It’s Not Too Soon to Start Thinking about Aging, So Here’s What You Can do About it Now

Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down for breakfast with Jeanne Beker, Tosca Reno, Lynn Spence, Dr. Janet Tamo and Dr. Kucy Pon at a roundtable hosted by Proctor & Gamble at Oretta. Not only are some of these ladies icons in their own right, but they are also all incredibly nice people! Needless to say, joining them at an intimate breakfast to discuss some of the most important issues facing women was very humbling and inspiring!

The focus of the discussion was on health, wellness, and beauty for the aging woman, particularly women who fall into the baby boomer category.

You might be thinking: why were you at a breakfast discussing baby boomers and aging? Initially, I thought so too. But, it immediately became clear when these ladies began to speak that these issues were equally applicable to my generation!

Now, don’t get me wrong, this was not to plug a bunch of expensive firming creams, skin serums or other ‘quick fixes’ aimed at reversing the visible signs of aging. The roundtable was about practical and common sense advice that every woman can follow to prevent aging and to deal with it, once it’s begun. The 5 experts also highlighted some every day health and beauty products that are within reach for the average woman.

Why is Discussing Aging Important?

There are various aspects to aging – how our skin, hair, teeth and bodies look on the outside. But then there’s the whole other aspect concerning how we feel on the inside – our physical health and wellness. They are all interrelated, which is why we need to lead a healthy lifestyle, use good products, and adopt good habits at an early age. The better we treat ourselves when we are young, the better we will look and feel as we get older.

Quite simply, it’s never too early to start thinking about aging and what you can do about it now.

Common Sense Tips from the Experts

What I appreciated about this cross-generational discussion was how relatable the experts were and how simple their advice is to follow. Not only were they knowledgeable about each topic, but they all looked incredibly beautiful and healthy. So, I trust they’re doing something right!

Snuck a quick pic of Jeanne Beker and Lynne Spence because when you get a chance to see Jeanne Beker speak in person, you listen!

Here are 5 common sense tips from the roundtable that can apply to all women, no matter what age.

1. Start each day with a litre of water.

Tosca explained that drinking water first thing in the morning will rid our bodies of toxins. Continuing to drink water throughout the day is beneficial for our health and our skin.

2. Eat Well and Get Enough Fibre in Your Diet.

A majority of the population is constipated due to not having enough fibre in their diet. The effects of diet on our health is well-documented, so it all begins with eating healthy. Probiotics are essential for digestive health and supplements are recommended if you’re not getting enough. To the extent we aren’t consuming enough dietary fibre, fibre supplements are also helpful.

3. Use SPF every day.

Dr. Kucy Pon (who had THE most perfect skin, btw) says the best thing we can do for our skin is to include a sunscreen in our daily routine. 85% of premature aging of the skin is due to the effects of the sun.

4. Floss your teeth every day.

Dr. Janet Temo explained that a poor diet can lead to acid in the mouth, gum disease, and tooth decay. Flossing every day (in addition to drinking lots of water) is the best thing you can do for your teeth. Healthy looking teeth will reduce the appearance of aging.

5. Take care of your hair.

Hair naturally starts to thin as you get older, so you have to take good care of it while you are young. Using less heat, a heat protectant, alcohol-free products, and not over-washing or over-conditioning your hair will help to keep it healthy and thick.

Applying These Tips to Myself

I’m happy to say I already do a lot of these things. But I could definitely drink more water (okay, and maybe floss more too)!

I also need to reduce the amount of heat I’m using on my hair, since I blow-dry and flat iron a few times a week. According to Lynn Spence, speed is of the essence when blow-drying, so I’ll be looking into getting a faster hair dryer. She also said that over-conditioning can lead to build up, which in turn, can reduce volume (which is why she recommends a 2-in-1). And since the breakfast, I’ve been using the Pantene alcohol-free hairspray that we took home in our goodie bags religiously, which has been so much better for my hair!

Did you find these common sense tips to be helpful? What are some other common sense steps you’re taking to address aging? Let me know in the comments below!