As 2016 comes to an end, we tend to spend time setting our goals for the future and resolutions for the New Year. 

And as a weight loss coach, December is quite the busy month for me as I hear from lots of women looking to get started on their weight loss goals and head into the new year feeling fit and fabulous. 

When it comes to living longer, getting stronger and looking younger, many people don’t think it’s possible. In fact, so many people don’t even know what it means to actual feel well. To feel vibrant. To feel joyful. To feel fit and strong. So the thought of achieving these things seems pretty impossible. 

My father, who is quite the joker, will often make funny comments about his funeral and hoping he won’t be here in another 10 or 15 years to deal with all the s**t from his kids! Yes, it’s funny, but the fact of the matter is, I don’t know many 65 year olds who are excited about another 20 years of life. 

And this is because all the 65 year olds that I know are plagued with inflammation, are over weight, on a number of medications, don’t eat well, don’t exercise and have no idea what it means to have a thriving, healthy, strong body. So of course they have no interest in living longer!

Living longer would mean more pain, more discomfort, more medication and lack of mobility.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. In fact, you can control how young you look and feel simply by tapping into a little known power source that lives insides your cells. This tiny power source, a protein called Telomeres, helps to keep your DNA in prime condition.

What does this mean for you? It means better brain power, a reduced risk of disease and a longer life. Amazing right?

By implementing these 7 tips below, you can protect your telomeres and slow down the aging process: 

1. Move Your Body – From oxygenating your blood, to strengthening your muscles and keeping your body fit, there are numerous reasons to exercise. But the best part about exercise is the impact is has on your telomeres; making them longer and healthier, which for you my friend, means longevity and youthfulness. Score! Be sure to include a variety of exercises and workouts, such as yoga, pilates, strength training, cardio, hiking, dance, etc. 
2. Have Sex More Often – Of all the 7 tips, this just might be the juiciest one and one I probably don’t need to convince you to do more of! Not only does regular sex keep your telomeres strong, but it supports hormonal health, reduces stress, increases happiness and overall wellbeing. This means a reduced risk of heart disease and depression.
3.  Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet – specifically focusing on getting in healthy omega 3’s from wild caught fish (such as sardines, anchovies, salmon and mackerel), which help your body fight chronic inflammation. Inflammation can shorten your telomeres, causing an increased risk of disease and causing you to age faster. Aside from those healthy omega’s be sure to load up on vitamin C rich foods, such as berries, citrus and lots of greens. Fibre is also incredibly important, which helps to support insulin levels. More insulin spikes means more inflammation. Get your fibre from veggies as well as things like flax and chia. Fibre is also essential for supporting your gut health. As Hippocrates said “All disease begins in the gut.” Download this gut healing recipe ebook for free and start taking care of one of the most important area of your health. 
4. Manage Your Stress – it’s sounds so simple, yet it’s the hardest thing to do, right? Listen, I get it – kids, bills, work, deadlines, relationships, it can all be stressful. Not only does stress affect your telomeres, but it also increases inflammation in your body and imbalances hormones. Moving your body more and having more sex and 2 great ways to manage your stress, but more importantly, managing stress is also a mental thing. Do you overreact to everything? Do you see the negative in everything versus the good? It takes time to work on the mental reactions to stress, but it’s vital that we learn how to become less reactive to everything around us. Especially when so much of it is out of our control. 
5. Get to Bed – Primo sleep time is between the hours of 10pm and 2am. And if you happen to be tossing and turning, going to bed too late, and getting less than 7 hours of sleep a night, there’s a good chance you’ll increase inflammation, put on more weight and shorten your telomeres – which doesn’t sound all so youthful to me! It’s vital to create a sleep sanctuary – no tv, no phones, no stimulants of any kind. Keep your lights dimmed after you enjoy your dinner, cuddle up with your partner, read a good book, meditate and make it a priority to slow down your mind and mental chatter. 
6. Detox Your Environment – this one is a biggie! Are you cleaning your home with chemicals? How clean is your air? Are there PCB’s and indoor air pollutants circulating around? How about your body care and skin care products? Are they full of phthalates, sulphates, fragrances, parabens and mineral oil? I don’t mean to scare you or overwhelm you, but the fact of the matter is, we are surrounded by chemicals, many of which we have no control over. So why no get rid of the chemicals we DO have control over? Not only do these chemicals negatively impact your telomeres, but you are eating, breathing and touching them on a daily basis. You can simply use plants to clean your air, such as Boston ferns, Peace Lilies and English Ivy and as for your beauty care products, you can make your own non-toxic ones with this guide here, and it’s easy to find many natural brands and alternatives at the health food store. 
7. Stop Sitting – at least for extended periods of time. If you work at a desk all day, set an alarm to remind yourself to get up and move. Research from the University of Mississippi showed that for every additional hour people sit in front of a screen per day, they have a 7 percent increase in their odds of having short telomeres. On calls all day? How about walking and talking? What about getting a standing desk? There are many creative ways to get up and move throughout your day.

When it comes to living longer, getting stronger and looking younger, apply these 7 simple strategies and tips above. Make them a priority. Our bodies are so incredible and easily adapt to change, especially when its healthy change. By simply implementing these tips above you, will add years to your life (and life to your years!), slow down the aging process and strengthen your body in so many healthy ways – physically, mentally and emotionally.