First, we define what reverse aging is. And then we get into the question of how to reverse aging naturally.
We find that this reverse aging effort requires a multifaceted approach that goes into every area of optimizing our health and prolonging both the length and the quality of our lives.
And we also find that doing this requires a multitude of small, incremental steps. When taken together, these can add up to big results in how we feel, look, and perform both physically and mentally.
Because of the length of this post, we have provided an Index together with jump links to the text. And there is a Resource Section at the end, where you can find many of the products referred to in the text.
And you can return to the Index by clicking on the “Back to Index” link at the end of each section.
Index
What Is Reverse Aging?
Biological age vs chronological 
age
As humans, we have two different ages. First, we have our chronological age, which is the number of years we have been alive since birth. And then we have our biological age, which is how old we feel and seem to be.
When we talk about reverse aging, we are referring to our biological age. Until we invent time machines, our chronological age will keep ticking beyond our control, no matter what.
Biological aging
Biological aging is a natural process that occurs in our body’s tissues, cells, and organs.
As they age, cells get larger and less adept at dividing and multiplying. And there is a growth in fatty substances and pigments that start to collect inside the cells.
On top of that, as they 
age, many cells lose their ability to function as designed or may start to function in unusual ways.
Our biological age is affected by the body and genes we are born with and by the environment, behaviors, and lifestyle imposed on them.
While we cannot control what we are born with, we can control our environment, our behavior, and our lifestyle. These can have a tremendous impact when it comes to the improvement of our biological age and the extension of our life.
Impact of lifestyle on aging
Lifestyle habits such as the frequent nightcap, or smoking (especially), or pill-popping every time we sneeze, maybe unconscious contributors to premature aging.
Our premature aging shows in those unpleasant fine lines and wrinkles that appear way before time, along with thinning and greying hair and brittle and weak nails.
But reclaiming our youth is not an impossible task. It can be as simple as stopping the damaging things that we do to ourselves. Because self-inflicted damage is the easiest to correct as we approach how to reverse aging naturally.
It’s not just about how we look
When we are healthy on the inside, it will come through to the outside. So we will naturally have a vibrant and youthful appearance too.
The way we appear to others is an obvious indicator of how successful we may have been in halting the aging process internally.
But when we also feel healthy on the inside, then we are really reaping the benefits of reverse aging.
Success in reverse aging is a body that functions well, heals well, and looks good too – all the way into advanced old age.
Advances in medicine and supplementation
Advances in the medical field have allowed people to recover from illness and injury and reclaim their health.
They have also reduced the incidence of ailments and afflictions that were once considered fatal but are now fairly easy to prevent and treat.
There have also been significant advances in the science of supplements that we can take to enhance the lifestyle changes we must make to turn back our biological clocks
How to reverse aging naturally
Reclaiming our youth is not an impossible task. It is as simple as changing the things we do to ourselves. This is because the damaging things that we bring on ourselves are the easiest to control and make right.
There is a natural approach to reverse aging. It is a three-step process aimed at optimizing and prolonging our lives
Step One
This part of the reverse aging program involves making necessary dietary changes, reducing systemic inflammation, and removing toxic waste from the body. All of this will boost the immune system. Plus it is fairly basic and is totally within our control.
Step Two
The next step in controlling damage involves the prevention and reversal of damage at the cellular level. This component of reverse aging may not totally be up to us, since factors promoting aging are genetically programmed in our cells.
That said, there are still some proactive measures we can take to prevent damage at the cellular level.
First, we can incorporate more exercise into our daily routine to keep the circulation moving, the heart pumping well and the lymphatic system flowing freely. This will better nourish and replenish our cells.
Second, we can invest in some quality anti-aging products that will work internally to regenerate cells and minimize aging effects. We will go into this a lot more later in this post.
Step Three
The third step in this process concerns the hormonal changes that can affect aging. This is at a macro level. Hormones are the chemical messengers in our body that tell our systems what to do and when.
With regards to aging, hormones tell the body how to age and any fluctuation in hormonal levels affects aging.
While hormonal production cannot be completely dominated by any single treatment, we can make small but sensible changes to restore these imbalances.
The basics for boosting hormone creation and balance include:
- Changing lifestyle
- Changing dietary habits
- Staying away from common stressors
- Detoxifying.
There are hormonal therapies available out there but, unless medically indicated for such things as the treatment of cancer or actual hormone replacement, we’d rather keep it natural. and not go there.
Instead, we recommend following a natural and sensible age-reversing protocol that will help us better control the way we age and the way we look and feel.
The Science Behind Reverse Aging
Recent research and experiment were successful in reversing the aging process in mice. The study found that the mice appeared younger, and had an extended lifespan.
And while the study has only been done on mice, the researchers were hopeful that a similar technique would be ready for human trials within ten years.
Epigenetics
The basis of this research is epigenetics. This is the study of inherent changes in gene function.
As we age, our genetic makeup changes in several ways.
For instance, outside factors such as environmental pollutants, smoking, alcohol, and drug dependency can bring about changes. And with changes in our genes, there are accompanying changes in our bodies. They start to show effects. And one of these is aging.
These changes may trigger a predisposition to an inherited condition such as heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis. Or they may create a new condition that the body is unable to recover from. But these epigenetic changes supply a lot of information as to why these things happen.
And when scientists find out why these changes happen, they can work on a way of preventing them or even reversing them, such as in aging.
Age reversing agents – future genetic science
- Scientists have determined that there is an age reversing agent known as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or NAD+.
- They found that this compound is present more in younger mice than older ones and has importance in repairing DNA damage.
- There is also another DNA repair agent called PARP1 which responds well to NAD+ levels in the human body. With higher NAD+, you get more PARP1.
Younger humans, much like younger mice, have higher levels. But these levels start to fall as people age, making it harder for DNA to restore itself. So with this in mind, scientists gave more NAD+ to older mice and sure enough, they started to appear younger, biologically.
These research findings concluded that by changing adult cells into an earlier state, reverse aging could be set in motion.
But for real-life applications right now, all of that age reversal scientific engineering is in the future.
Age reversal – current genetic science
What can we do to reverse aging by taking better care of ourselves in such a way as to prevent cellular damage? After all, once our cells are working well, they are in a stronger position to repair age-damaged DNA on their own.
Research into DNA has demonstrated that specific genes are responsible for aging. This set of genes are called ‘late life cyclers.’ They only get activated later in life or during bouts of intense stress.
Stressors related to aging and that can cause these genes to respond include molecular and cellular damage, oxidative stress, and diseases, such as cancer.
This same set of genes has also been found to get activated when our circadian rhythm gets out of whack. Interruptions in our circadian rhythm are themselves a type of stress.
Circadian Rhythm
As part of how to reverse aging naturally, we need to maintain our circadian rhythm. This is our 24-hour cycle, or body clock, which heavily influences our physical, mental, and behavioral patterns.
Our daily routines from waking up to going back to sleep all fall within our circadian rhythm, which is another name for our sleep-wake cycle.
So what we do during our sleep/wake cycle can actually determine the direction of our health overall.
Our circadian rhythm works best when we adopt regular sleep habits. Preferably we should go to bed early and get up early.
This is because the circadian rhythm coincides with sunrise and sundown and is influenced by changes in light during the day.
If our circadian rhythm is disrupted, our eating and sleeping patterns can run amok. And this in turn has an influence on how we age.
So as a heads up for what’s coming on later in this post, it is important to eat and sleep well to reverse the effects of aging.
Hormonal Decline
Hormones are those natural chemicals produced in one part of the body, such as the pancreas in the case of insulin. They are released into the bloodstream and then used by other organs and systems. In our insulin example, the hormone helps the glucose, deposited from food into the bloodstream, enter our cells for energy.
However, these hormones can also start to get out of sync as we age.
Typically, the levels of hormone production in the body start to slow down as we near 30. In particular, regulatory hormone production like estrogen and testosterone declines, and many bodily functions start to get affected.
The hormones involved in the aging process include the thyroid, adrenal, sex, and metabolic hormones. Together, these are responsible for a wide variety of health concerns, including body composition, bone health, energy levels, and brain function.
These declining hormone levels make the body less capable of optimal function, as we start to experience age-related symptoms like cognitive decline, weight gain, reduced muscle strength and endurance, as well hair loss and dry skin.
Benefits of Reverse Aging
In this post, we are taking a look at all those aspects of aging that can actually be prevented or at least slowed, as the result of success in reverse aging.
Typically starting in middle age and going all the way into our senior years, there are age-related issues that can stop us from enjoying life to the full.
So, apart from the obvious advantage of looking good, a person who can successfully reverse age will also be spared the many debilitating conditions that come with aging.
Of course, there are those people who believe in ‘aging gracefully’ and think of aging as a natural phenomenon and one that they can’t do anything about.
But more and more people have now started to realize that it is possible to freeze our biological age, or at least put it into slow motion.
Putting reverse aging into action can be highly beneficial in terms of our ability to lead an independent life without having to rely too much on others.
The health benefits of reverse aging
The health benefits of reverse aging include the following.
Preventing Cognitive Decline
Preventing cognitive decline is perhaps the single biggest benefit of reverse aging. Because, without our minds, we are not “us.”
‘Cognition’ is an umbrella term that refers to the learning, thinking, perceptive, interpretive, and thinking functions of our brain. As we age, our cognitive functions decline in much the same way as the rest of the body.
Countless cognitive disorders are linked to age. The most common are dementia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease. Some of these disorders have a genetic predisposition, but others do not.
But even those that are linked to genetics can be delayed in their onset or prevented altogether with reverse aging.
Just like aging in other parts of the body, the brain is also susceptible to cellular damage, but when we start to take better care of ourselves through diet and other lifestyle practices, we can help our brain keep its health intact.
Whether our reverse aging therapy includes supplements, diets, or other lifestyle changes, all can help in preserving our health at the cellular level. As science has already established, the healthier our cells, the better we age – or stop aging.
Preventing Immobility
For people in their 30’s or younger, physical work that one is not accustomed to may cause back or joint pains. These are warning signs that aging is on its way.
Famous comedian George Burns once quipped, “You know you’re getting old when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and wonder what else you could do while you’re down there.”
As we grow older, this joke starts to make perfect sense to us.
We may also start to experience small inconveniences like achy, sore muscles after the slightest bit of physical activity when mobility is no longer smooth and painless.
Just think of how often we end up using painkillers every other day or are just too tired to move around for anything.
Unfortunately, unless we take steps in time to prevent immobility, it will creep up on us. And there may be a time when we become confined to a wheelchair.
Reverse aging can prevent all this.
Internally, improvements in cellular health do their part, while externally we can engage in physical activity at a level suited to keep our muscles and joints mobile.
Yoga, tai chi, aquatics, cycling, or walking are highly recommended low impact exercise activities, well suited for an older person embarking on a reverse aging program.
And remember that an important part of preventing immobility is preventing falls. These are a major cause of injury and even death among older people.
Preventing Frailty and Sarcopenia
Frailty is the descriptor for being weak and delicate. And it is frequently used about the elderly.
Sarcopenia is a medical term that means a loss in skeletal muscle mass and strength. Fortunately, it is these muscles that can be directly improved by exercise.
Reverse aging exercises and physiotherapy are both important in warding off frailty and sarcopenia.
As far as frailty is concerned, diet and exercise are most helpful. But keeping the mind active and the attitude positive is also highly beneficial.
A research study by Johns Hopkins found that maintaining social connections, along with pursuing new learning, also translates into a lower risk of frailty.
That is also why people who keep themselves engaged mentally and physically can sharpen their thinking skills while at the same time improving their physical functioning.
Johns Hopkins has excellent resources on the subject of frailty.
Preventing Immune System Deterioration
A compromised immune system will get in the way of reverse aging. So, to effectively reverse the aging process we need to keep our immune system in top shape.
The problem is that as the rest of the body deteriorates with age, the immune system is no different.
Over time, the cellular processes that make up the immune system get slower, less efficient, and less effective. This is why the probabilities of contracting a disease and of the disease worsening increase with age.
The body becomes more susceptible to illness and also loses its ability to produce an effective immune response.
Reverse aging means a great deal for the immune system, as it helps keep the system younger. If we can keep our immune systems young, we are better able to keep all kinds of illnesses at bay.
Improving Cardiovascular Health
Cardiovascular health includes all things related to the heart and blood vessels (arteries, capillaries, and veins). As we get older, the muscles of the heart and the muscles in our blood vessels get weaker.
And depending upon various factors, the vessels might get occluded, as in atherosclerosis, due to overconsumption of fatty foods. This can result in high blood pressure and can even bring on heart attacks.
So one of the biggest benefits of our reverse aging efforts is that our heart and blood vessels stay healthy.
Promoting Independence
What reverse aging can promote is just as important as the health issues it can prevent.
This is as much to do with mental wellbeing as it is to do with physical wellbeing.
It has long been a given that anyone getting older will start to become more and more dependent on others. But this need not be the case.
As long as a person is healthy, age really is just a number. And reverse aging can prove this in many ways.
Someone who is old, but is still mobile, does not need a babysitter. They do not need to be sent to old folks home for better care if they are perfectly well able to manage on their own.
Reverse aging can help everyone keep the independence that they have had all their lives without having to be monitored and fussed over all the time. And this independence is essential for our spiritual well being.
Lifestyle Changes for Reverse Aging
Not everyone ages at the same rate
Aside from individual genetic differences, there are certain lifestyle choices we make as individuals that can speed up our aging process. In fact, any of these bad habits can put our aging on fast forward.
So really the key answer to the question of how to reverse aging naturally lies in the lifestyle changes we can make.
Smoking
Smoking of any kind adversely affects almost every biological system in our body.
Obviously, it is no secret how smoking affects the lungs; damaging lung tissue, obstructing air passages, and rendering lung tissues incapable of performing their main function: the exchange of oxygen with the inhaled air.
But it is this very oxygen that the blood carries to all our tissues to keep them healthy and active. This most visibly includes the skin.
If the oxygen supply is compromised, the body will automatically provide the bulk of it to the vital organs (brain, heart, and liver), instead of the skin.
So, if the skin is starved of oxygen, it will be unable to keep healthy or to regenerate. It will no longer form adequate proteins such as collagen, which is the main contributor to the elasticity of youthful and healthy skin.
As a result, we get wrinkles and dry and damaged skin that make us look years ahead of our age. Smoking affects your looks and your life.
Excessive alcohol consumption
Too much alcohol can easily make a person in their 20’s look like forty – thin, weak, pale, and with bags under their eyes. This can be coupled with neurotic behavior and mental breakdowns.
The liver is the organ most affected by alcohol. This is a vital organ, and its failure can potentially lead to death.
One of the essential roles of the liver is to detoxify the body. And, since alcohol is a toxin, the liver has to work extra hard to remove it from the system.
If one’s liver is overloaded having to deal with alcohol, it is less able to deal with the other toxins it is designed to eliminate. And this has the effect of speeding up the aging process.
Sugar Intake
Sugar is commonly associated with obesity, diabetes, and other health issues. But it is less common knowledge that sugar intake hastens our aging process as well.
Glucose, which is the simplest form of sugar, is the main substrate for energy in the body. But, in excess, it can lead to several complications.
Glucose metabolism produces AGEs (Advanced Glycation End-products). These (aptly named) AGEs substances can cause our skin to look old and saggy.
But a high sugar intake will age more than just the skin. All our organs have to work more to metabolize that extra sugar and will exhaust themselves faster than the normal, natural pace of aging.
The moral – we limit our sugar intake. And one of the keys to doing this is in avoiding processed foods that have added sugar.
Sitting Too Much
Our modern life involves a lot of sitting. We can sit for many hours working in the office, studying or playing computer games.
But whether we are being productive or not, excessive sitting can cause aging to creep up on us. One study found that sitting can age us by 8 years!
So we need to move our bodies around as much as possible. If we do have to sit for long periods, we should set a timer to make us get up, say, every 30 minutes to stretch and move around.
This is just one more thing we should incorporate into our reverse aging efforts.
Binge Watching and Binge Eating
Have you heard of ‘Netflix Face’? It’s a real thing and characterized by wrinkles, spots, and fine lines. Mobile phones, laptops, and other devices emit harmful radiation that 
can penetrate and damage the skin. This phenomenon is associated with blue light.
But binge-watching is bad for the brain too. It is causing our brains to age faster. And it can affect different functions of the brain so as to cause attention deficits, concentration deficits, bad memory, and slower processing and comprehension of information.
It goes without saying that if we binge eat while we binge-watch, we are inviting an aging onslaught, to say nothing of other health issues.
Poor Posture
Poor posture is not reflected in an aging face. But it does age the body.
It affects how well blood is being pumped around the body and also how well a person breathes.
Maintaining an erect and upright posture plays an important role in reverse aging. Poor posture leads to problems that are mostly seen in adults but are now experienced by youngsters.
Examples are backaches, pain in the joints, breathlessness, and greater chances of a fall.
Another thing. An erect posture is an outward sign of a healthy and confident person.
So, we’ll put correcting poor posture into our reverse aging toolkit.
Using Too Much or The ‘Wrong’ Makeup
As much as we may love the difference that makeup can make to our appearance and confidence, it is also one of the biggest culprits in premature aging of the skin.
All those YouTube tutorials that show someone putting on layer upon layer of makeup are not helpful. All that makeup is hard to cleanse and remove.
And let’s face it. No matter the excellence of our makeup brand, it is still loaded with chemicals that can rob our skin of its natural moisture, dehydrate it, and cause wrinkles.
Applying makeup unnecessarily makes the skin age faster. So, to avoid this, it is important to use makeup as minimally as possible. And take it off at night.
A Boost for Self-Esteem and Confidence
One of the reasons reverse aging is beneficial for the maintenance of healthy systems in the body comes from what looking younger can do for us.
Nobody likes to look old or seem old. ‘You look much older than your age’ is not a compliment we want to hear.
Reverse aging and what it can do for our appearance can give our confidence and self-esteem a boost.
You look what you feel. So. If you feel younger from the inside, you will look younger from the outside too.
Reverse aging, by any means, can remove many of our insecurities and worries.
Food and Diet for Reverse Aging
It is the visible signs of aging that get to us, especially (for women) when it comes to our faces. What to do about it?
People resort to expensive cosmetic surgery, or expensive spa treatments, or expensive skincare products.
But what we may not know is that the look of our faces has a great deal to do with what we put into our faces – food!
We do not need expensive surgeries, creams, or treatments for our skin to age reversely. But what we do need is the right food.
So here are some top contenders in the field of nutrition that can produce noticeable effects on how well we age.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are great for our health generally when it comes to reverse aging. But especially for the skin.
Tomatoes contain a large number of carotenoids. And these have been shown to help protect the skin from damage caused by sunlight.
UV light forms free radicals that can react with our skin and cause premature aging.
Also, the specific carotenoids in tomatoes naturally inhibit the enzyme collagenase, which breaks down collagen in the skin. Collagen is important to maintain strength and elasticity in the skin.
Green Tea
Green tea has an established reputation as an effective weight loss agent. But its benefits go beyond weight loss.
The antioxidant properties of green tea make it an important addition to our reverse aging toolkit.
Green tea is said to have originated in China. And there is a legend of a Chinese monk who lived for some 150 years. When asked by the king how it was that he lived for so long, the monk attributed it to green tea.
This folktale actually has substance. Recent research may have shown the old monk to have been onto something.
As to our skin specifically, the various oxides and radicals produced by the normal metabolism of oxygen in the body exert stress on the skin, causing it to lose its elasticity. And, obviously, this has an aging effect.
But the antioxidants in green tea can help in eliminating these radicals and limit the damage they can do to our skin.
Yogurt
Yogurt is full of nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, and many proteins. It supports stronger bones, healthier hair, and softer skin. This gives yogurt an important place among our foods for reverse aging.
As for the skin specifically, yogurt contains lactic acid, which combats the dead cells in our skin. It also works well in helping minimize the harmful effects of overexposure to sunlight. It moisturizes the skin and helps maintain its natural elasticity.
And we can even use yogurt externally as a facial treatment.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a well-known ingredient in skincare creams, oils, ointments, and shampoos. But what is not so well known is that we can drink it too, as aloe vera juice.
Aloe vera is an excellent promoter of collagen synthesis, which, as referenced earlier, is important to reverse aging.
Not only does Aloe vera increase the production of collagen, but it also inhibits the natural breakdown of collagen in the body, making sure that our skin gets all the collagen it needs to look soft, supple, and young.
Aloe vera also removes toxins from our gastric and intestinal systems. Many of these toxins contribute to the aging process.
So drinking aloe vera gel every day is a great addition to our reverse aging campaign.
Avocados
Research has shown that the avocado is a superfood when it comes to reverse aging, both internally and externally.
Avocados have antioxidant properties that can penetrate to the cellular level and exert their effects from there.
The mitochondria within our cells generate the energy needed for the cell to perform its designed functions. But in the process of producing this energy, the mitochondria also produce free radicals that harm the cells and contribute to the aging process.
Avocados can help limit the production of these free radicals and thus assist in our reverse aging efforts.
As to our skin, the many nutrients found in the avocado help in its rejuvenation.
Apples
‘’An apple a day keeps the doctor away’. Well, it keeps aging away too. Apples are packed with vitamin C and vitamin B. So they work in many ways toward rejuvenation, regrowth, and ‘damage repair.’
Vitamin C is an excellent promoter of new cell synthesis. And the antioxidants in apples help in reverse aging.
Brussel Sprouts
Brussel sprouts can rightfully be called the key to reverse aging. They have a very high ratio of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. And they contain a lot of water.
As mentioned elsewhere, free radicals are the real culprits behind natural aging and premature aging. The antioxidants in Brussel sprouts help eliminate them, and thus help slow down the process of aging.
And a large amount of water present in Brussel sprouts also helps maintain healthier, well-hydrated skin.
Fish and Fish Oils
An excellent source of protein, fish, and fish oils are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These are substances that the body cannot produce on its own. And so they have to be acquired through the diet.
Among the many reasons why the body needs these fatty acids is to combat aging.
With age, the epidermis of the skin gets fragile, weaker, and less elastic. And this shows aging on our face in the form of wrinkles.
Omega-3 fatty acids help the skin maintain its biochemical integrity by retaining its water and nutrients in check.
Fish and fish oil are also helpful in combating the aging effects of UV rays.
Nuts
All nuts help in reverse aging. They are full of healthy fat and omega-3 fatty acids that are essential to maintaining a youthful body and appearance.
Nuts are also rich in vitamin E, which helps prevent cellular damage of any kind. As such, it aids in preventing skin cell damage that would otherwise show as a sign of aging.
Nuts are also anti-inflammatory and so they help reduce the chances of many skin conditions like acne or eczema.
These diseases exhaust the skin and cause it to age much faster than normal. The consumption of nuts in all their forms can be a good way to avoid this help achieve our goal of reverse aging.
And take a look at our posts on essential oils and acne and psoriasis as natural treatments for these conditions.
The Fat Burning Kitchen
In the Resources section, we have included a link to The Fat Burning Kitchen, a valuable guide to food selection and how to cook it for the best health effect. This has obvious reverse aging benefits.
Daily Routines for Reverse Aging
With every passing hour and every day, all of us age.
However, it is quite noticeable that some people seem to age slower than others. It’s almost as if they ‘reverse age.’
But what can work for everyone else is the cumulative effect of all the little, conscious changes in our daily routine that we can make. They can all add up to actual reverse aging.
It’s just a matter of developing a set of good daily habits and routines to prevent the aging effect of overtaxing our body, mind, and skin and promoting their healthy function.
It is these daily habits that reflect the changes we make in our lives to answer our key question of how to reverse aging naturally.
Proper Sleep
Often sidelined, proper sleep is one of the most important factors in our overall health. We talked earlier about how our body’s health and performance are designed to be naturally in sync with circadian rhythms.
And sleep is an essential part of the circadian day. This means that everyone should get a solid 8 hours of quality sleep every night.
Adequate sleep plays an important role in helping one age slower.
There is truth in Ben Franklin’s aphorism: “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” And, although old Ben stated it elegantly, he didn’t invent the sentiment.
There is an older English proverb: “Whoever will rise early shall be holy, healthy, and happy.”
Other than the aging effect of sleep deprivation on the brain and the rest of the body, it can also lead to the skin aging faster as well.
The importance of this can be understood by the fact that even a single night without sleep makes a person look tired and haggard. So lack of sleep over a long period will have a multiplier effect.
And proper sleep keeps our skin young. “Beauty sleep” is a real thing.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the most effective components of the reverse aging process.
Exercise promotes an increase in the blood supply to all areas of the body. It strengthens the heart, slows cell decline, and refreshes the spirit.
In fact, studies have shown that a person who exercises regularly can look nine years younger than someone of the same age who does not exercise. And there is no doubt that exercise is associated with longer life.
Appropriate exercise does not have to be a vigorous workout. Gentler versions like yoga and tai chi can actually be more useful. Many yoga tutorials and guides on the internet deal specifically with aging issues.
Meditative practices like yoga can improve health in many ways. Yoga also helps the body maintain its flexibility which it gradually loses with age.
Sunscreen Application
While soaking up the sun and its all-natural vitamin D is a good thing in moderation, it comes with a lot of unwanted baggage.
The free radicals that are created due to the sun’s UV light literally break and kill skin cells. The remedy is to apply sunscreen.
The appropriate sun protection factor (SPF) can vary from person to person. So it is always advisable to use a dermatologist recommended sunscreen, rather than randomly picking one up.
Sunscreens do actually work. They protect from UV radiation, protect against skin damage, and skin cancer, and also help in the process of reverse aging.
Adequate Hydration
Hydration is an extremely important, yet often neglected aspect of maintaining younger-looking skin. The more water we drink, the more clear and youthful our skin will appear.
But, while we may care most about how our skin looks, hydration has an even more important role in the rest of our body.
Hydration keeps our joints lubricated, it prevents infections, it delivers nutrients to our cells and it keeps our organs functioning properly. It also helps improve cognition, mood, and quality of sleep.
Every person’s water requirements vary, so to say that the standard eight glasses of water per day is good for everyone is not accurate. In our opinion (up to a point) the more water we drink, the better. And we like to be constantly sipping water throughout the day.
De-stressing
Everyone faces stress. It can be about work, health, income, or relationships. And it is a fact that people who are constantly dressed out look older than they should.
Stress is also considered one of the leading causes of premature aging. Most people have too much on their plate and too little time to actually deal with the stress and relieve it.
The brain, which is where stress originates, is connected to every single part of the body, including the skin. So anything affecting the brain adversely shows on the face in one form or another.
So de-stressing becomes paramount when it comes to preserving our youthful good looks and health.
Studies show that emotional distress can speed up cellular aging. So anything we can do to reduce stress in our lives should be added to our reverse aging toolkit.
Here is a great article on 16 things we can do to relieve stress and anxiety.
We would simply encourage people to find what works for them and incorporate it into their daily routine.
Socializing
Socializing does not mean posting on a friend’s timeline or commenting on their Instagram post.
It actually means going out and hanging out with real people. Not socializing can lead to a person becoming stressed, depressed, and lonely.
We hear the phrase ‘lonely old age’ and this in fact is a terrible condition and is linked to serious health conditions.
Loneliness is an extremely unhealthy state of mind that will manifest itself in a person’s looks and persona in the form of dark circles, dull wrinkly skin, and more.
So we should make a conscious effort to socialize and enjoy the company of our fellow human beings. It will help keep us young.
Home-cooked food
The diet plays an essential role in reverse aging. Simple changes to our diet can take off years from the face. But this is not possible if we eat out most of the time.
There are not many healthy options when it comes to eating out and the quality of the food products being used is not known.
So really, eating at home is a safer and much more beneficial option. Partly, this is because with home cooking we have the obvious comfort of knowing exactly what it is that is going into our meals.
Plus we have the opportunity to add in all the anti-aging superfoods we want and cut down on all the things we should not be eating.
So, by all means, eat out from time to time for fun, socializing, and entertainment. But make it a general rule to eat home-cooked meals. This will definitely help us achieve our reverse aging goals.
Natural Anti-Aging Shortcuts
In the resources section we have included a link to the Anti Aging Shortcuts program.
We highly recommend this as a “one stop shop” reverse aging program.. It was designed with women in mind but men will find most of it highly beneficial. We like it because it is natural and that is what this site is all about.
In addition, as is the case with the advice in this post, it adopts an “all of the above” approach to reverse aging.
Best Ingredients for Younger Looking Skin
This is just a little off our main topic of how to reverse aging naturally. Because what we put on our faces is not how to reverse aging naturally. Although, we would rationalize that what we do put on our faces is at least naturally derived.
We are putting a lot of emphasis on the skin in this post because the women among us, and that is most of us, care a great deal about it. It is uppermost in their thoughts when it comes to reverse aging.
So let’s talk about skincare products.
And we’ll start by stating that one of the worst choices we can make for our skin is to randomly grab a beauty product off a shelf and decide to give it a try.
Always choose skincare products carefully
We recommend that before embarking on one’s reverse aging skin project, one should 
consult a dermatologist and get some professional counseling.
Second, we recommend doing one’s own research and become aware of the “age-defying” ingredients used in skincare products. We should do our own evaluation of their likely efficacy.
Some of the more potent ingredients to look out for include the following.
Retinoids
Retinoids work in several ways. These are actually one of the chemical forms of Vitamin A and found in numerous beauty products, even those that are not specified for reverse aging.
Retinoids work by speeding up the process of skin cell regeneration. They encourage the die-off of weak and exhausted skin cells, to make room for new healthy cells to replace them.
Also, retinoids inhibit the breakdown of collagen and
reduce the production of melanin, the naturally occurring skin pigment, and prevents skin from darkening.
All these retinoid properties help in reverse aging, as they reduce the incidence of acne breakouts and other skin problems. They also, in the process of skin regeneration, help fight wrinkles.
Salicylic Acid
Look for salicylic acid in skincare products. This is used in almost all anti-acne treatments. However, it is underestimated when it comes to reverse aging.
Salicylic acid is available as an age-defying ingredient in many lotions, creams, ointments, and gels. It optimizes the effectiveness of other products by making them more readily absorbed into the skin.
Essentially, salicylic acid operates by accelerating the turnover of skin cells by making old cells die faster to make way for new cells. Retinoids do this too.
This especially helps where the production of collagen is sub-par. It is collagen that keeps the skin elastic and wrinkle-free. This action also improves the texture of the skin, making it smoother and more even.
Caffeine
Caffeine can not only keep us alert. It can also keep us looking young. It’s not only a good morning mood booster, it is also an age-defying ingredient in many beauty products.
Caffeine has a very high antioxidant component. It helps get rid of free radicals, whether they are a by-product of natural body metabolism or from the UV radiation of sunlight.
If not removed by antioxidants, these free radicals attack healthy cells in the body either by destroying them or causing them to lose functionality.
Also, caffeine has anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces inflammation by causing the constriction of blood vessels. So when it is applied locally over an inflamed area, it reduces the blood flow to that area, thus also reducing inflammation.
Caffeine is especially used in reverse aging products and serums for the eyes. These products aim to reduce puffiness and sagging below the eyes.
Green Tea Extract
Green tea extracts have a soothing and cooling effect. Many people have found that cold green tea bags are an effective remedy for saggy or inflamed skin. Green tea extracts are used in reverse aging products too.
Green tea is rich in polyphenols that help protect the skin from damage by free radicals. This helps keep the skin free of fine lines and wrinkles.
Green tea extract is a key ingredient in reverse aging skin products because it also helps limit the damage caused by the sun.
Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)
Epidermal growth factors have numerous applications in the body, depending on their locus. Many age-defying skin creams, lotions, and serums also use the epidermal growth factor.
In stimulating the renewal of skin cells, the epidermal growth factor also improves the appearance of the skin by accelerating the death of old skin cells.
This is helpful because the normal cell turnover rate in all body tissues slows with increasing age. Since the skin is no different, epidermal growth factor will stimulate the skin and give it a vibrant and youthful appearance.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
CoQ10 is also known as Vitamin Q. It is an important agent in the reverse aging process. It works as an antioxidant, reducing the free radicals that kill cells in all tissues of the body, including the skin.
By reducing the levels of free radicals in the skin, Vitamin Q also reduces the breakdown of the skin.
This in turn combats thinning skin. It thus strengthens it and makes it resistant to other aging factors.
Vitamin Q not only prevents the excessive breakdown of skin cells. But it also promotes the growth of skin cells. In this way, the skin becomes more vibrant, youthful, and softer.
Vitamin Q in anti-aging products greatly increases the likelihood that these creams, lotions, and serums will work as intended. It is also a safer option than synthetic chemicals, which are not natural and may have adverse effects.
Argireline
Argireline is a synthetic amino-peptide used as an ingredient in anti-aging and anti-wrinkle creams and serums. It works by inhibiting muscular movement.
It does this on a smaller scale but is sometimes called ‘Botox in a jar.’
However, Botox does not work the same way. Rather It works by paralyzing the nerve supplying a particular muscle.
Wrinkles form on the face due to the shape, overlapping, and inter-relations between various muscles. Those are the wrinkles that are naturally present due to the muscular substrate and do not form with age.
So Argireline inhibits muscle movement to some extent and helps reduce these wrinkles.
Grape Seed Extract
Grape seed extract carries polyphenols that find and fight the free radicals that damage the skin. It also improves the activity of vitamin C, which itself is very beneficial for the skin.
This extract is readily absorbed in the skin and helps in exfoliation properties. This can have the effect of taking years off the face.
Grape seed extract can also add elasticity to the skin by improving the quality of the collagen in it. Collagen is vital in maintaining healthy and younger-looking skin that is free of fine lines and wrinkles.
Grapeseed oil also has anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties. So when it is an ingredient in a beauty product, it not only helps with reverse aging in the skin. But it also makes sure that the skin is protected against bacteria and other organisms that can cause infections and other skin conditions.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of Niacin (Vitamin B3). It also has antioxidant properties and works the same way as some of the other ingredients mentioned here.
However, there is a property that is exclusive to niacinamide, which is its ability to help the skin retain water.
So if we are drinking ample water, having niacinamide in our skincare routine will help the skin retain all that water, and keep it hydrated and elastic. Perfect for our reverse aging toolkit.
Anti-Aging Supplements
These days we can find almost any kind of supplement, be it enzymes, hormones, vitamins, or minerals. It is easy to find supplements for many health and beauty purposes, including those that aid in reverse aging.
While it is always better to opt for natural reverse aging methods such as improving diet and lifestyle, supplements can in fact accelerate our journey toward feeling and looking more youthful.
When taken with care and precaution, supplements are beneficial in attaining numerous health benefits. And some of the better known anti-aging supplements are the following:
Melatonin
Melatonin, also called the ‘sleep hormone,’ is produced by the body to regulate the sleep cycle. However, it has also been determined to have age-reversing properties too.
Melatonin acts on a cellular level. It works on the DNA to guard it against the diseases and illnesses that come with age. It helps protect various body organs, such as the heart, and also helps delay the onset of various diseases like diabetes mellitus.
What makes melatonin effective for reverse aging is that it finds and removes free radicals from the body and prevents them from harming the body’s healthy cells.
As the body gets more prone to disease and cell mutation with age, the chances of free radicals causing harm also increase. So melatonin supplements can help reduce this possibility.
Testosterone
Testosterone is a hormone that is produced in both males and females. This is in small amounts in females and much larger amounts in males. Testosterone is required for the development of secondary sexual characteristics in the male.
For men, testosterone supplements can help a great deal in reverse aging. It can improve their overall wellbeing and help maintain a youthful appearance. It can keep male energy levels and sex drive high. And it can help promote muscle mass.
However, a side effect to be aware of is that testosterone supplements can also increase the chance of developing prostate cancer.
Estrogen and ProgesteroneEstrogen and progesterone are female steroid hormones. They are also produced in negligible amounts in the male body. As levels of these hormones decline with menopause, women start experiencing hot flashes and mood swings. This can result in feelings of depression about aging.
Estrogen and progesterone supplements can help women with aging issues, maintain x drive, their physical and mental wellbeing, and an overall youthful appearance.
There are many plants and herbs that have a high content of estrogen. And when these are incorporated into our diet, they can have age-defying effects.
However, estrogen supplements are readily available and are completely safe, provided they are not taken excessively.
Fish Oil Capsules
Fish oils are the number one source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These substances have natural anti-inflammatory properties. And they can play a vital role in our reverse aging quest.
These omegas help the body in regulating its various functions, including blood pressure, body temperature, and the proper functioning of the heart.
Omega fatty acids help keep the heart young, ensure that it is strong enough to function properly, and prevent the clotting of blood under ordinary circumstances.
In fact, fish oil supplements are frequently prescribed by physicians for their heart patients.
Fish oils also have an important anti-aging effect on the brain. They help prevent the development of brain diseases and also help the brain maintain its cognitive abilities, which normally reduces with growing age.
Fish oils are also known to protect against dementia and other memory-related disorders.
Fish oil capsules can take years off our face too. They can help healthy skin cells live longer and reduce the possibility of damage to these cells. They thus keep the skin vibrant and youthful.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Alpha-lipoic acid supplements help prevent the signs of aging. It has antioxidant properties that find and destroy free radicals in the body.
The antioxidant property of alpha-lipoic acid is more potent than other supplements because it destroys free radicals from any part of the body.
Alpha-lipoic acid can also help protect the brain against age-related diseases, such as dementia.
It can also lengthen our telomeres, making it ideal for reverse aging.
Telomeres are parts on the DNA strand that are directly responsible for cellular aging. They act as protective caps at the end of each strand without which the strands would become damaged and the cells no longer able to do their job properly.
Telomeres tend to shorten as we age. And eventually, they can become too short to do their job properly, thus causing the cells to age. So, longer telomeres are markers of healthy cells whereas shorter telomeres are associated with premature cellular aging.
By taking alpha-lipoic acid supplements, we can help our telomeres stay in optimal health and delay the onset of premature aging.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is an age reversing compound naturally found in grapes and nuts.
The primary mechanism by which resveratrol operates is by acting on a group of enzymes called sirtuins.
These sirtuins enzymes affect many metabolic pathways of the human body that are associated with the aging process.
Research has shown resveratrol stimulating proteins directly, thus increasing mitochondrial activity. And this results in energy production within the cells, thus extending the life of the cells.
Also, resveratrol is a naturally occurring type of antibiotic, and so it can also work to cleanse the body of contaminants.
This action is also helpful in keeping skin fresher, healthier, and more youthful. It can also reduce the appearance of existing wrinkles and prevent future wrinkles.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the skin that keeps it looking young and glowing. It works mainly by helping the skin stay hydrated and retain moisture.
In this way, we can know that all the extra water we are drinking to keep our skin healthy, stays within the skin.
With age, the skin naturally loses its ability to retain water. And losing hydration causes loss of elasticity, and increases wrinkles and fine lines on the face. Hyaluronic acid slows down this process, to keep the skin firm and supple.
Collagen
Collagen is a highly complex protein that is produced by the body naturally and consists of 19 amino acids.
Collagen makes the skin stronger and thicker, and less prone to damage and disease. It helps keep the skin hydrated and lessens freckles, wrinkles, and scars.
So collagen supplements help with this.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine keeps the connective tissues of the body strong and healthy.
So supplements containing glucosamine are effective for anti-aging too. They help in the regeneration of skin cells that are old and worn out. And they help replace them with new skin cells for a vibrant and youthful appearance.
This cell renewal process helps in replacing wrinkly and dull skin with skin that is even and with fewer wrinkles. It helps in the exfoliation of old skin and can even reverse the presence of wrinkles and fine lines already present on the face.
Carnosine
Carnosine is a compound that inhibits the breakdown of proteins in the skin. This includes collagen and other proteins that are essential for skin vitality. So it also reduces the onset of premature aging.
Carnosine is one of the antioxidants that can fight free radicals and prevent them from damaging the skin. So carnosine supplements are something to include in our age reversal toolkit.
Conclusion
So to conclude this post on how to reverse aging naturally, we must maintain smart dietary and lifestyle habits to achieve our goal successfully.
And just remember that it is the biological clock we are trying to manipulate and not the chronological one.
So taking things one at a time, make small changes that will help us improve our overall health, while also reclaiming our youth and vitality.
There is no single “magic bullet” in any one thing that we do. But the effect of everything we do is cumulative. It’s just important to add elements of a reverse aging program incrementally, and stay organized and focused.
Resources
Click on the red underlined links.
