Is That Normal? Weird Things Our Bodies Do as We Age

Some things in life are just indisputable: day turns into night, the sky is blue, humans age. Although aging can seem like a scary topic to discuss, it’s one of the most natural transitions that happen to humans. Most of the time, we discuss the transitions that we go through in our first few years, as we go from being babies to children. However, transitions don’t stop after we turn into adults. 

From head to toe, our bodies change as we age. It happens gradually, from the one or two gray hairs to the new pain that settles in with sudden movement. And although there isn't a way to stop aging, we can understand all the changes happening to our bodies to best take care of ourselves. 

Here are the things you can expect to see as you start to age: 

Top 5 Ways Age Affects Our Bodies

1. Your skin starts to lose its elasticity.

According to the media, tight and wrinkle-free skin is one of the most desired signs of youthful beauty. However, regardless of appearance and preference, our skin inevitably takes its natural course when we age. This is because we start to produce about 1% less collagen every year after we turn 20.

Collagen — one of the most vital proteins in our bodies — is what makes our skin elastic, strong, and less prone to wrinkling. So as our collagen production decreases year after year, our skin naturally starts to lose the reinforcing structure that collagen provides during our younger years. 

But there’s no need to fret just yet. There are several ways to combat collagen loss! You can eat more foods that naturally contain high amounts of collagen, like bone broth or gelatin. Vitamin C and protein-rich foods can also help your body produce collagen naturally. Or, you can add collagen supplements (like NatureWise Enhanced Collagen Peptides) to your diet to support proper collagen levels in your body. 

And of course, don’t forget the sunscreen! With more fragile skin, you’ll need the utmost protection from the sun’s harsh rays.

2. Your heart works harder to pump blood.

When it comes to aging, heart health doesn’t get the media attention that skin elasticity does. But to no one’s surprise, the heart is one of the most important organs we need to keep healthy as we age. 

However, what may come as a surprise is that the heart is also a muscle. And just like any muscle, the heart needs regular exercise to stay strong. In the absence of exercise, the heart muscle weakens as we age and can possibly lead to high blood pressure, or hypertension. This increases the risk of serious health problems, like heart disease and strokes. 

Although the reality of poor heart health is scary, there are preventative measures that can decrease your chance of developing severe heart-related issues. Exercise is the number one way to prevent heart issues, and can even reverse some of the effects of aging. Plus, focus on maintaining a nutrient-rich and low-salt diet. Several supplements can help with supporting heart health as well, including NatureWise Turmeric Curcumin with BioPerine. 

3. Your vision loses clarity.

Many of us already experience some form of vision impairment. Across the United States, there are about 164 million adults who wear eyeglasses and are already familiar with the experience of changing vision.

But as you age, you may notice that you can’t really see things up close or need brighter lights to see better. Or, you may also start to see floating spots across your vision, called floaters. These are natural transitions that you experience as you get older. 

Past the annual eye exams, take care of your eyes by reducing strain. Support your eye health by wearing sunglasses regularly when needed. Also, use prescription eyeglasses and decrease your exposure to blue light, which damages your eyes. NatureWise Organic Flaxseed Oil also makes a useful addition to your diet since it contains lutein, an essential antioxidant that supports eye health.

4. Your bones get weaker.

Did you know that humans have over 200 bones in our bodies? Most people won’t be able to name most of them, but what we do know is that our skeleton is the support system that allows us to move about the world. As we age, our bones naturally start to become more brittle. 

Bone loss accelerates around the time we turn 65 and then gradually continues for the rest of our lives. This means you can experience greater pain in your joints, and physical activity can become more difficult. More serious issues include bone diseases like osteoporosis, which increases the risk of bone breakage. 

Luckily, the best ways to support bone strength mirror the ways to maintain heart health: exercising and consuming a proper diet. Exercise can help slow bone loss, and a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D will help fortify your bones. If you live in an area that receives sunlight, exercising outdoors can help you soak in vitamin D from the sun (again, remember your sunscreen!). But if you need or prefer to work out indoors, consider NatureWise Vegan Vitamin D3 + K2 to help maintain strong bones.

5. Your immunity waivers.

We spend decades building our immunity, and it serves us well. Our immunity has been through it all and protects us valiantly from the dirt that creeps into our mouths as children to the occasional flu that puts us in bed for a couple of days.

But as we get older, our immunity naturally becomes weaker. Behind the scenes, we produce fewer white blood cells, which means it can take longer to recover from illness or infection. Another factor to consider for wavering immunity in older adults is mental health: research shows that older adults with mental health disorders like depression can experience suppressed immune systems. 

To keep your immune system robust as you age, reduce risks of viral or bacterial infections and take care of your mental health. Supplements like NatureWise Black Seed Oil and Magnesium can encourage better immunity in your body. Or, try Women's Multivitamin with Stress Support, 5-HTP, and Ashwagandha for Stress for better mental health maintenance. 

Embrace The Natural Transition

In the end, there is no “weird” thing that our bodies do as we age; it’s all part of the natural transition every one of us experiences. Embrace the changes as they come, and you’ll be one step closer to guaranteeing overall wellness for yourself!