aging

eating the clock

Your Health DR GITA MATHAI

Today’s world belongs to the young. They get the jobs, the accolades for their appearance, the attention. This has led to an obsession with preserving youthful good looks, not only in India but all over the world. People want to ward off the changes of aging — the wrinkles, weak muscles and sagging skin. Initially, it was women who tried to delay, or at least conceal the inevitable, but now anti-ageing products have become a multimillion-dollar industry targeting both sexes. Many products are targeting an exclusively male clientele. A host of creams on the market claim to protect your skin from the ravages of time. Their cost varies from Rs 500 for a small tube to Rs 40,000 for a jar. Some claim to contain such exotic things as placental extract, aloe vera, retinol or derivatives obtained from stem cells. Others contain gold and heavy metals. Advertised as remedies that work in a few weeks, the models in their advertisements are photo shopped and airbrushed. It is this computer editing (and not the cream) that miraculously “wipes” the age lines away. Wrinkles and blemishes form from the dermis, the layer under the skin. It is a moot point whether sufficient quantities of cream actually penetrate that deep. Perhaps the best bet (and cheapest too) is to do what our grandmothers did, and apply a mixture of equal quantities of coconut oil, rice bran oil and sesame oil. Wash off with a mild soap after 10 minutes. Men are particularly conscious of receding hairlines. They are going in for hair transplants, hair dye and facials. Different dyes have to be used for facial hair and that on the head. The face is very sensitive, so try out the dye on a small area first to see if there is an allergic reaction. A variety of unregulated “revitalising, anti-aging testosterone boosting” health supplements are advertised for men to improve libido and increase muscle mass. It is best to avoid them. They are of doubtful efficacy and may contain heavy metals. Some are dangerous, especially in combination with allopathic medication for diabetes, hypertension or heart disease. Cosmetic procedures such as botox injections, liposuction, sculpting of specific areas, breast reduction or augmentation or uplift are very popular. These are major surgeries not to be taken lightly. Botox, if administered inexpertly, can have serious side effects. If we really want to combat ageing, we should take as much care of our internal health as we take over our physical appearance. The perquisites for healthy ageing are the absence of chronic illness and an adequate income. Stress levels should be kept to a minimum and the outlook on life should be positive. It is best to quit smoking and drink in moderation. It may not be possible to avoid a chronic illness. Even with hard work and astute investments, finances may go into a tailspin. Stress can, however, be kept under control and a positive outlook on life maintained with regular exercise, yoga and meditation. You should be strong enough to keep addictions (alcohol, cigarettes and drugs) under control. Remain active mentally by continuing to work as long a possible. Doing crosswords and solving puzzles also helps. People are always looking for a miracle pill that they can pop to live longer and look younger. The first drug reported to delay ageing was a growth hormone, which is now sold illegally. It has to be taken as an injection, has serious side effects and no proven anti-ageing benefits. A naturally occurring enzyme in the body called SIRT1 increases the life of cells and retards ageing. It is switched on naturally by calorie restriction and exercise. Certain chemicals like resveratrol present in red wine are found to activate this enzyme. Calorie restriction, 40 minutes of exercise daily, meditation and yoga will improve vitality and reduce the appearance of ageing. More important, a healthy body will help you enjoy the years you have left. Dr Gita Mathai is a paediatrician with a family practice at Vellore. Questions on health issues may be emailed to her at yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in