If surgeon’s scalpels and Botox fill you with fear there are less drastic approaches to looking and feeling younger that also do not include “snake oil” products or potions. Scientists now believe up to 40 per cent of how we age is within our power to slow down. Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O. is an NYC Osteopathic Physician board certified in family medicine and anti-aging medicine. Here are 10 of his suggestions:
1)Crow’s Feet
Stop smoking ‘Cigarettes contain some 40,000 toxins, each deposited directly into the DNA of skin cells each time you take a drag,’ says Dr. Calapai. ‘Numerous studies in identical twins have found that smokers look ten years older than non-smokers. That evidence is profound in lines around the eyes.’ Talk to your doctor about methods to help you quit.
2)Sagging Cheeks
Use your face: ‘Facial muscles are just like body muscles,’ says Dr. Calapai. “The more you use them, the stronger they get and the less likely they are to sag and atrophy.” Try this quick cheek workout to help build up sagging facial muscles: look in a mirror, smile as broadly as possible while keeping your lips closed and mouth corners turned up. Try to make your mouth corners touch your ears. Next, wrinkle your nose and see your cheek muscles move upwards. Stay like this for a count of five, then relax. Repeat 10 times.
3)Drooping Brow- Acupuncture
Pin it up! Half of Hollywood is allegedly hooked on the face-saving, radiance-boosting power of cosmetic acupuncture. According to experts, it stimulates skin cells to lay down new collagen fibers under wrinkles, ‘filling them in’ literally while also toning different muscles to restore glow. The added bonus is that most cosmetic acupuncturists treat underlying problems that could be causing your skin to look older, such as insomnia and bad digestion.
4)Have More Sex
Having sex at least 3 times per week can make you look up to 10 years younger and according to Dr. Dr. Calapai. Having more sex is the next best thing you can do after exercise to look younger because it also helps you to naturally release more growth hormones and it's been proven that having more sex can help you live longer.
5) Don't eat Too Much Sugar
“Too much sugar in your diet will lead to an age accelerating process in your body known as glycation and glycation does damage to the collagen in your skin making you lose skin elasticity causing wrinkles to appear,” affirms Dr. Calapai.
6) Exfoliation is pivotal to facial rejuvenation
"Ultimately, it increases dermal volume, making skin look less wrinkly." It will also help brown spots. You can use a physical exfoliant, like a scrub, or a chemical exfoliant, such as a glycolic,” says Dr. Calapai.
7) Start Intermittent Fasting
The 2 main reasons why intermittent fasting makes you look younger is because
intermittent fasting naturally increases your human growth hormone which amps up the production of collagen for younger looking skin. Dr. Calapai explains that, “Intermittent fasting induces autophagy where the cells in your body repair themselves to make a newer much healthier cell to prevent aging.”
8) Exercise
You may think you carry your age in your face, but people “guess” your age by how you move. The youthful figure is thin, muscular, flexible, and strong. Your exercise program should include lots of cardio (this allows you to move around without huffing and puffing—a definitely “geezer” give-away), training with free weights, and some flexibility exercises.
9) Improve Your Posture
One of the biggest give-aways for looking old is a curved back, slumpy sitting, and shoulders that ride up too high with respect to your neck Dr. Calapai recommends. fixing your posture by thinking of the top of your head as a flat surface and then try to get that flat surface as tall as you can. Consciously push down your shoulders. Do this as you walk and sit. Take a “posture check” as often as you think about it during the day. Young people may not have perfect posture, but correcting your posture will make you look more youthful.
10) Resolve to eat more oily fish
Or failing that, high-grade fish-oil supplements. Dr. Calapai says that, “None of us consume enough essential fatty acids, which as well as helping our brains to function more smoothly are considered vital to keep skin-cell-membranes in good health and therefore stop the skin from getting too dry.”
Dr. Christopher Calapai D.O.
Anti-Aging Physician and "The Stem Cell Guru"
Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O. is an Osteopathic Physician board certified in family medicine, anti-aging medicine and chelation therapy. Proclaimed as the "The Stem Cell Guru" by the New York Daily News, Dr. Calapai is a leader in the field of stem cell therapy in the U.S.
His stem cell treatments have achieved remarkable results in clinical trials on patients with conditions as varied as Alzheimer's, arthritis, erectile dysfunction, frailty syndrome, heart, kidney and liver failure, lupus, MS and Parkinson's.
Dr. Calapai started his practice in New York City in 1986 and for over 25 years he has hosted nationally syndicated radio shows, including his two weekly call-in shows on WABC 770-AM, where he offers health and medical advice. He has a show on Saturday morning 8-9am and Sunday evening from 6-7pm. He has consulted with numerous high-profile individuals including Mike Tyson, Chris Noth, Mickey Rourke, Steven Seagal, and Fox series Gotham's, Donal Logue and worked as a medical consultant for the New York Rangers hockey team as well as various modeling agencies.
Dr. Calapai received his medical degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and he consults in Manhattan with practices on Long Island, in East Meadow and Plainview. He has appeared on News12 and in the pages of 25A Magazine and Social Life Magazine.
He is the author of E-books Heavy Metals and Chronic Disease, Reverse Diabetes Forever! Seven Steps to Healthy Blood Sugar, Top Ten Supplements You Can't Live Without, and Glorious Glutathione. Learn more about Dr. Calapai on his website, www.drcal.net