New research is revealing again and again new secrets to live longer, and look better. We often here about out faith being linked to genes we inherit from our parents. However, this is only part of the influence. Experts now say that about 70% of factors influencing out good health, and good looks depends on our own good choices, not just good genes.



Based on good research findings, here are the anti-aging secretes which will help you looks younger without going under the knife.

To begin with, have you ever heard of the advice stay the weight you were at 18 we are sure you must have. Walter Willett, MD, chair of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health says Maintaining your weight is the most important thing we can do to stay healthy and live longer.

Fat cells actually produce hormones that raise the risk of type 2 diabetes, and also make sub-stances called cytokines that cause inflammation, hardening the arteries and the heart and other organs. Carrying excess fat also raises the risk of some cancers.

The experts have marked wide range of weights to be healthy (between 110 and 140 pounds for a 5-foot-4 woman), partly because body frames vary tremendously. So to maintain the weight that's right for you, Willett suggests you periodically try to slip into the dress you wore to your high school prom assuming, that you were a healthy weight at that age. If not, aim for a body mass index of about 23.5. BMI above 25 means you are overweight. However for people who are muscular rather then fat should not go by then BMI index.

Secondly, Skip one meal a day. Some people might tell you to eat every 2 hours, but guess what even going long hours without food has its benefits. Going long hours without food can truly have dramatic results for how to look younger. Rats fed 30% less than normal live 30% longer than usual, and in a recent study at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the hearts of the leaner human calorie-cutters appeared 10 to 15 years younger than those of regular eaters.

Other research showed that calorie restriction improves blood insulin levels and showed fewer signs of damage to the DNA. Eating less food, scientists believe, may reduce tissue wear and tear from excess blood sugar, inflammation, or rogue molecules known as free radicals.

Experts know this has real benefits and they live by it. Mattson, chief of the laboratory of neurosciences at the National Institute on Aging, has done without breakfast for 20 years. Calabrese, a professor of toxicology and environmental health sciences at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, deserted the midday meal.

You dont need to cut calories. You only need to go long hours without food. Imagine, if you dont consume anything after dinner, and if you sleep for 8 hours, and then you can skip your breakfast and wait until lunch to eat, that can add up to almost 15 hours that you have gone without food. you'll naturally consume less that day. Or try fasting one day a week. Just drink plenty of water.

Thirdly, Taking necessary supplements is what Bruce N. Ames, PhD, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of California, Berkeley advocates and lives by: he takes daily 800 mg of alpha-lipoic acid and 2,000 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine. He says in this amount, the chemicals boost the energy output of mitochondria, which power our cells. "I think mitochondrial decay is a major factor in aging," Ames says. Research shows that it's been linked to diseases such as Alzheimer's and diabetes.

In his studies, elderly rats plied with the supplements had more energy and ran mazes better. "If you're an old rat, you can be enthusiastic," Ames says. "As people, we can't be sure until clinical trials are done." (They're under way.) But the compounds look very safe the worst side effect documented in humans is a rash, Ames says and the data in animals looks really convincing, says S. Mitchell Harman, MD, PhD, president of the Kronos Longevity Research Institute in Phoenix.

Fourthly, Owning a pet reduces the number of visits to the doctor, prolongs survival after a heart attack, and wards off depression, says James Serpell, PhD, director of the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society at the University of Pennsylvania. His family has a cat, a dog, a large green iguana, a bearded dragon, and a dozen fish.

Owning a pet also protects against a major problem of aging such as high blood pressure. In one standout study at State University of New York, Buffalo, stockbrokers with high blood pressure adopted a pet. When they were faced with mental stress, their BP increased less than half as much as in their counterparts without animal pals.

Fifthly, Gardening or being around plants has its advantages. Patients who had a view of trees as they recovered from surgery left the hospital almost a day sooner than those with a view of a brick wall. In another study, blood pressure jumped in workers given a stressful task, but rose only a quarter as much if there were plants in the room.

Furthermore, eating different colors of fruits and vegetables is very important. To look younger, and stay healthy aim for nine to ten servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

Taking care of your eyes is very important also. Getting plenty of omega-3s in food or supplements may help ward off age-related macular degeneration. Plant antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin (found in leafy green vegetables like kale and collards) are also helpful.

Moreover, Studies suggest that the antioxidant-rich extract of the South American fern Polypodium leucotomos may help keep your skin youthful by protecting against free radicals and reducing inflammation.

Lastly, High-glycemic foods, rich in quick-digesting carbohydrates, can cause blood sugar spikes and crashes and contribute to overeating and diabetes risk, which accelerates the aging process. Avoid those sugary drinks and French fries.