While you can't prevent getting older, there are some steps you can take that will drastically affect the way you look and feel as you age. There is a big correlation between how you look and how you feel--when most of us think of looking younger we picture someone with a glowing complexion, firm skin and a youthful energy, in other words we picture someone who looks healthy. Well, looking healthy comes from the inside out, so the most important thing you can do is improve how you feel by fortifying your body with nutrients and rest. When you feel good on the inside, you will naturally look healthy on the outside too.

We've all seen those people who we know are “older” but yet they still “look great.” Well, here is how you can become one of those people--and you don't need cosmetic surgery to do it. Plus, since you're addressing your health from the inside you will not only look great, but you'll feel great as well.

You Are What You Eat
There is a reason why the phrase “you are what you eat” became popular. I cannot stress enough how important diet is in the way you look and feel. If you choose to eat primarily junk food and processed food, not only are you not giving your body the nutrients it needs, but also you are consciously ingesting toxins that your body will have to work to remove.

On the other hand, if you eat a diet full of pure, whole foods, your body will be healthy and will have the nutrients to devote to things such as skin and hair.

Smile During the Day and Get Your Beauty Sleep at Night
There is quite a bit of truth behind the term ‘beauty sleep.' That's because when you sleep your body is able to repair cells and rest your heart and mind. It's imperative that your body has a chance to revitalize itself overnight. Too many nights of missed sleep will show up on your face and will take a toll on your body too.

While you're awake make sure that you take some time to enjoy life. It's no illusion that stressful events seem to make wrinkles and gray hairs appear overnight. Stress will wear you down both inside and out--it has been estimated that up to 90 percent of illness and disease is stress-related.

Exercise-Exercise
Middle-aged and elderly individuals may be able to slow some of the effects of aging on the cardiovascular system using exercise. To get the desired results, people-with their doctor's approval-need to participate in strenuous exercise for at least a half-hour three times a week.

That conclusion is from an analysis of 37 studies including 720 adults aged 46 to 90. In those studies, people who participated in at least 30 minutes of exercise three times a week and achieved at least 80% of VO2 max-the maximum oxygen consumption, which is a measure of the ability to transport and use oxygen during exercise-can slow the decline in cardiovascular health that accompanies old age.

Individuals who exercised at this level for more than 15 weeks showed no significant benefits over those who exercised for less than 15 weeks, suggesting that improvements can be made in less than 4 months and then maintained after that point. The investigators found no difference in fitness between people who walked and jogged, and those who cycled.

Skin Care
Gentle cleansing
Beauty consultant Nance Mitchell in Beverly Hills, California, suggests that you brush your teeth (toothpaste can irritate the area around your mouth) before cleansing. Splash your face with tepid water, then smooth a quarter-size amount of a mild, soap-free cleanser over your face. (It's up to you whether you use a fresh washcloth or your fingertips, but fingertips are gentler.) Lightly massage the cleanser into your skin with circular strokes. Rinse with tepid water, then blot -- never rub -- with a clean towel.