You may think of aging as a gradual, linear process that affects your whole body equally.

The truth is that the various organs and systems within your body will age at different rates. And these differences have a lot to do with how you will experience the aging process overall.

Let’s take a look at how the different parts of your body age, and what you can do to keep them healthy.

Skin

Your skin is where aging often shows up first. Wrinkles, age spots, and dry skin become more common as people get older.

Elastin and collagen are the proteins responsible for keeping your skin strong, flexible, and elastic. But these proteins break down over time. And this process can be hastened by factors like sun exposure, chronic stress, and insufficient hydration.

To keep your skin healthy, apply sunscreen daily, stay hydrated, and limit sun exposure as much as possible. Maintaining a healthy diet and taking a daily collagen supplement can also help to protect your skin from the ravages of time.

Muscles

People can start to lose muscle mass as early as their 30s. Fortunately, regular strength training and eating sufficient protein can help to preserve muscle mass.

And…the importance of maintaining healthy muscle mass can’t be overstated. Strong muscles make staying active easier, they protect your joints from wear and tear, and they go a long way toward maintaining stability on your feet as you age.

Bones

Bone density can start to decline as early as a person’s 40s. Women are particularly at risk for losing bone density after menopause due to declining estrogen production. But men are at risk, too.

Left unchecked, losing bone density can lead to osteoporosis, which increases the risk for fractures and pain as people age.

Weight-bearing exercise is crucial for keeping bones strong. Equally important are calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D—three nutrients that are necessary healthy bones.

Gut

With age, you may notice that your digestive system isn’t as robust as it used to be.

This is because the smooth muscles that drive intestinal function often slow down with age. Your stomach may also produce less acid, which can make it harder to digest food and absorb nutrients.

A healthy diet, plenty of digestive fiber, probiotics, and sufficient hydration can go a long way toward avoiding these kinds of gut issues.

Heart

The average heart beats about 100,000 times each day, making it the hardest working organ in the body. Fortunately, your heart is built for this hard work.

The heart also ages more slowly than other systems within the body. But that doesn’t mean the heart is immune to the effects of time.

With age, blood pressure can increase as blood vessels lose their elasticity. And when LDL cholesterol oxidizes within blood vessels, the resulting plaque deposits can narrow or completely block blood vessels.

Regular aerobic exercise and a healthy diet are important for keeping your heart strong and healthy.

Brain

Cognition can be negatively impacted by age, causing issues with memory and mental acuity.

This happens in part because neurons… the communication cells within your brain…don’t regenerate like other cells in the body.

However, there are things you can do to keep your brain healthy and sharp:

• Eat a healthy diet rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and omega-3 fatty acids
• Exercise regularly to promote good blood flow
• Keep your mind challenged and socially engaged

Endocrine System

Hormones make everything in your body work properly. That includes everything described above. And yet, hormone production declines with age.

That’s where hormone replacement therapy can play a vital role in managing the aging process by restoring hormones to healthy and more youthful levels.

Aging Is a Process, Not an Event

How a person ages is highly individual and is driven by everything from genetics and lifestyle to environment and hormone production.

And the rate at which various organs and systems age can depend upon the amount of stress they endure, as well as their ability to regenerate themselves when damaged.

Understanding how different parts of your body change over time can empower you to make informed decisions related to how you care for your body as you age.

Renew Youth has been an industry leader in healthy aging for more than 25 years. From physician-supervised hormone therapy to supplement recommendations, we’re here to help you age better. Ready to get started? To schedule your free initial consultation, call us at 800-859-7511 or use our easy contact form.