How to Survive the Holidays Without Looking Like You've Aged 10 Years by Bryce Wylde

Your cells have expiration dates, which means your body does as well. And when your body is under attack from holiday stress – by the extra spending, hectic schedules, visiting relatives and not-so-healthy food choices – it can accelerate the aging process. Luckily, there are anti-aging strategies you can easily incorporate into even the busiest holiday season. Here are some anti-aging nutrients and strategies:

• Support your longevity enzymes. For sirtuins to work, they depend on a co-enzyme called NAD+. And to effectively and efficiently make NAD+, your body needs a special type of vitamin B3 called Nicotinamide Riboside, or NR. When we are stressed out, such as during the upcoming holiday season, your demands for NAD+ go way up. In effect, when you are stressed, you age faster. You can ramp up your NAD+ production by supplementing with NR.

• Take time to recharge. To avoid the negative effects of chronic stress and burnout, we need time to replenish and return to our pre-stress level of functioning.

• Getting enough good-quality sleep. This is important for effective stress management.

While some of these suggestions may seem routine, we still tend to skip them during the holiday rush. So, print these reminders and post them someplace where you’ll see them daily:

• Eat breakfast. Your body needs a steady supply of calories and nutrients. If you’re just not hungry in the morning, drink a smoothie. Make sure it contains about 25 to 30 grams of protein, and carbs from healthy sources such as fruit.

• Get eight hours of quality sleep every night. If time is an issue, reorganize your schedule and delegate tasks to family members. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, turn off your digital devices, cover up LED lights on TVs and phones and turn down the thermostat. Avoid alcohol a few hours before bedtime and caffeine at least six hours before going to bed.

• Eat three balanced meals, every day, even if you want to lose weight. Break out of the under-consuming/over-consuming habit. Some people starve themselves all day, eating nothing but a bed of lettuce at lunchtime and then they are ravenous by dinner. That makes it hard to resist all those tempting treats at holiday parties. You end up eating too much of the wrong foods, and your energy and metabolism suffer for it. Snacks aren’t a necessity, but if you are a snacker, keep them healthy snacks handy such as fruit, nuts and string cheese. And drink plenty of fluids. Coffee and tea count toward your fluid intake, but know your caffeine limits. Dehydration can make you look and feel exhausted.

• Exercise: Just 20 minutes of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) daily is all you need. It’s best done in the morning to start your day and rev up your metabolism. 

The information on 30Seconds.com is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered medical advice. The information provided through this site should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, and is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your personal health care provider.

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