Seven ways to feel, look younger

Experts including dermatologists, nutritionists and makeup artists have offered secrets to have younger-looking skin, looking and feeling younger.

The following are some of their recommendations:

Spend time with friends

Friends are good for the soul. The time you spend doing things with other people may have a bigger effect on your lifespan than where you live, where you work, and whether you have a partner.

Do something creative

Get a little artsy and you’ll be happier, think more clearly, and have a better quality of life.

If you need an idea, consider acting. People who were asked to pick a new creative outlet said they were less intimidated by that than by singing, drawing, or painting.

If you’ve always thought you were meant for the stage, now’s your time to shine.

Exercise

You don’t have to take up a new sport. Just work in the garden or take a brisk walk around the block.

Each week, aim for at least 2 1/2 hours of activity that gets your heart going. And throw in some moves for your muscles, like push-ups or sit-ups, a couple of times. It can help you feel better, look better, and think better, too. It also helps prevent diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. But check with your doctor before starting any new exercise plan.

Wear sunscreen

No, that suntan won’t make you look younger. The sun’s ultraviolet rays cause more than 90% of the damage to your skin, which includes the kind you can see — wrinkles, rough patches, sagging, and skin blemishes. Sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer, too.

Learn something new

Keep challenging yourself, and you may help stop brain decline. Even better, consider a new skill that involves your body.

Dancing is a great example because it allows you to exercise and socialize at the same time, two things that also keep your mind and body young.

Brush, floss and rinse

If you don’t, your teeth may get yellow, and you may develop gum disease. That can eat away at your gum line — a telltale sign of age — and is linked to heart disease, stroke and even pancreatic cancer.

Don’t smoke

It causes wrinkles because it narrows your blood vessels and limits the blood that can get to the top layer of your skin.

It also causes cancer, heart disease, and lung disease — none of which make you feel or look young.

Have regular sex

Some research suggests that having sex frequently could help you live longer.

And as one 43-year-old woman named Emily shared with us, “Whenever people ask me how I look so young, I always answer ‘sex and yoga.’”

Take Vitamin C-packed fruits, veggies

Vitamin C naturally boosts your body’s collagen, which helps keep your skin firm and youthful-looking, says Jaclyn London, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.

Stick with bell peppers and strawberries, among others, to give you that youthful glow.

Go wild for mangoes

They are loaded with beta-carotene, says London, which helps your skin repair itself, stay smooth, and even delay the appearance of wrinkles. When it’s not their season, reach for winter squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, and apricots for the same effects.

Take enough water

Don’t wait until you feel thirsty: It means you’re already somewhat dehydrated, according to Baylor College of Medicine.

A 46-year-old man, Chris, says, “When I drink the amount I’m supposed to — at least eight large glasses a day — I look years younger, feel better, and drop five pounds without trying.”

Cut down on alcohol

Excessive amounts of alcohol can dehydrate and damage your skin. While it isn’t necessary for everyone to abstain (some research even suggests that a glass or two of vino a day may help you age more slowly), you shouldn’t overdo it.

Sources: WebMD and goodhousekeeping.com