Tips for Growing Older Gracefully

Growing older can be a trauma for some, and it can be a learning experience in which a person just keeps on getting better and better. Here are a few tips to help you find your place in the group that seems to be growing older with style, poise, and grace.

1) Outside appearance often worries women as they get older . In an effort to fight off the inevitable it is tempting to pour on the make-up, but don’t! Women who try to reproduce a more youthful appearance often end up looking worse. Makeup should always enhance the natural beauty that is already there, not mask it. Author of “French Women Don’t Get Facelifts” Mireille Guiliano says, “Stop trying to dress like your daughter or younger self… go lighter on the makeup. Too much makeup as we age generally makes us look worse, not better. Think thrice about drawing attention to your sags and wrinkles.”

2) Reduce your chances of developing high blood pressure by reducing your salt intake. Almost 66 percent of people over age 60 in the US have high blood pressure, says the National Institutes of Health. High blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke and a reduction in cognitive functioning. Since salt is a trigger for hypertension, avoid foods which are more than 20 percent of your daily recommended intake of salt, and don’t put extra salt on your food.

3) Studies have shown that having a positive attitude about living can lead to a longer and healthier, and of course happier life. As centenarian Daisy McFadden said to Forbes: “I stay away from negative people, places and things. I always look positive, and am thankful for what I have.” Positive people have less risk of mental decline, and a Huffington Post report from 2011 showed that older people who are happier reduce their risk of dying by 35 percent compared to their unhappy cohorts. A Harvard study showed that people who are positive also have a reduced risk of coronary heart disease.

So, in a nutshell, look your best with less make-up, lay off the salt, and smile!

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