Anti-Aging Theories and Practices: A brief on prevalent ideas of anti-aging

Aging is a concept that has been with us since the inception of humankind. Everything comes to life, ages, and withers away. Can we possibly control this natural process, somehow? Can we, maybe slow it down, if not stop? Can we design ourselves to live longer than normal? If yes, then how? With this article, let’s dive deeper into the concept of anti-aging and understand different anti-aging practices and theories. 

We aren’t the only ones coming up with questions like that, are we? Since the day we first understood the concept of aging, humankind has constantly sought out ways to increase our lifespan by at least a few years. Our fascination with living a long-long life has brought about many theories of aging as well as anti-aging, a phenomenon where we can reverse all the possible signs of aging from our body to look and feel young.

THEORIES OF AGING

Now, there are particular sets of aging theories that are developed by scientists and philosophers with the passing generations. These theories try to explain in detail how we, as human beings, age and what changes in our bodies increase the process of skin aging. You need to know some of them in a gist to understand the process of anti-aging in detail. 

Below we have discussed some of the biological theories of aging. These theories will help us to understand how we age. And once we know that, it will be easier to delve deeper into practicing anti-aging techniques in our daily routine. After all, we can only solve the problem when we first understand the problem.

GENETIC THEORY

According to the Genetic Theory, the whole process of aging is determined by the prospectus of heredity. This theory of aging states that you may have a slower aging process if you have those particular genes from your ancestral generations.

NON-GENETIC THEORY

The Non-Genetic theory states that the main reason for aging is the breakdown of the molecular and cellular structures. Any changes in the cellular and molecular breakdown results in the process of aging.

WEAR AND TEAR THEORY

As the name suggests, the Wear and Tear theory says that the main reason for aging is the wearing and tearing of cells in the layers of your skin. And this happens due to external factors like wind, rain, sunlight, soil, and others, respectively.

AUTOIMMUNE THEORY

The Autoimmune theory suggests that the process of aging occurs when your body cells are affecting your cells. It results when your immunity cells backfire due to some malfunctioning. It also results in the development of pimples and scars.

CROSS-LINKING THEORY

The understanding of this theory suggests that with the passage of time, the fibers and proteins bind with glucose molecules in the presence of oxygen, which degrades the protein. The proteins and the other cell organelles lose their elasticity, which results in aging. It is not so widely accepted theory of understanding.

These are just a few basic and simple theories that you need to learn about aging. There are many others as well, which have a completely different understanding of aging.

Now, you may have got some simple understanding of what precisely the process of aging is and what are the stigmas spread among the masses. Now there are many processes and theories which also say that we can somehow manage the flow of aging. These processes of slowing down the rate of aging are known as anti-aging.

THEORIES OF ANTI-AGING

If aging needs a solution, then we have anti-aging theories that give way to new dimensions in the research field of anti-aging. These theories tell us how if certain precautions are taken, and by controlling a few processes, we can attain a younger-looking skin. Read on… 

CALORIC RESTRICTION

The CR is the abbreviated form of Caloric Restriction. It is one of those highly accepted theories which actually proves the idea of anti-aging. It is one of the ideologies which has given substantial proof for reducing the signs of skin aging.

HORMONAL THERAPIES

This set of points mainly believe in the concept that hormonal changes can bring in the idea of Anti-aging. This again has no proven concept behind it. But some of the scientists and various other experts believe it has some results.

Andrea Rinaldi in her paper for the EMBO reports journal says that after the success of testosterone hormone replacement therapy for the younger hypogonadal men, the practice of using this hormone as an anti-aging tonic in middle and old aged men has increased.

FREE RADICAL THEORY

This concept focuses on the understanding of the Free Radical Theory Of Aging. The theory suggests that collective damage that the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) inflicts results in aging. Here the whole concept is mainly revolving around the agenda of the Free Radical Concept of the Antioxidants.

That being said, some studies do not agree with free radicals theory. Like the study by Gladyshev in the Journal of Antioxidants & Redox Signaling suggests that free radical is only a by-product of several biological processes and is not exactly the true cause of aging. Andrew P. Wickens, author of ‘The Causes of Aging’ from the University of Central Lancashire, also agree to the fact that the evidence for the free radical theory for aging is either correlative or inconclusive.

TELOMERE THEORY

As an indicator of oxidative stress and cellular senescence (2 processes thought to be regulators of aging), telomere length has been postulated as a biomarker of human aging. Dr. Micheal Fossel, the Stanford educated researcher who’s world-famous for his anti-aging research and lectures at the Smithsonian & National Institute for Health said that “Telomerase activation is the single most promising approach to reversing the effects of aging.”

STEM CELLS THEORY 

The recent development of Anti-Aging suggests that Stem Cells have a major role to play in the process of Aging. If necessary changes are acquired in the same, then the result is drastic. Now, these are some of the modern-day concepts. Different cells may have different lifespans even though they originate from the same stem cells (Like T-cells and erythrocytes), meaning that aging can occur differently in cells that have longer lifespans as opposed to the ones with shorter lifespans.

FUTURE THERAPIES

Now, there are some exciting therapies that are being tested over on a large scale in a particular field. One among them is the theory of Rapamycin. This again is a concept of the future which has no proven statistical or scientific data. Although certain data from Ehninger, Neff, and Xie in their paper for Cellular and molecular life sciences journal states that Rapamycin has shown a tendency to extend lifespan in mammals.

The above what you came across was a general gist on what basic understanding of Anti-Aging is prevalent right now. You might have also read that these processes have no direct relationship with the proven facts. And these are all some other perceptions that we are coming across.

DAILY PRACTICES

Despite the number of anti-aging theories, there are a few daily rituals that many people around the world practice from very old age. They believe that by disciplining themselves to live their life in a certain way, they can reduce or decrease the rate with which their body is aging.

We have tried to bring you both the traditional as well as modern anti-aging practices popular amongst the mass.

TRADITIONAL PRACTICES

The modern world may discard the following argument saying that it is baseless and unscientific. But the fact is that practices common during ancient times in the great civilizations (tribes in South Asia) are prevalent even today. And you may be surprised to know that their results for decreasing the signs of aging are astonishing.

The whole concept of ancient anti-aging practices and theories is revolving around the understanding of our lifestyle. It is directly or indirectly related to the way we carry our life forward. Some of the points in an overview are as follows.

• They believed in the idea of a proper and balanced diet. This actually plays a very vital role in the proper establishment of good health. Apart from the process of aging, it also provides various other benefits as well.
• The idea of good and proper routine. This again is very much necessary for the proper results. Without a disciplined routine life, it is hard to find the semblance of it which eventually disturbs your body and mind balance
• After a balanced diet, if anything is more important for our health then it is good and sound sleep of around 8 hours. The better sleep you have fewer chances of wrinkles and scars on your skin.
• A combination of proper skin treatment and food plays a good role in slowing down the process of aging.
• And lastly, take care of your skin against direct sunlight and from dust and various other chemicals as well.

These were some of the simple steps followed by the people in ancient times. Now many would come to ask whether such a lifestyle is even possible in such a fast life. There are a few steps that you can take to show care for your skin however modern or fast you live. It’s just the intent you need to show towards anti-aging efforts for your skin. 

MODERN SOLUTIONS

It is surprising to know that modern-day solutions are not that different from traditional ones. We have modern solutions for your modern-day problems, it is just that you need to put in your efforts to get the results. Understand the below points and try to implement these points in your day to day life.

• PROTECT SKIN FROM SUNLIGHT

Skin protection is a necessary factor for anti-aging as UV rays from the sun are the reason why most of your skin problems occur. They penetrate the skin and degrades the collagen and elastin fiber protein which actually makes up the basic skin structure. So the use of sunscreen with a wide light spectrum is very necessary if you want to reduce the signs of premature skin aging.

We suggest using Bee Elite Essentials Ageless Face Cream to protect your skin from the sun as it not only acts as a sunscreen but also fulfills your skin’s need for moisturizer and anti-aging cream. 

• INCREASE INTAKE OF ANTIOXIDANT-RICH FOOD

This includes oranges, cucumbers, green tea, etc. All these foods are a great source of antioxidants that combat the free radicals from the inside which are responsible for oxidative stress on our skin cells.

• KNOW YOUR FATS

Not all fatty foods are harmful just like not all fruits are good for your health. Fatty acids are actually good to keep your skin moist, soft and plump. But you have to know which fatty foods are good and which are not. Lean fat like fish and chicken are actually a great source of protein. And foods containing Omega-3 fatty acids are good for your skin and gut as well.

• CONTROL MENTAL STRESS

Mental stress is also one of the precursors of premature skin aging. When you are stressed out, your brain releases cortisol which breaks down the protein structure responsible to keep your skin firm and flexible. Try practicing meditation.

• REGULAR EXERCISE

Exercising is a great way to keep yourself active. Staying active has a great many benefits. It helps with digestion of your food, maintains muscle mass, keeps your body lean and fit, and is actually a great way to combat stress.

FAQs

What are theories of aging?

There are different theories proposed by different scientists and researchers around the world upon how human beings age. For example, the Genetic theory of aging suggests that a person's genes determine how fast or slow they would age.

What is Stem Cell theory of aging?

Stem cell theory of aging suggests that failed differentiation or depletion of stem cells is a prime cause of aging.

What is Autoimmune theory of aging?

The autoimmune theory of aging suggests that with age our immune system stops working properly because of which our body is unable to respond properly to infection leaving us vulnerable to diseases.

What happens to skin as you age?

Along with growing age, the collagen production of our body decreases because of which the collagen produced is transported to more important parts of our body like bones and our skin takes a back step. Reduces collagen damages the skin structure making it look saggy and wrinkled.

How can I stop my face from aging?

To slow down the process of skin aging, a proper skincare routine needs to be followed along with a healthy diet and lifestyle.

CONCLUSION

With that we conclude our article about different anti-aging practices and theories. The above are the common sets of points that you can implement in your day to day life to make changes in your lifestyle. As you come across there are no hard steps that you need to carry on. These are just the simple steps that you can do while having a fast life. 

Along with these steps, add anti-aging skincare products to your daily skin regimen to protect it from the outside. Bee Elite Essentials is a trusted anti-aging skincare products brand that offers a complete range of skin health products, right from Bee Elite Essentials Ageless White Willow Bark face cleanser to Ageless face cream, Ageless face serum, and Ageless face mask. This way you can take care of your skin and give it an ageless glow without fussing over buying singular products that suit your skin.

Have you tried any anti-aging strategies at home? What are your views about them? Share your experience with us in the comments section below. And if you have any questions or doubts about our article, feel free to ask. If you want to know more about various modern anti-aging products then check out our article 3 Best Anti-aging Products.

REFERENCES

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995895/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4410392/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3901353/

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.457.533&rep=rep1&type=pdf

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-014-1677-1