People age like cars. As we use them, they show their age. Just like an old car, a body aging poorly won’t work as efficiently or smoothly.
Let’s go through a few signs of aging from Dr. Nicholas Perricone, the original healthy-aging expert and Founder of Perricone Hydrogen Water Company. He’s been studying causes, effects, and solutions for aging for over 20 years. We’ll address four major signs of aging and what you can do to mitigate them. Before we start, there is one cause of aging that he points to as a central culprit.
Inflammation
“This process is the silent architect behind wrinkles, loss of muscle tone, fatigue, and even cognitive decline.”-Dr. Perricone
Inflammation is how the body reacts to a problem. When you get a cut, you might notice that it gets warm later. That heat is a sign that your cells are protecting and repairing your body. That inflammation is helpful, but that’s not what Dr. Perricone blames for aging.
He reports that aging is caused by constant, low-grade inflammation caused by stress, diet, and lifestyle habits. The body is constantly fighting these many small problems and is less able to maintain regular maintenance for the rest of the body.
While we learn about other signs of aging, keep this idea of inflammation in mind.
Loss of Muscle Mass
“Muscle mass is youth.” -Dr. Perricone
Our fitness typically peaks in young adulthood and tapers as we age. Muscles deteriorate when the body isn’t using them as often or providing them with the building blocks they need to grow.
The Fix: Fitness starts with food. Physical activity needs fuel. A diet rich in lean protein and Omega-3 supports muscle building, and gives you energy to upkeep a regular exercise routine.
Brain Fog
“Cognitive function is a critical marker of aging well.”-Dr. Perricone
Brain fog can have several causes, many of them easy to address. Lack of sleep, poor diet, and stress can overload and underfeed the brain and, over time, wear down synapses in the brain.
The Fix: Along with eating better, staying hydrated is key to staying sharp. Dr. Perricone recommends supplementing daily water with hydrogen water to help. Your brain needs adequate fuel to function, and improving your eating and drinking habits can improve your clarity.
Increased Stress
“I encourage mindfulness, quality sleep, and supportive social connections.”-Dr. Perricone
Stress and worry are a regular part of life, but can cause damage if they aren’t managed properly. Beyond brain fog, increased stress can cause gastrointestinal issues, high blood pressure, and weaken the immune system.
The Fix: Develop coping strategies and mindfulness practices that work for you. Plan and follow a sleep routine, getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night. When you are struggling, reach out to a friend or family member for support.
Duller and Drier Skin
“Radiant skin reflects a balanced system—inside and out.”-Dr. Perricone
Your skin is your largest organ, and it can signal what’s going on in your body. Aside from wrinkles, your skin can also suffer from uneven texture, increased inflammation, and hyperpigmentation.
The Fix: After changing your diet, adjusting your sleep, and managing your stress, you might still notice skin problems. This could be from vitamin deficiencies, as the body digests less efficiently with age. Adding supplemental vitamins, like Omega-3 and Vitamin C, can support skin renewal and hydration to improve your skin’s condition.
Quick Note
While stress, skin problems, muscle loss, and brain fog are common, they don’t normally interfere with day-to-day activities. If these are negatively impacting your daily life and affecting how well you function, speak with your doctor about how you’re feeling.
What’s Next?
“Aging well isn’t about fighting time; it’s about mastering balance. With the right choices, we can look and feel our best at every decade of life.” -Dr. Perricone
We started off talking about how the body is like a car. Just like a car, there are good habits you can adopt to keep it looking and feeling good-as-new.
You can’t turn back the clock, but you can make changes moving forward. Improving your habits can let your cells devote more time to keeping your body youthful and healthy.
People age like cars. As we use them, they show their age. Just like an old car, a body aging poorly won’t work as efficiently or smoothly.
Let’s go through a few signs of aging from Dr. Nicholas Perricone, the original healthy-aging expert and Founder of Perricone Hydrogen Water Company. He’s been studying causes, effects, and solutions for aging for over 20 years. We’ll address four major signs of aging and what you can do to mitigate them. Before we start, there is one cause of aging that he points to as a central culprit.