The Secret to Aging Well

Society has gotten rid of the term "natural beauty." As a result, women are always expected to look young, fresh, and beautiful. However, those impossible standards couldn't be further from reality. Beauty is much more on what's inside than what's outside.

Recently, 63-year-old actress Jamie Lee Curtis shared a bare-faced picture on Instagram in which she proudly showed her wrinkles. The movie star has previously expressed that she is done with Hollywood's unrealistic standards for women. She said, "This word 'anti-aging' has to be struck. I am pro-aging. I want to age with intelligence, grace, dignity, verve, and energy."

The "Halloween" actress has been vocal about the entertainment industry's treatment of actresses above a certain age. Through the Radically Reframing Aging summit, Curtis has shared her point of view regarding this issue. "I don't want to hide from (my age) it as if it's a bad thing," she said. But that doesn't mean the actress is immune to shadows of insecurity.

Curtis revealed, "When I get out of the shower, I turn my back on the mirror. I don't stare at my now 63-year-old body in the mirror, I turn my back at it… I'm trying to live in acceptance."

It can't be denied that there seems to be much more pressure on women than men to stay looking younger. Each age has its own beauty, and society shouldn't be programmed to find women attractive only at a certain age.

Now let's explore the concept of "pro-aging." This word takes the "anti" out of "aging" and embraces change. Its philosophy is that you can feel and look great at any age.

The secret to "natural beauty" is maintaining a healthy life in which well-being is always a priority. According to Dr. Wendy Walsh, science has come up with four simple things that help us live longer:

1. Exercise: Working out keeps your cells young. It helps them regenerate their stresses to make them create new cells. Dr. Walsh recommends exercising regularly, at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise, four to five times a week.

2. Nutrition: We can't let our food industry kidnap our biology. Processed foods are filled with pesticides and sugar. A deficient alimentation can lead to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, etc.

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3. Learn how to relax: Dr. Walsh suggests using really good coping strategies to reduce stress in our lives. Being calm and relaxed is one of the best ways to live longer. Some valuable tools to deal with it include practicing mindful mediation regularly and getting enough sleep.

4. Social support: According to Dr. Walsh, "prolonged feelings of loneliness are as bad for your health as obesity and smoking." You don't have to have a romantic relationship, but you need at least a handful of intimate friends. It would help if you had good social support around you. Building strong social support systems is as important as exercise, diet, being mindful, and reducing stress.

Healthy aging goes beyond physical appearance. It's about having a positive view of aging and taking every chance to take care of your mental, physical, emotional, and psychological health. Women shouldn't be ashamed of their wrinkles and gray hair. Aging is natural and happens to everybody.