Hack ageing in your 40s with these simple tips

Getting stiff on the neck? Feeling drained out of energy? Yes. Read further.

These are the acute signs of unchecked ageing or in simple words letting ageing take its course without putting a check on it. Biologically, ageing starts when your body begins going downhill. It can start as early as in one's 30s or even late 30s or early 40s.

No one knows why they get older but at a certain age everybody regrets neglecting their health and habits and giving a free space to ageing.

So, here are few tips to put a bar on speedy ageing and if followed religiously can pave the way for healthy ageing:

As per National Institute of Ageing (NIA), US Department of Health and Human Services, exercise and physical activity are the cornerstone of almost every healthy ageing program. "Scientific evidence suggests that people who exercise regularly not only live longer, they live better. And, being physically active — doing everyday activities that keep your body moving, such as gardening, walking the dog, and taking the stairs instead of the elevator — can help you continue to do the things you enjoy and stay independent as you age," says NIA.

Though many consider it to be a form of physical activity, Yoga is more a holistic fitness approach to health, and spiritual growth of a human body. It is a form of spiritual discipline that brings harmony between the mind and the body. " The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, meaning ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’. As per Yogic scriptures the practice of Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the Universal Consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and body, Man & Nature," says Dr Ishwar V Basavaraddi, Director Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY). A healthy mind is the key to a healthy body.

Every individual, especially those above 18 years of age, should sleep for 7 hours at least, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "Although the amount of sleep you get each day is important, other aspects of your sleep also contribute to your health and well-being. Good sleep quality is also essential," it says.

After you reach your 40s, you need to adopt a food path that can provide you wellness, nourishment and fulfillment. Your food plate should have more variety than before and as an individual who is now aiming for healthy aging, you need to watch what goes inside your body. Include antioxidants to your food as these have proven benefits against heart diseases and cancer. Up your water intake to flush out toxins and rejuvenate the skin and cut on your fat intake. Or if you any medical conditions or are medicated, then please take suggestions from your doctor and prepare a customized diet chart.

While adopting healthy habits is a good practice, one should also keep an eye on body weight. One should never get into the wrong assumption that being thin is healthy, instead one should understand the optimum body mass index (BMI) required for a certain age. As per a research study done on 1190 men and 751 women of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, women with low BMI had an increased risk of mortality. "Those are possible reasons why some scientists think maintaining a higher BMI may not necessarily be bad as we age," says NIA.

Another important approach to a healthy life is to know your body routinely. Follow a routine medical check up in regular intervals. Keep a record of whatever your doctor suggests and recommends and follow it diligently.