The average life expectancy for a person in today's modern age is 78.7 years. This was an unheard of number even a few decades ago, and this number is expected to increase by another few years in only a few more short decades. Since we're living longer, we're dealing with aging in ways we never have before. Read up on these tips dealing with aging.

Try to quit smoking or reduce the number of cigarettes that you smoke each day. Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death. However, it is never too late to stop smoking, and as soon as you quit, your risk of having a heart attack decreases. By quitting you could also save yourself a lot of money.

Make sure that when you are eating, you are putting essential fatty acids into your body. These are imperative for cell growth and maintaining the proper blood pressure so you are not at risk for any diseases. Also, essential fatty acids can go a long way in improving your cholesterol level and reducing aging symptoms.

Taking care of your skin at an early age will play a large role in how you look as you age. Remember to always use sunscreen when you are out in the sun, and dress appropriately for the weather. Use moisturizers and lotions to protect your skin and keep yourself looking healthy.

Go for regular preventive health check-ups with your local physician. As you get older, your body is more susceptible to disease and injury. By having regular check-ups, you could detect and treat small health problems before they turn into bigger problems. It is also recommended that you attend dental and eyes check-ups as well.

Keep on dancing. Regular physical exertion increases oxygen flow to the brain and strengthens cells by releasing necessary protein. Older adults who remain physically active are much less likely to develop dementia and similar diseases, and dance is a wonderful way to keep moving. If you have a swimming pool, aquatics can also be effective.

As we age, our body decreases in hormone production, such as testosterone and estrogen. You doctor may prescribe hormone replacement therapy drugs. These drugs can cause harmful side effects, so they should be taken under physician's supervision only.

A key tip to staying young and healthy is to eat nuts. Nuts are a great snack and a fantastic food to prevent the signs of aging. Nuts are loaded with anti-aging fats and are great sources of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. Just be careful when eating nuts to eat them in moderation because they are high in calories.

Make sure that you only do things that make you happy. This might be common sense, but for many people, it is easier said than done. When you are in your advanced years, there is no reason why you should waste your remaining years on trivial matters that make you unhappy. Be selective on what you think about, and make the rest of your life as happy as possible.

Working on your self image during aging is vital. Self image is important as western cultures often place a great deal of emphasis on young people and you need to keep your self- esteem while aging. Just because media and popular culture is obsessed with youth, it does not mean you do not matter!

Even if your body is deteriorating, you do not have to let your spirit deteriorate as well. Keep growing as a person through reading books, sharing stories with loved ones or enjoying a good old movie now and then. Keep your youthful spirit alive as long as you live.

If you are down in the dumps often, you will expedite the signs of aging. Try to keep an optimistic and positive mindset when you are faced with an issue, and be thankful of what you have in your life. This will help you to appreciate the important things and improve your mood.

Think about doing volunteer work after you retire. This will make your days more fulfilling and interesting. In addition, it will extend your social network. Non-profits are always looking for volunteers, and they often do not get enough. If you can volunteer your time, you will be providing them with a very valuable service.

You must get plenty of calcium to aid in the prevention of osteoporosis. Milk, skim milk, yogurt, and low-fat cheeses can be good ways to get calcium. Broccoli contains a large amount of calcium as well as other veggies. And take your calcium supplements. Women need 1500 to 2000 mg after menopause and men after the age of 65.

You must maintain a healthy body weight into your golden years. If you are overweight there are obvious health risks that you face but there are equally dangerous risks involved with being underweight. Talk with your doctor to learn what your ideal weight is and strive to reach that weight.

Make sure you're keeping active. Your body needs exercise to function properly, especially as you age. Adding thirty minutes of exercise into your daily routine can not only keep you looking younger, but it can also extend your life. And don't wait until you're already old to exercise, start as early as possible.

It might not be a picnic to grow old, but living a long life certainly beats any alternative you could throw out there. If you're concerned at all about aging or just want to know a little bit more about the process, the tips in the article above should be able to help you out in numerous ways.