only works, if there is early testing.

Skin

Our skin tends to ‘thin’ as we age, losing collagen and elasticity. It also loses its natural moisture over the years. This is what leads to not only wrinkles, but sagging and a ‘dull’ appearance as well. There are a few things we can do to help combat that.

One is a healthy diet, and drinking plenty of water. Avoiding things like caffeine and cigarettes will also significantly help with aging skin. I know…giving up the daily cup of Joe is not easy. So, if you don’t want to give it up, drink more water to make up for it. Caffeine is a natural diuretic, which depletes our body’s fluid. It’s easy though; for one cup of coffee, drink 2 glasses of water.
Staying out of the sun, or at least protecting it with proper sunscreen and clothing will also help to slow down the inevitable.

And finally, look for anti aging skin products. A good one will be able to infuse the skin of moisture that is lost through our daily routines. Some even claim to rebuild the lost elasticity. I will not make that claim however, because there are mixed studies on that. I will say though, that I personally have benefited from some great products.

Heart

There are many things that can place stress on our heart, such as weight, smoking, drinking, poor diet, stress, and yes…age. So, pay attention to what you put in and do to your body. Look for natural ways to relieve stress with massages, appropriate exercise, reading, and getting a good night’s sleep.
Most of all, pay attention to any changes you might experience in your arms and chest. Anytime you experience chest pain, it should be checked out. It doesn’t matter that you are not ‘old enough’ to have a heart attack. Your heart doesn’t care how old you are, to be honest.

Weight

With this topic comes good news and bad news. The bad news is that it that you will likely gain a pound or two after passing 40, even if you don’t change a thing. And, the good news is that there really is a reason for it. Did you know that a body’s fat cells actually change with age?

As odd as this might sound, we have both brown and yellow fat cells in our body…always have. Brown cells have a much higher metabolic rate, allowing us to lose or maintain weight better than the yellow cells.

In our youth, brown cells are predominating, while the yellow take a back seat. As we age, that slowly reverses, which is why we gain weight easier when we age. I like knowing that there is a reason for this, other than something I am doing wrong. You aren’t necessarily doing anything wrong…just not right.

Taking into consideration that it is more difficult to lose weight, adjusting your diet and exercise routine is your only chance to lose, or even maintain your weight. Yes, you will have to work harder by eating a little less and moving a bit more.
 
And, as a side note…maintaining a healthy diet and weight can significantly help the conditions mentioned above. Now that you know, you just need to apply the knowledge to your everyday life. The biggest tip I can give you is to pay attention to changes in your body.