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Preventing Diseases Many diseases and underlying health conditions propel your body into aging. From Alzheimer's and heart disease, to respiratory infections, your body goes through a lot as it ages, making it important to take care of every aspect of it throughout life. Let's be honest, there is not anyone who truly likes to go to the doctor. To most, it is a burden to take a trip to the doctor's office, especially when you are not sick or injured. However, going in for routine check-ups and getting yourself checked out when something feels off decreases your chance of unexpected diseases and problems. Catching a condition early or finding out what you are at risk for based on your genetics provides you with the tools you need to live a longer life. Avoiding toxins such as drugs and cigarettes, along with enjoying alcohol only in moderation, are keys to living longer. It is no secret that cigarettes are practically an aging stick since nicotine narrows the blood vessels, making it difficult for nutrients to reach the skin, causing wrinkles and deep lines. Smoking can lead to cancer, lung disease, heart disease and plenty more issues, making cigarettes the number one thing to cut out if you want to prolong your life. Your mouth is a map of your overall health, making maintaining oral health a huge piece in slowing the aging process. Without proper oral hygiene, many health concerns can arise including oral infections that source from inflammation and bacteria. Conditions such as Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, and digestion issues can all root from oral problems. Keeping up with oral hygiene and taking regular trips to the dentist can prevent an oral-related disease or help you catch one before it evolves into something more. Physical Health Your physical health is debatably the most important aspect when working to maintain overall health. How you feel and the way you look are directly correlated to your physical health. What you put into your body and how you exert your energy determines the state of your physical health. Gut health is extremely important to focus on as we age because the way we digest our food changes and slows down. Our stomachs produce less acid as we age, making it a longer and more difficult process to break down food. This leads to constipation and problems with digesting medications. To promote gut health, taking a digestive agent and probiotics to aid in digestion is recommended, along with sticking to raw and natural foods and drinking plenty of water. Cutting out processed foods that are already hard for our bodies to digest, and replacing them with fruits, vegetables and healthy fats puts your body on the right track to remain healthy, longer. Wearing sunscreen is another huge factor for slowing the aging process on the outside. Years of time spent in the sun leads to wrinkles and too much sun exposure can lead to skin cancer, a disease that nearly 1 in every 5 Americans will develop in their lifetime. Taking supplements like Omega 3 (fish oil) can help keep your skin stay youthful and hair stay healthier. If you want your face to age gracefully, sunscreen, water, and a healthy diet are your best friends. Ever wonder why your grandma seems to shrink every time you see her? As we grow older, our bones, muscles and joints begin to deteriorate. Maintaining an active lifestyle can promote stronger bones and help your body be able to function for longer. Strength training like lifting weights and doing body weight bearing exercises is important in keeping muscles strong, and leads to less limitation later in life. Taking a muscle recovery agent after exercise and having a balanced amount of protein in your diet will help keep your body even stronger. Exercising releases stress and promotes a more positive mindset. V U E N J .C O M 29

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