Gerascophobia – an abnormal or incessant fear of growing older or aging – is real. Many people dread getting old and would go an extra mile to ensure they look younger.

 Old? For who? In today’s generation, old is a word no one wants to be associated with.

You’ve probably seen people lying about their ages, some replacing the word happy birthday with happy anniversary, forever sixteen captions on women’s Instagram and TikTok pages, not to mention that most of the senior men refer to themselves as Gen-Zs.

But let’s talk about one thing, the widespread use of anti-aging serums. You see, the anti-aging market is rapidly growing owing to rising consciousness and awareness among consumers about signs of aging like wrinkles on the face, fine lines on the forehead, and dull skin colour.

 A good number of people, largely women, use antiaging products. It gets even worse to see young girls in their 20s using these products, which have been culturally normalised, making aging seem like a bad thing.

In a world obsessed with youthful appearance, these ‘pretty serums’ have proved to be a darling for women who want to stay ahead of time.

However, while they are marketed as miracle solutions that promise more than they deliver, there are natural and scientific ways to age well and look younger and healthy. However, it is important to note that nothing – absolutely nothing- can prevent aging, they just slow down the visible signs of aging.

Healthy eating

You look like what you eat.

Healthy foods are linked to healthy aging while unhealthy ones catalyse it. According to various research studies, an anti-inflammatory diet, particularly plant-based, is best if you want to look younger.

Plant-based diets provide fiber, minerals, nutrients, and vitamins that help keep your gut microbiome healthy, while avoiding the allergens and irritants that can accompany animal proteins.

Additionally, daily intake of plant-based diets which are rich in powerful oxidants like Vitamin C and E promote a younger looking appearance.

Additionally, the plantbased diet prevents glycation (when sugars get into the skin and cause cross-linking among collagen molecules), damaging the collagen molecules, which produces collagen that slows aging.

Examples of inflammatory plant-based diets include whole fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Avoid processed foods, alcohol, and red meat, which are not only unhealthy but also catalyse signs of aging.

Be more active

 There is a good reason why you should often move your body and be more active.

Exercise offsets the effects of aging in many ways. The National Institutes of Health denotes that exercise reduces mean blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance, preserves lean body mass and decreases fat deposits, increases bone mineral content, improves basal metabolic rate, increases muscle strength, in addition to improving cognitive functioning.

These benefits given, aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a week and at least two days a week of moderate to high-intensity muscle strengthening activities, such as weight lifting or resistance training. Walking, cycling, and swimming not only helps in losing weight but also promotes a younger and more toned appearance.

Avoid stress and relax

Poor mental health, including stress, can temporarily change one’s biological age. However, this can be reversed when the stressor is resolved.

The number one tip to manage stress is to relax and take a breather, then meditate. Regular meditation increases the area of the brain that regulates emotions. Individuals who meditate regularly have reported feeling more content and joyful.

Additionally, socialising with people, and being in socially active environments are also linked to a longer life and a greater sense of well-being, as it is associated with a faster way to rebound from stress.