What Moms Should Tell you, But Don’t!
Aging is inevitable. It’s called ‘growing up’ during the younger years, but when you cross those years and start becoming an adult it becomes ‘aging’. Some mothers do tell their kids about the changes they will be experiencing when aging and some don’t. So, here are a few of the changes you will be facing while growing which your mom has probably not told you about … yet:
Pregnancy
Pregnancy comes with many wonderful blessings. In addition, it comes with many things that mothers (and others) do not warn you about… This includes growth of a beard, chronic constipation, uninvited – better yet, “unexpected” – nighttime orgasms, and loss of bodily functions (including urination, flatulence, and drooling). Oh, boy – or girl!
Skin and Hair
Changes to the hair and skin are probably some of the most obvious changes to occur as you age. As hair follicles are altered, your hair will lose its color and it will perhaps turn gray or more porous. However, this change is unique in every person and depends greatly on heredity. As for your skin, during aging, your skin loses its elasticity and becomes rough and thin. Small lines set in and eventually wrinkles appear. The muscles in your face also lose flexibility, causing your jowls, cheeks, eye lids, and upper lip to droop.
Heart and Veins
During the normal process of aging, the heart becomes less efficient in pumping blood to the brain and other parts of the body. At the same time, fatty deposits start building up in the blood vessels. And like all other parts of the body, your vessels will also become less elastic. The combination of blocked arteries and a less efficient heart muscle prevents the proper flow of blood throughout the body. This may cause a heart attack or a stroke and may even result in hypertension. These changes are hardly noticeable on the outside but can surely do considerable damage to your health.
Menopause
Women experience menopause during middle age. And this cessation of menstrual flow will result in the declining of the estrogen level and will cause hot flashes, mood swings, and affect other bodily functions. Menopause also causes the metabolism to slow down, thus you will start to gain weight. Loss of estrogen also effects urinary incontinence, vaginal elasticity, flexibility of blood vessels, the protection of the cardiovascular system, and the tune-up of all female organs.
Eyes and Ears
As you age, your eyes are less able to produce tears and seeing clearly becomes difficult. This is because the retina gets thinner and the iris stiffens, causing the eye lens to become cloudy. At the same time, the walls of the auditor canal of your ear starts thinning and this causes a gradual loss in hearing.
Digestive System
The process of digestion slows down as you age. The intestinal area diminishes and this reduces the flow of secretions from the stomach, pancreas, liver, and small intestine, causing bowel function to change, and digestion to slow down.
Other Changes
The changes mentioned above are just a few of the important ones, but there are also many other changes which occur as you age. These changes occur in the musculoskeletal system, pelvic organs and bladder and metabolism.
What You Should Do?
To slow down these changes or to stop them, you can follow the tips mentioned below:
Walk
Walking lowers your heart rate and blood pressure and it also inhibits blood clots and improves cholesterol. So, try walking more, at least 10 to 20 minutes daily. 2000 steps burn 100 calories, so keep that in mind, and push yourself to walk more. You can wear a pedometer to calculate how many steps you take.
Eat Healthy
Make healthy food choices, and avoid eating too much junk, spicy or oily food. Choose your food wisely. Eat vegetables and meat but don’t forget to keep a balance between both. Drink a glass of water before your meal to prevent overeating. Also, do not forget to eat three to five servings of low-fat dairy products to boost your calcium and Vitamin D intake daily. For additional Anti-Aging Foods, click here.
Drink Lots of Water
Keep drinking water to avoid dehydration. All your body cells depend on water for functioning. So, drink at least eight to ten glasses of water daily.
Get Plenty of Sleep
Sleep is important for the overall well-being of a person. An average person requires at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep to work and stay active.
Be Patient. Be Forgiving.
Aging is apart of life and it is granted to the lucky ones. Many do not receive the chance to grow old. Do it with grace. Care for yourself. And be forgiving.
So, now that you are familiar with the changes that occur with aging, and how to counter them, do make sure that you do not make the same mistake, and tell your kids about the changes they will be experiencing, as they grow up, even if your mom hasn’t told you about them yet.
