July 2019

Aging can have all manner of side effects on our bodies. Muscles might lose tone, we might put on weight more easily, and our joints ache after less activity. The shine may not come as easily for day to day activity. Another part of our bodies changes as we age: the hair. 

It’s no secret that hair does different things as we get older. It can change colors, consistency, or just stop growing all together. Why though? What makes it so that our hair, which has been with us for decades, suddenly stop being the same top mop we’ve grown so accustomed to? Women tend to face a different set of struggles than men in this regard. 

Societal norms say it’s okay for men to go gray and lose hair, but women are still expected to handle the same obstacles. Let’s unpack some ways to adapt to the changing needs of hair as it ages.

Why does hair change with age?

As with many things in our bodies, our hair is largely dictated by our hormones. These chemicals tell our hair follicles to continue growing, or to produce more oil, and can even adjust the chemical composition of our hair. During significant hormonal shifts such as those during menopause, hair is one of the casualties.

When your hair follicles get different combinations of hormones it might go through all of the usual changes associated with aging. It might change and then lose its color, dry out, become brittle, and be more prone to breaking. This means that all of the work you put into your hair care routine has to start over. It’s still your hair, but you just have to treat it a little differently.

Drying Hair Treatments

When your hair is drying out, that’s largely due to your hair follicle not producing the same amount of oils that it once did. It is possible to find oils and shampoos that can replace this and protect strands of hair from the elements. In addition to adding something to your routine, it might be time to take something out. 

Hair dryers are the go to for a quick and easy hair drying experience. If your hair is already drying out however, adding blasts of hot air is definitely not going to make things any better. This and other heat based methods of drying can actually reduce the effectiveness of oils and set you right back to square one.

Brittleness

Brittleness has a few different causes, but one that aging hair sees a lot of are the constant chemical changes being applied to restore a youthful appearance. Dyes, straighteners, and bleaches all result in damaged hair. When you no longer produce the oils your hair needs, these kinds of changes strip away the structure of the strands making it prone to breakage. It can be argued that this is less of a direct side effect of aging and more of a combination of factors, but we think that’s kind of splitting hairs.

The Gray Shift

Going gray is a natural part of growing older for most people. At the very least a majority of people see a lightening of hair color as they age. This is because the hair follicles produce less pigment. When compared with the other changes in hair, this is largely cosmetic. The color of the hair doesn’t necessarily determine the strength. 

Some people dye and treat their hair to maintain color, but as we mentioned above, this can actually further damage hair. Going gray is not the end of the world, but there are some preventative measures in the works. A gray hair prevention pill by L’Oreal looks to make it possible to keep from going gray, but embracing it as a natural part of living in your body is always a great alternative.

Thinning Coverage

When hair ages, it can also grow thinner. The follicles still produce hairs, but they don’t offer the same coverage as they used to. This can be a natural part of aging, but also potentially caused by vitamin deficiencies and thyroid hormone changes. By shifting diet or talking to a doctor, there may be a prescribed solution to this issue in the form of supplemental vitamins or hormone treatments. Otherwise, there are oils and products that can be used to give your hair a thicker appearance overall. Finding the best method comes down to individual taste and the kind of look you want to maintain.

Explore New Looks

Different kinds of hair look better in different styles. You may have styled your hair in one particular way for years, but now that it’s different, maybe it’s time to try something new. Longer hair has obviously been growing for longer and has been exposed to more of the elements.

Because of the factors mentioned earlier, this can lead to difficulty in maintaining a longer hair style. Cutting it shorter can give you a new look and reduce the stress on your follicles. It’s also less maintenance and makes it easier to style when there’s less of it!

Aging Hair Is Natural

Hair ages just like the rest of the body, and while everyone ages differently, everyone does age. Because of the hormonal origin of many of these changes, talking with a qualified professional can help identify the causes and even counter the effects. The experts at Renewed Vitality can help identify causes and establish treatment regiments if necessary. Reach out to set up your consultation today!

When it comes to eating healthy, life doesn’t make it easy. Between easy-to-grab snack options, fast food, casual dining, and the occasional indulgent restaurant meal, how does someone keep to a set weight loss regiment? On top of that, as our bodies age and process food differently, our diets may have to change out of necessity. 

When we’re younger, our bodies can typically process food more quickly and handle a greater variety of foods without slowing down. At a certain point however, our metabolisms switch into a slower gear and begin storing those calories more than burning them. At this point carefully looking at your dining out plans can go a long way towards avoiding picking up some extra pounds. 

1.	So What Do You Do? Coming to terms with the fact that we can’t eat like we used to is an important first step. When we’re at home, it’s possible to make conscious decisions about the foods we put on our plate. But we don’t always eat at home.  Keeping an eye on the foods we eat while we’re out can be a major source of extra calories and fat. Here are some helpful tips when dining out that can keep you from turning a small treat into a broken diet!
2.	Load Up The The Healthy Stuff When looking at menu options, lots of entrees come with a side option. Your first move should be to look at the vegetable options and see if there’s a way to turn those into larger portions. Most locations don’t have a problem with adding an extra portion of broccoli or something similar.  Additionally, many plates come with a garnish of veggies, so why not ask for more? Making sure your meal is made up of more of these kinds of foods ensures that you’re not filling up on food that’s not exactly within your diet parameters.
3.	Ask Questions! No one wants to be “that person” at a dining out experience, but go ahead and ask how the food is specifically prepared. Menus regularly prop up food using language that might not accurately describe how a food item has been cooked. Asking the question and confirming that the food has been grilled, steamed, or roasted can save you heartache later on.
4.	Savor The Flavor When you actually get to eating your meal, take your time. One of the problems with eating out is that you feel like you’re on the clock and need to eat more quickly. Because it takes time for our bodies to let us know how full we actually are, you could be overeating without realizing it.  Take your time and enjoy your food and the atmosphere of the place you’re eating. That next bite will be very much the same as the one you just had, so there’s no rush! Waiting for that signal from your stomach that you’ve had enough can keep you from eating yourself out of a diet.
5.	Avoid The Unlimited Options This goes without saying, but skip on the unlimited refills when you’re eating out. Those options are typically overpriced, and we’re encouraged to try to get the most for our money. If you find yourself without a choice, try loading up your plate with salad to prevent picking up too many unhealthy options at once.
6.	Ask For A Box Right Away When ordering, make a point to ask for half of your portion to be put in a box before it even gets to your table. If you don’t see it actually on your plate, you won’t expect to eat it right away. In addition, you’ll also have food for later!
7.	Read “Healthy” Options Critically Even if a plate says it’s low-carb or low-fat, that doesn’t necessarily make it healthy. In order to compensate for the reduced fat, many recipes add lots of salt, which can cause you to retain more water and result in other unhealthy factors.  This is a situation where writers may have technically told the truth, but are actually just omitting some information. “Sugar-free” doesn’t mean there’s no sugar. It usually means no high fructose corn syrup or simple sugar has been added, but sugar from other sources is still sugar. Don’t fall for the claims!

It’s About More Than One Meal

At the end of the day, one meal shouldn’t derail your diet overall. If you slip a bit once, that’s not a big deal, but it’s the continued pattern that can arise from slipping often. So think about how your occasional dining out experience can impact your diet. Does it fit with the rest of your meals? Is it sustainable along with your other food choices?

By following these simple pieces of advice and being mindful about your dining out decisions, it can be much easier to maintain a diet over a long period of time. Consistency is key, so by going over your expectations before going out, you can set yourself up for success. Continuing positive patterns of eating and activity can make all the difference in a weight loss plan. Even when you have a minor misstep, don’t be discouraged—stick with it!