By Uladzimir Seuruk, founder and CEO of health and wellness firm Cata-Kor.
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it can often be easy to let stress get the best of us. But most people don’t know that chronic stress can also take time off their lives or, at the very least, make them look older.
Unfortunately, many scientific studies have found a direct connection between increased stress levels and accelerated aging. For one, stress can cause shortening of the telomeres — parts of DNA that, when damaged, can cause problems with essential cell functions such as DNA replication and metabolism.
Although telomeres naturally shorten as we age, chronic stress can accelerate this process drastically, contributing to premature aging. Additionally, chronic stress can create or worsen inflammation in the body, further aggravating the aging process.
Lifestyle changes for healthier aging
Of course, the best way to prevent stress from negatively affecting one’s aging is for them to reduce feelings of stress. Granted, this is easier said than done — especially for individuals who lead a busy or stressful career or lifestyle — but by implementing some key lifestyle changes, one can improve their stress levels, which could have a positive effect on both their mental and physical health.
One lifestyle change that can help combat stress and its aging effects is improved sleep. We all know that a lack of sleep can make us look older — just look at the dark circles and baggy eyes that happen when we don’t get enough sleep.
When someone suffers from chronic stress, they may be kept from sleeping at night because of their anxiety, or they may “sacrifice” sleep to work. However, getting the required seven to eight hours of sleep a night is still important, as this gives the body the time it needs to refresh and replenish itself so we can wake up feeling better and happier in the morning.
Another lifestyle change that can help manage stress more effectively is implementing exercise into one’s daily routine. It is well-known that exercise can have mood-boosting effects thanks to the body’s tendency to release endorphins during exercise.
Exercise also increases blood flow, helping deliver oxygen and key nutrients to the body — including the skin. This makes exercise a great way to both relieve stress and counteract some of the negative aging effects of stress.
Eating a diet rich in whole foods can also help one manage stress levels. Of course, it can be difficult to tell what direction the relationship between poor dietary habits and stress falls.
While poor dietary habits may cause stress, poor mental health can often lead to unhealthy diets or dietary behaviors, such as binge eating. Conversely, studies have found that diets rich in whole foods have been associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Many people also find that practicing mindfulness and meditation helps them manage their stress levels, but remember that mindfulness will look different for everyone; the process is all about finding one’s own inner peace and calm. While some people may benefit from breathing exercises or guided meditation, others may simply need time for quiet relaxation.
Wellness interventions for healthier aging
While these lifestyle changes can help manage and alleviate stress, which can help prevent stress from prematurely aging the body, sometimes people need to take matters a step further and pursue a wellness intervention. By taking supplements, one can restore their body’s level of essential nutrients and other compounds that can help them age more gracefully, perhaps even counteracting some of the negative effects of stress on the aging process.
Take the coenzyme NAD+, for example. This naturally occurring coenzyme plays an essential role in cell metabolism and other fundamental cellular functions. NAD+ levels naturally decrease as we age, but when they get too low, they can interfere with things like DNA repair, gene expression, and healthy aging.
However, by taking an NAD+ supplement, individuals can reach a new, elevated baseline of NAD+, which in turn can improve their energy levels, healthy cell turnover, and skin health.
Indeed, with a combination of lifestyle changes and wellness interventions like NAD+ supplements, individuals can reduce their stress and combat some of its negative aging effects. Stress may be a part of everyday life for many of us, but we don’t have to let it take years off our lives — or even make it look like it has. Take the aging process back into your own hands today.
Uladzimir Seuruk is the founder and CEO of Cata-Kor, a health and wellness company which is advancing NAD+ supplements and anti-aging solutions.
