Why Do We (and Our Skin) Grow Older? - Part 2

A person starts to age as early as in their mid-twenties. So, if you're concerned about aging well and looking your best, it's important to understand the reasons why we grow older. Then, the key is to use healthy holistic principles to age gracefully - so we can live the fullest life possible. 
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Why do we grow older? In a nutshell, as time goes on, your body’s ability to nourish and repair itself is impaired and aging ensues. And your skin is like a magic window that gives clues to your overall health, because the aging that happens internally will show outwardly in the appearance of your skin.

There are several theories that try to explain why aging happens, and together they all play a role. In Part 1 of this article, I discussed three very prevalent aging theories:

• oxidation
• inflammation
• glycation

(If you haven't read Part 1 yet, I highly encourage you to do so. The information it contains can literally change your health and your life for the better.) 

Now, I'll introduce two additional aging theories that you may only hear about from someone who takes a holistic approach to health...
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​Decreased digestive health:​

The health of your digestive system is directly linked to the health of your whole body. Digestive issues (whether you can actually feel them or not) can play a major role in aging.

Decreases in enzymes and poor nutrient assimilation:
In order to thrive, you need to absorb and use the micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) from healthy, nourishing whole foods. If not, you will develop nutritional deficiencies and a cascade of health issues. So, your body manufactures digestive enzymes for digesting food. (Protease breaks down proteins, amylase breaks down carbohydrates, and lipase breaks down fats.) However, your capacity to make enzymes is exhaustible. Therefore, the way in which those enzymes are utilized and replenished may determine your overall health and longevity. Lower levels of enzymes are found in elderly individuals, those with chronic diseases, and the obese. However, if food in raw form is eaten, it will use its inherent enzymes for the digestive process and preserve your body’s own digestive enzymes. (However, there are some digestive drawbacks to raw foods, too. Read my article here to learn more.)

With aging, it is also common to have reduced production of hydrochloric (HCL) stomach acid, which further minimizes the breakdown of complex carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Although most people with indigestion think they have too much HCL stomach acid, a lack of it is actually a more common cause of indigestion and heartburn.

A compromised intestinal lining:
Your digestive tract a vital part of your immune system, because a big part if its job is to make sure toxins are kept out of your bloodstream. ​However, the protective lining of your digestive tract is just one cell thick. (It is made up of epithelial cells; the same as your skin.) If that thin barrier is damaged or “leaky”, toxins may enter your body and inflammation, illness, and accelerated aging may result. These toxins could be bad bacteria, gluten, undigested food particles, yeast, fungi, parasites, and other waste. The symptoms of leaky gut can be felt throughout the entire body. Just some include: rashes, allergies, asthma, food sensitivities, autoimmune conditions, brain fog, and headaches. (Technically, "leaky gut" is called intestinal permeability.) ​

The lining of the digestive tract also determines which nutrients are absorbed. If your gut is leaky, the nutrients in your food may not be absorbed properly.

Read much more about leaky gut and the associated health issues here. It's extremely common!

Imbalances in gut bacteria:
Your digestive tract is home to an ecosystem of friendly probiotic bacteria. The most common are lactobacillus and bifidobacteria. These help to fight infections and disease, manufacture nutrients, digest food, regulate hormones, break down toxins, and absorb nutrients.  This ecosystem must be in good balance to maintain good health.  If too many bad microbes inhabit the gut (like parasites or yeast), your health can decline which will be reflected in the aging of your skin, too. 

A loss and/or imbalance of gut flora can also be a result of lower levels of stomach acid, which in turn causes an increase in stomach pH and delayed stomach emptying. In addition, a lifetime history of antibiotic use destroys healthy probiotic bacteria and leads to larger numbers of pathogenic bacteria.
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​​Decreases in hormones

​Hormones play a predominant role in your overall health and also maintaining the barrier function and homeostasis of your skin. The gradual falling and fluctuations of hormones that occur over the course of life are linked to how well you age. 
 
Estrogen:
Healthy levels of estrogen provide many beneficial and protective roles. It is an essential hormone for retaining youthfulness. However, with aging and especially in menopause, the decrease in estrogen relative to testosterone accelerates age-related deterioration of the structure and function of internal organs, plus the skin and all its appendages (the hair, nails, sweat glands, and oil glands). This results in thinner skin, an increase in number and depth of wrinkles, increased skin dryness, and decreased skin firmness and elasticity. The skin inside the vagina is similarly affected. In fact, many women report a sudden onset of skin aging several months after menopausal symptoms begin.

Thyroid:
Thyroid gland function commonly decreases with age. Poor thyroid function is associated with fatigue, cold intolerance, muscle weakness, constipation, memory loss, depression, and weight gain. (Unfortunately, these symptoms are often ignored and associated with simply growing older, so it is important to see a qualified health practitioner to discuss your issues and a treatment plan. Simple blood tests can usually determine a thyroid problem.) Thyroid hormones must also be balanced for skin health. Too little thyroid hormone also causes the skin to become pale, dry, coarse, scaly, and thick, and lowers sweat production. Thyroid dysfunction can also lead to thinning hair and eventual hair loss.  

Toxins often interfere with thyroid function. Read how here.

Stress hormones: 
Two of the main hormones that cause accelerated aging are cortisol and adrenaline. These are stress-related hormones that decline naturally with age and make one less resilient to life’s hassles. Our hectic American lives and junk food diets are a breeding ground for health problems associated with chronic stress.  Sometimes we feel that we are in a continuous flight-or-flight mode (acute stress) with a constant cortisol rush from our adrenal glands. This acute stress turns chronic, and even worse, people get used to it and think it's normal. This suppresses your immune system, depletes you, and will wreak destructive havoc on your physical and mental health.

The symptoms of stress are numerous, such as headaches, muscle aches, rapid heart beat, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, acne, rashes, low libido, nervousness, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, canker sores, difficulty breathing, dizziness, trouble sleeping, irritability, sweating, weight gain, frequent colds, brain fog, anger, irregular periods, ulcers, hair loss, difficulty concentrating, and low energy.  In fact, there is not one system of the body that is not affected.  Stress plays an aggravating role in the cause of disease and aging.

Stress also makes you look older. A great example is the obvious aging of US presidents seen in photos taken pre- and post- term. And... stress hormones may be the cause for the imbalances in many other hormones. You may want to ask your personal physician to run some hormone panel tests to check for imbalances.

Read my article about 10 Simple Ways to Lower your Stress. In addition, sleep is vital in managing stress. Read: 5 Tips to Sleep Like a Baby.
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Want to learn much more?

​Take my e-course about the skin & how to age gracefully:

​Time Defying Skin discusses the causes of aging that you have control over. The keys to youthful skin and feeling healthy may not be that complicated or expensive after all. A nourishing diet and healthy lifestyle practices are the natural solution. It's never too early or too late. ​Take the course today!​

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​Sources:

• Cabeca, A. (2015, May 4). The Hormone-Skin Connection (Glowing Skin Summit) [Online interview].
• Cousens, G. (2014, November 19). Enzymes: A secret of health and longevity. Retrieved from http://treeoflifecenterus.com/enzymes-a-secret-of-health-and-longevity/
• Lipski, E. (2012). Digestive wellness: Strengthen the immune system and prevent disease through healthy digestion (4th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
• Onusic, S. (2014, July 7). Nutrition: The Anti-Aging Factor - Weston A Price. Retrieved from http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/nutrition-the-anti-aging-factor/
• Safer, J. (2011). Thyroid hormone action on skin. Dermato-Endocrinology, 3(3), 211-215. doi:10.4161/derm.3.3.17027
• Scali, E., & Iorio, A. (2014). Anatomy and the Aging Process of the Face. In Minimally Invasive Procedures for Facial Rejuvenation. Foster City,CA: OMICS Group eBooks.
• Stevenson, S., & Thornton, J. (2007). Effect of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of SERMs. Clin Interv Aging, 2(3), 283-297. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2685269/