Aging is a process everything and everyone goes through. From a fine wine, to an elegant older woman, there are many plus sides to aging. There are down sides as well. As with anything there are always two sides. Things and people that age gracefully are generally preferred by everyone.

Learn a new language, play Sudoku, travel the world! These are all things that can help you stay younger longer. Challenging yourself mentally has been shown to keep your brain younger. Audit some classes at the local college or just start up a book club with your friends. Keep your brain active and engaged!

Keep your fruit intake high. Fruits are a great source of antioxidants, which help inhibit the aging process of our cells. They are also a great source of other vitamins that provide a host of benefits to our aging bodies. Use fruit as your desert instead of sugar filled treats as an easy way of getting them in your diet.

Aging is not a bad thing. With more years comes knowledge. You know the old saying “older but wiser” and that’s true. Think of all the life experiences you’ve had compared to those that are young, and make sure to enjoy the naivety of those that you were once like.

Use olive oil and remember fat does not equal bad. Oils have gotten a bad rap in the past few decades but oils are essential to our health. The trick is to stay away from “fake” fats like trans fats. The use of olive oil has many heart healthy benefits so don’t shy away from using it. Try making your own salad vinaigrette’s of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

To slow down the aging process, do some aerobic exercise everyday mixed with occasional light weight training. Numerous scientific studies have shown that exercise improves muscle strength, stamina, bone density and balance. As these four things deteriorate with age, regular exercise could help keep your body in good condition well into your 80s and beyond.

Releasing endorphins is going to make you feel great. Let yourself feel emotions. Laugh and cry but be sure to laugh more than you cry. If it takes a funny movie or a funny book to bring out the laughter, take the time to watch or read them. It is the body’s natural way to feel good.

Progress feels good for everyone. If you find things to accomplish every day, you are going to feel great when you accomplish them. Find problems to solve. This could be helping someone who needs the help or just completing a simple jigsaw puzzle. The accomplishment will feel great, either way.

You must maintain a healthy body weight into your golden years. If you are overweight there are obvious health risks that you face but there are equally dangerous risks involved with being underweight. Talk with your doctor to learn what your ideal weight is and strive to reach that weight.

Just because you are taking a good multivitamin everyday does not mean that you do not have to eat a healthy diet. Be sure to take the time to learn what foods provide your body with what nutrients and balance your diet accordingly. This will keep you healthy far longer than just using the vitamins.

Exercise is necessary for healthy aging. Regular exercise can delay or prevent heart disease and Diabetes as well as lessen the pain of Arthritis, depression and anxiety. Four kinds should be followed: aerobics to build endurance and keep your heart and blood vessels healthy; strength training to reduce age-related loss of muscle; stretching to keep your body flexible; and balance exercises to reduce your chances of falling.

Staying properly hydrated has never been more important to you than now! Aging is hard on the body and providing it with plenty of water will help flush toxins, bring nutrients to cells, hydrate skin and make it easier on every function of your body! Most experts recommend about eight glasses of water each day, so drink up for healthier aging!

Everyone suffers from a certain amount of stress in their life, but in order to keep the aging process slow and graceful, it’s important to keep stress at bay. A great way to do this is by practicing relaxation techniques. There are a wide variety of techniques available including meditation, yoga and tai chi. Pick the method that you are most comfortable with and be sure to practice it several times a week to slow down the aging process.

To age brings troubles, sure, but with every trouble there is generally a plus side. For instance, your wine may have had to age for years before being enjoyed, which is troublesome because you have to wait for a long time to enjoy it. But when you do get to savor the experience of that wine aging, it is well worth it.

Age Gracefully By Using The Following Advice was originally published on Spring