Whether you like it or not, each day you’re getting a little older. While this may be a hard pill to swallow, it doesn’t mean you have to feel old! The first step to addressing this is understanding the basics of your body and how you can use this information to protect it at any age. To become your best self and support your wellbeing, it’s crucial for you to start forming healthy habits now! If you’re not sure of where to begin, keep reading to learn about three health areas to consider when it comes to your body and the best ways to live a healthy life at every age.

To become your best self and support your wellbeing, it’s crucial for you to start forming healthy habits now!

Your Skin is Your Body’s Largest Organ

One way to embrace aging is to think about skin-care as a form of self-care. Believe it or not, your skin is your body’s largest organ, so it’s important to give it the attention that it deserves. In your 20s, the last thing you’re probably thinking about is how your skin gets impacted by environmental factors, like the sun. Planning beach days with your friends sounds fun, but what happens when you expose your skin to the sun for too long? Short term; probably just a sunburn and dry skin. Long term; that’s a different story.

Over time, your skin can accumulate damage leading to sunspots, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. Even on the coldest, rainiest days throughout the year, the sun is always there, radiating ultraviolet (UV) rays on your skin. That’s why it’s critical for you to start thinking of simple ways to maintain the health of your skin in order to ensure it remains tight and vibrant. For best practices, add sunscreen into your daily skincare routine with an SPF of 15 or higher!

Your Body Naturally Weakens with Age

Have you ever had a friend or family member appear shorter since the last time you saw them? That’s because they’ve experienced changes in their bones, joints, and muscles. As you get older, your body naturally starts to weaken over time. Your bones decrease in size and density, your muscles normally lose their strength and flexibility. As a result, your body becomes much more susceptible to injury. Fortunately, there are still several ways to promote the health of these areas. Beyond the obvious, regular exercise and healthy eating, you should also concentrate on getting sufficient amounts of vitamin D and calcium.

For optimal health, adults are recommended to consume 400-800 international units (IU) of vitamin D and at least 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium every day, according to the Institute of Medicine (US) Committee. Now I know what you’re thinking, “How am I supposed to ensure I get the right amount every single day?” Easy! A quick way for you to guarantee you’re getting the adequate amounts of both calcium and vitamin D, is by taking over-the-counter calcium supplements and vitamin D tablets.

Your Teeth Become More Vulnerable

When you were younger, you, your dentist, and your parents probably made sure that your teeth were always in good health. Whether your memories relate back to your annual check-ups, filling cavities, getting braces, or removing your wisdom teeth, your oral health was more than likely consistently taken care of. As important as it was back then to manage your oral health, it’s equally as essential today.

There are many common oral health issues that can develop as you get older. Although it’s not always the case, these concerns are typically related to your lifestyle habits. From smoking cigarettes to taking certain medications to treat allergies or asthma, your teeth become increasingly vulnerable and are at higher risk of infection and decay over time. That’s why you cannot forget to tend to your oral health when you get older! In addition to scheduling yearly checkups with your hygienist, you should also make an effort to clean your pearly whites by brushing them at least twice a day. After a good, thorough brush, you should also take an extra step to clean in between your teeth by using dental floss or an interdental cleaner once a day.