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The Connection Between
Beauty and Health

For many people, health and beauty inhabit quite distant altitudes on a "proper" hierarchy of values. Health belongs high on the scale for them, while beauty should be low on our scale of importances. Health is an important concern.

Beauty is a frivolous obsession with youth, they think. After all, health is a deep, core value, while beauty is by definition superficial. It's only skin deep, right?

Of course, whether you happen to believe this way or not depends at least partly on which definition of "beauty" you have learned or adopted.

If beauty means holding everyone to the same media-derived standards of glamour and attractiveness, we might be more inclined to agree. If beauty means slavishness to fashion, dieting to the point of anorexia, or even compulsive miror-gazing, we would definitely agree.

But that's not the kind of beauty we want to talk about here. We're much more interested in the kind of beauty that not only lights your eyes but warms your heart when you encounter someone who has it - be they young or old, man, woman or child. This is "the beauty that comes from within," and we don't discount that.

"Momma, am I pretty?" "You're beautiful on the inside, Sweetheart."

Some might hear a consolation prize in the mother's reply, and our status-driven, possession-accumulating culture provides plenty of support for that interpretation. But we hear a positive affirmation of the best values a child could learn.

The beauty that comes from within. We firmly believe this kind of beauty rises an internal foundation of health: physical health, emotional and psychological health, and spiritual health. That's why you find support for all these aspects of health here at WellnessWatchersMD.

Just as redness and swelling are symptoms of inflammation, true beauty is one of the symptoms of good health. Vibrant aliveness, happiness, clarity grounded in positive purpose - when you see someone with these elements in chorus, your heart can't help singing in response. And when you have all these elements in place for yourself, you don't need to look in the mirror so often, because the people around you constantly reflect back your true beauty in their smiles.

And the best part is, it's available to everyone.

Looking Great as Time Passes

by our Medical Director

Staying beautiful as we age is possible through a combination of a lot of things. It's about maintaining emotional and physical health. It's about diet, exercise, maintenance, checkups, attitude and many other things. You need to be aware of what's going to work for you, but here are just a few things any woman can do to foster her own sense of beauty as she gets older:

Move it!
Being sedentary is not acceptable. Moving your body will give you more energy. It will make you feel and look better. Take a walk, go dancing, do some yard work, take a kickboxing class...just move your body!

Be a "good girl."
A wholesome lifestyle can pay off. Drinking, smoking and late night partying will increase your aging at a maximum rate. It is better to live a healthy, well-balanced life with good habits such as exercises and relaxing interests and hobbies. Getting enough sleep may actually prevent premature wrinkling.

Love the skin you're in.
One of the most important factors in looking beautiful as you age is taking good care of your skin long before you reach middle age. Use sun to reduce premature wrinkles, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and a hat shield your face. As you age, too much makeup can make you look older. Don't try fill in the wrinkles or erase the age spots and freckles you've earned. Instead, accentuate your best facial features. Don't forget to wash your face every night before you go to sleep. Drink lots of water, not only is it great for flushing toxins out of your body, but moisture is a key factor in wrinkle prevention!

Take care of your hair.
Keep your hair clean and conditioned to keep it softer, shinier and sleeker. Your hair is weakest when it is wet, so try not to brush until it's dry. Always choose a cut and color that is uplifting. If you have some forehead lines that bother you, ask your hairdresser about adding a few bangs to your style.

Dress to the nines.
The right hairstyle and clothes can make a woman look younger and more beautiful. Develop your own style and keep it simple. Don't become a slave to fashion. Be yourself and adopt a style that makes you feel good, comfortable and beautiful.

Make new friends, but keep the good ones too.
Get rid of naysayers, those that drain your energy, and anybody who uses or abuses you. Find friends that you can truly trust and share your time with.
Be youthful.
Sing songs, laugh, skip and be silly. Release your inner child and enjoy life.

Sit back and relax.
Spoil yourself with time out. It could be a bubble bath, candle light and music or a good book and a glass of wine. What matters is that you realize that it's important to take care of yourself.

Stay mentally active.
You should have a job or project each day to keep moving, growing, and staying fulfilled. Don't be afraid to fail. You may get it perfect the first time, but at least you tried and learned.

Seek out and listen to good advice from people who really know.
It doesn't matter if it's the doctor, hairdresser or another woman you think is beautiful. Ask everyone whose opinion you will respect about their beauty tips.

Most importantly, be comfortable with who you are and share your enthusiasm with others. Allow your inner light to shine so that others can see and appreciate it.

Constantly focusing on your looks serves no beneficial purpose but to take away precious time that are better spent on more satisfying life experiences. Don't measure yourself with a yardstick of a fleeting and unattainable beauty. Unconditional, self-acceptance is a beauty standard far more worthy to strive for. Celebrate the beauty that you already have. It cannot be bought, but only earned and acquired through knowing and accepting who you really are.

Embrace the richness of your life experiences. Be thankful for the years you've lived, and move on, not looking back at a lost youth. Instead, look forward, empowering yourself with dignity and self respect that increases with each passing year, each additional gray hair and each line that etches itself on your face, and create a beauty that comes from self-acceptance and a genuine love for who you have become.

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Use of this site constitutes acceptance of WellnessWatchersMD's terms of use and privacy policy. The information provided in this Web site is intended for your general knowledge only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Please see your personal physician immediately if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen.