WHILE spending on cosmetic surgery soars PAULINE HOLT looks at a new book aiming to help us grow old gracefully. FEAR of ageing now begins in our early twenties and becomes particularly intense just before “milestone” birthdays like, thirtieths, fortieths and fiftieths. Researchers at Datamonitor also found the things we feared most about ageing were physical deterioration and loss of attractiveness and that getting older is generally perceived as a negative development rather than a natural journey through life. Perhaps that explains the vast amount of money now spent on cosmetic surgery in this country — a recent Mintel survey put that at over £500m — and that’s leaving aside all the pills and potions that promise eternal youth. While coming to terms with your skin losing its youthful bloom or finding it harder to shed a few extra pounds may not be easy, we now know more than ever about the ageing process and how to hold back the years in a natural way. Susan Curtis, a qualified homoeopath and director of the organic herbalist and skincare chain Neal’s Yard Remedies, has co-written a new book, Looking Good and Feeling Younger, containing tried and tested natural approaches to turning back the clock. Here are some of the book’s top tips for holding back the years... BRAIN BOOSTERS: Keep your mind agile by doing crosswords, brain-teasers or puzzles every day. SKIN SAVERS: Forget expensive collagen treatments. Rosehips, drunk as a tea or sprinkled into salads, are rich in collagen-producing vitamin C. STRESS BUSTERS: Drop the quick fixes. Caffeine, alcohol, tobacco may make you feel better in the short term, but they’ll rob your body of key stress-busting nutrients, damage your adrenal system and lead to exhaustion. Replace them with healthy smoothies. LIBIDO LIFTERS: Phytoestrogens (plant-based hormones) may buffer the effects of declining oestrogen in peri and post menopause. Add more soya products, cabbage, probiotic live yogurts and fennel to your diet. HEART HUGGERS: Good cardiovascular health is crucial to living a long, vigorous life, so looking after your heart and the blood vessels that supply it is essential. Give up smoking, get 30 mins of aerobic exercise daily and cut down on salt and fat. Monitor your alcohol intake (limit it to one or two units a day) and get regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks. | 
Travel, Entertainment & leisure
Professional Services
Health
Home Style
Home Improvements
Fashion & Weddings
Gifts
