Okay, okay, okay, made you look! Age in reverse—is that even possible, you ask? Sounds too good to be true, I know, and in a way, it is. But there are things you can do to slow down the biological clock and make it seem as if you are aging in reverse!

Did you know that our population is aging every day? Back in 1900, the average lifespan was merely 47 years. Today, it has increased to 76! However, our health span or the time spent living free of chronic illness and disease, is only 66 years. This means a decade of life is spent in poor health. I don't know about you, but I want to maximize the number of years I'm living free of chronic disease and illness! Did you know that studies have shown that people live not only longer but healthier lives when they have a positive mindset about aging? That's where the concept of 'pro-aging' comes in.

Pro-aging isn't just about giving anti-aging a new name—it's a whole movement to reframe how we think and feel about getting older. Pro-aging takes a proactive and preventative approach to aging. Rather than fearing it, pro-aging embraces our later years. And it's not just about accepting aging; it's about taking steps now to make sure our golden years are our best ones yet! On the other hand, anti-aging is all about trying to turn back the clock, no matter the cost, which often ends up making people look  strange and not like themselves. Not exactly what most people are going for!

So, what do I think about pro-aging? Pro-aging essentially has three components: prevention, maintenance, and regeneration. Let's break each one down!

1) Prevention

Did you know that you can keep your skin healthy with just a few products? A gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen are all you really need. If you want to go the extra mile, add a vitamin C serum and a retinoid. And remember, protecting your skin from the sun is super important—sun damage causes over 80% of skin aging!

Taking care of your skin isn't just about what you put on it—it's about taking care of your whole body. Eating well, getting enough sleep, managing stress, and exercising all play a big role in keeping your skin looking great. And whatever you do, please don't smoke(or vape)! It's terrible for your skin and overall health.

2) Maintenance

Once you've nailed prevention, it's time to tackle any maintenance issues that pop up! Just as it's easier to make small tune-ups to your car along the way rather than replacing the entire engine, the same goes for your skin. With the current trend of staring at ourselves more frequently, it's no surprise that people are exploring procedures and treatments at a younger age. However, when you start early, you can make minor adjustments to ensure your skin stays healthy and youthful for a longer time. Many people also prefer procedures with minimal downtime, even if it means more treatments.

3) Regeneration

Regenerative medicine is incredibly popular right now, and for good reason! Imagine the fantastic benefits beyond just improving appearance if we can regenerate and renew tissue. While we already have various regenerative procedures available, such as biostimulants for collagen regrowth and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for hair regrowth and skin rejuvenation, there are even more procedures and treatments on the horizon!

Stem cells hold immense promise due to their ability to transform into any cell type, but they come with significant challenges, including acquisition, purity, scalability, and safety concerns. In the United States, only one stem cell therapy has FDA approval, specifically for treating blood cancers. If someone tries to sell you stem cell therapy for something else, proceed with caution, as this is completely unregulated. At best, you may just lose a lot of money, but at worst, it could lead to harm in your body.

While we still have progress to make in the field of stem cells, the next best thing to stem cells is what they secrete, known as exosomes. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that transport messages between cells. Picture a small envelope with a letter inside. The power of exosomes lies in the content of these messages—if it's for cellular repair, regeneration, or wound healing. But watch out! The message could also be something that promotes cancer, inflammation, or cell death. This is why it's important to know where your exosomes are coming from and what their message is! Right now, there aren't any FDA-approved exosomal therapies, but that might change soon.

The world of pro-aging is exciting and rapidly evolving! While we can't completely reverse the clock, following these three steps for pro-aging will help slow down aging so that your genetic age is much younger than your chronological age.

Listen to this week's podcast episode where I talk about proaging and how you can stay healthy for longer, without chronic illness!

A new podcast episode drops every Monday.

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