Many people wrongly assume that we start
ageing only when grey hair sprouts here and there on our heads, or when
wrinkles start to appear on certain parts of the body, especially on the
foreheads, corners of the eyes, or around the mouth. Scientists say
this is not necessarily the case, as some parts of the body actually
wear out long before we look old.
For some — and, depending on lifestyle —
physical effects of ageing are not immediately pronounced on their
physique, especially the face. They are still able to flaunt their
‘ageless’ looks well after their 40th birthday; but even at that, it is
an undeniable fact that after age 35, many parts of the body start
declaring independence and they embark on south-ward movement, even if
gradually, but surely.
For women, age 35 is as tricky as it is
decisive. Experts say by mid-30s, women’s breasts start losing tissue
and fat, reducing in size and fullness. They contend that sagging starts
properly at 40 and the areola (the area surrounding the nipple) can
shrink considerably.
For men, researchers say, the penis
undergoes significant changes as a man moves from his sexual prime —
around age 30 — into middle age and on to older age. The Journal of Sexual Medicine
reports that blood flow to the head of the penis reduces at this age,
and there is a slow loss of pubic hair. “As testosterone wanes, the
penis gradually reverts to its prepubertal, mostly hairless, state,” the
journal claims.
In terms of size, scientists say, the
penis tends to undergo an actual (and irreversible) reduction in size,
length and thickness. “If a man’s erect penis is six inches long when he
is in his 30s, it might be five or five-and-a-half inches when he
reaches his 60s or 70s,” says the director of sexual medicine at
Alvarado Hospital in San Diego, Dr. Irwin Goldstein.
Experts also say the lung capacity slowly
starts to decrease from the age of 20, and by the age of 40, some
people can start experiencing breathlessness, partly because the muscles
and the rib cage which control breathing stiffen up. It’s then harder
to work the lungs and also means some air remains in the lungs after
breathing out, causing breathlessness.
The heart, too, starts ageing at 40, as
it is said to pump blood less effectively around the body as we get
older. Scientists say this is because blood vessels become less elastic,
while arteries can harden or become blocked because of fatty deposits
forming on the coronary arteries due to eating too much saturated fat.
When this happens, the blood supply to the heart is reduced, resulting
in painful angina.
Again, the bones start ageing at 35,
according to a professor of rheumatology at Aintree University Hospital
in Liverpool, Roberts Moots. He notes that though children’s bone growth
is rapid, as the skeleton takes just two years to renew itself
completely. “In adults, the same process can take 10 years,” he says.
“Until the mid-20s, bone density is still increasing; but at 35, bone
loss begins as part of the natural ageing process.”
The skin, muscles, hair growth and
fertility level all take a bashing after age 35. Any wonder that
researchers say as we hit 35, stress level is likely to increase, what
with the threats of stress-related conditions like obesity, Type-2
diabetes, brain atrophy, heart disease, high blood pressure and more.
Ditto the belly fat, wrinkles and decreased libido. And that is why you
need certain survival kits to keep you going, look and feel better till
the ultimate end.
One easy way to beat stress, which,
experts say heightens the ageing process, is through healthy diet, by
avoiding salty and fatty foods. Dietician and weight loss expert, Dr.
Angela Okudo, explains that as we age, hormonal changes make a flat
belly almost unachievable even if you watch your diet.
She says, “After 35, your sex hormones
fluctuate, making your body retain more water and your gastrointestinal
tract not as efficient, resulting in bloating.”
She advises regular intake of pineapple
juice — an excellent source of potassium, manganese and vitamins C and
B6. Pineapple juice is also described as a natural diuretic and helps to
flush out any excess toxins in the kidneys and liver.
It is also described as an all-natural
belly flattener, as it contains digestive enzymes — bromelain — that
help break down the food in the gut that could otherwise cause bloating
and gas.
Generally, fighting wrinkles become a
preoccupation for both men and women as the chronological age
progresses, though women tend to engage in this more than men are wont
to. Okudo says avoiding exposure to the sun, quitting smoking, treating
the skin gently by resisting the temptation to use every highly-promoted
skin product that hits the market, are some healthy ways of delaying
the onset of wrinkles.
A gynaecologist, Dr. Fatai Aromire, says
one of the biggest complaints from women over 35 is that sex gets more
difficult and less enjoyable than it once was. He says this is due to
natural changes to the anatomy. To put the fun back in this
all-important area of life, Aromire recommends the use of lubricants.
The scientists also say people over 35
need some vitamins that are essential to the prevention of cancer,
strengthening the bones, keeping the heart healthy, and generally make
you look younger.
Okudo says, ideally, the majority of the
ageing person’s nutrients should come from a diet rich in fruits and
vegetables, while taking multivitamin supplements also help in a lot of
ways when prescribed by a competent physician.
She recommends vitamins A, C, D and E, as
well as the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid,
B6, biotin, B12, and folic acid). “Getting the vitamins you need can
boost your immunity, prevent accelerated aging, and help you lose
weight,” she counsels.
Foods that contain biotin include walnuts
and other nuts, eggs, carrots, milk, oatmeal, lettuce, tomato, onions
and cucumbers. Those that are rich in pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
include liver, cold water fish, avocado, egg yolk, fish eggs and
mushrooms.
The physicians also recommend calcium
intake, not just for bone protection, but to also keep the muscles
strong. They recommend pairing calcium with magnesium in recommended
dosages, to help with absorption. The doctors also advise that those
using calcium supplements must take it two hours after eating or taking
multivitamins, in order to prevent calcium from blocking the body from
absorbing other nutrients.
Calcium-rich foods include okro, yogurt,
milk, sardines, dark leafy greens like spinach, and fortified cereals
such as corn flakes.
Ophthalmologist, Dr. Steve Odiase, notes
that the eye happens to be one of the organs of the body that readily
subscribe to ageing. He says, “As you age, you must endeavour to keep
your eyes sharp by eating lutein-rich foods. This is because lutein is a
powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cataracts and macular
degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in individuals over the age
of 60.”
As the years roll by, researchers say the
ageing person undergoes emotional changes in mood, as evidenced by
crankiness, stress, and, sometimes, depression. They recommend fortified
cereals, especially those fortified with vitamin B6, and bananas,
believed to reduce crankiness, irritability and mood swings.
