5 Surprising Ways your Body Changes with Age
It's so exciting to hit those age milestones - at 16 you can drive, at 21 you can legally drink, at 25 you made it to "adulthood" - but when is it time to stop searching for the milestones and start paying attention to what's physically happening to us?
The beauty and wellness industry can make us believe that as we get older, the number on our birthday cake makes us "less-than" - but why do our bodies actually change? Once you understand some of the science behind why our bodies change with age, the more prepared you can be to combat those changes and stay as healthy as possible to live a long, happy life.
1. Metabolism & Shape
Metabolism is the chemical process by which your body turns your food (fuel) into energy. As we get older, our metabolic rate slows down - what does this do to our bodies? Your resting metabolic rate, or "RMR", is how many calories you burn while your body is at rest - if this rate goes down, you burn less calories, which would add to weight gain as you get older, especially if your eating habits stay the same. With your body now gaining weight, the actual shape of your body can change each decade. Your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, etc. can each show off a different "version" of you, depending on the speed of your metabolism and your weight trend. Women in particular tend to gain weight around the hips, thighs, and back. It's not as simple as "we gain weight when we get older" - your metabolic rate slows down, but there are ways to keep it higher.
2. Growth Hormone
When we reach age 30, our bodies stop producing somatotropin, or the "Growth Hormone". When we are children and teens, our bodies are constantly changing because we are growing - eventually, we stop the growing period and hit the aging period. During this time, the growth hormone begins to diminish, which has an affect on our metabolism as well.
3. Collagen
As we get older, our bodies produce less collagen - collagen is the structural component for connective tissue like skin and cartilage. With the loss of collagen, our skin becomes less firm and can begin to sag, especially around our chest, underarms, and skin. The good news it that there are a lot of products and supplements that can slow this process down, like protein powders.
4. Depression
A surprising way in which our body can change doesn't have to do with the physical, but the mental. When we hit our 30s and 40s, it's normal to start reflecting and thinking about life, which often leads to a "mid-life crisis" and depression. Especially with the new edition of social media, we easily fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others which can lead to depression around this time.
5. Bone Mass
As we get older, our bone mass reduces, which puts as at risk of osteoporosis. Ways to combat this is by resistance training, strength training, and making sure getting calcium is part of our daily routine.
While a lot of these might sound scary, there is good news! By being aware of the changes your body is going through, the more you can be on top of your health and forgive yourself. Don't be mad at your body for changing shape, or bouncing back a little slower than before - check in with yourself and say "What can I do to take care of my body during this different period?" Your body will surely thank you.