Water and Anti-ageing

looka_production_67632597 • Feb 10, 2023

Does drinking water help slow down the ageing process?

A study has just been published (Dmitrieva, 2023), that tested the hypothesis that optimal hydration may slow down the ageing process in humans.

The study measured serum sodium levels. Participants that had high levels of serum sodium had a greater risk of premature ageing and developing chronic diseases.

If you have higher than normal serum sodium levels, it may be a sign of dehydration caused by not drinking enough, diarrhoea or from certain medications like diuretics (water tablets).

Our bodies are made up of about 50% - 80% of water, which we need for digestion, to absorb vital nutrients, get rid of waste products and help regulate our body temperature. It also helps our skin, hair and nails!!

So how much should we drink?

It is recommended that men drink about 10 cups (2.5 Litres) a day and women 8 cups (2 Litres), and a little more if pregnant or breastfeeding.

So, what counts as water? Does tea, coffee and soft drinks count?

Well, yes they do!! I know many people do not like the taste of water, so this will be good news for you. I actually don’t mind water, but I also enjoy my morning black coffee and a soft drink every now and then..

Obviously we do not want to drink all of our calories, which are found in high sugar soft drinks and we also need to be mindful of our teeth and decay. But there are a lot of sugar free alternatives available.

I read a great article (Soong, 2022), that talks about this topic and discusses what counts for water in our diets. Fruits, vegetables, smoothies, soups etc, all help with our hydration.

That really doesn’t sound too hard at all. I think that consuming our recommended water intake is definitely achievable and in doing so, you may be slowing down the ageing process.

References:

Dmitrieva N. I., Gagarin A., Liu D., Wu C. O., Boehm O. (January 2023).Middle-age

high normal serum sodium as a risk factor for accelerated biological ageing,

chronic diseases,and premature mortality. EBiomedicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104404

Soong, J. (March, 2022). What counts as water? Stay hydrated and healthy. WebMD.

https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/healthy-beverages

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What is ageing gracefully?

By looka_production_67632597 • 07 Feb, 2023

When I started in the industry, it was amazing how many people criticized my choice. Instead of “congratulations”, “that's great”, the most common response was “I believe in aging gracefully”. In this context it was definitely said with a negative and backhanded undertone. I thought this was an interesting comment considering they got their hair done every 6-8 weeks, bought the latest fashion, wore makeup and took some pride in their appearance. Why is getting cosmetic injectables and looking after your skin any different? The stigma has changed over the years and cosmetic injectables have become a sought after treatment to combat the signs of aging. I had a look at what people thought aging gracefully meant, and here are some of those responses: “Aging gracefully means having an adventurous spirit, a playful and positive attitude, a grateful heart, and commitment to self-care. This leads to living and loving life without regrets!” (2021, Aging Gracefully TV) “To age gracefully means to pay attention to what makes you feel best.” (2022, Homewatch Caregivers) I totally agree! I love looking after my skin (and have since I was young) and enjoy researching all things antiaging. Aging gracefully to me is growing older without being old, continually pursuing a healthy mind, body and spirit.