There are two kinds of aging: One is natural caused by time and genetics and the other is called extrinsic and is caused by climate and our own lifestyle choices. Everything ages faster when left out in the hot sun: Clothes fade, metal rusts, and paint peels. Our bodies need to be protected from the heat of the summer to prevent aging and preserve its youth.
To prevent ageing you need to start young and plan for the long haul by getting into healthy habits and being consistent. Look after your body from the inside and outside. No expensive cream from Paris will keep you young if you do not eat healthy foods and very importantly, drink lots of water.
Healthy eating and drinking mainly water are very important. Taking a good quality supplement on a regular basis for years produces optimal long-term results. Exercise is also important, as you want to promote a good toned strong body as well as good circulation.
Moisturize on the inside
In hot weather your body loses a lot of water and you must continually replace the body fluids that have been lost. Hydration is really important, as not drinking enough water will soon concentrate the liquids within the body and also cause dry and premature aging skin. To avoid this make it a good habit to drink water throughout the day. In the hot season limit drinks that make you dehydrated such as coffee, tea and caffeinated soda. These should definitely be regarded as occasional treats.
Protect the outside
In a hot climate you need to protect your skin from the sun’s rays and moisturize. The sun does produce a feel good factor but lying and roasting for long periods is unwise as you can damage skin and very often the damage does not show up until years later when wrinkles and brown patches appear on the skin. We may love the sun but it does not necessarily love us. We do need some time outside to get natural vitamin D even in the hot months. But this should not be done at a time when the sun is at its most scorching. I met an Arab lady who was a grandmother who had the beautiful skin of a young woman as she had always kept her face covered.
Over time, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light damages the skin’s elastin. Apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or greater 30 minutes before sun exposure. Sunscreens are not expensive to manufacture, but the more expensive ones do look and feel nicer. The basic ingredients all come down to the same thing; all European manufactured brands must conform to EU criteria.
Hair care in hot climates
The sun is perilous too for your hair — it will act like bleach to lighten it, dry and frizzle it. The combination of dust, wind, heat and chlorine are disastrous for chemically treated hair. The very best protection is a nice hat or head scarf, or a pretty parasol to use when walking about. There are many excellent sun protective leave-in products; if you are planning to swim, make sure that they are water-resistant.
Ask Alva
I am 37 years old I am working in the Gulf for the past 10 years. I am way over weight as my weight is 130 kg. I want to reduce my weight as soon as possible.
— Serina
I would suggest that you eat a balanced diet and take regular exercise to lose the weight but also to be healthy and have a nice toned body. I never recommend crash diets as they do not work and all the effort is wasted. Once the crash diet is over you feel great relief that the diet is over and then relax. You are then tempted to eat more and just put the weight back on. I recommend gradual weight loss by making gradual changes to your daily eating routine
Get your free copy of my Mini-Morning Workout at www.ardenhealth.com. Try to do these exercises every morning when you wake up and before your shower. If you get into the routine of doing them, you will enjoy them and you will have more energy for your day. Start gently as you are overweight Try and also go for an evening stroll. You need to exercise as you lose weight otherwise you will end up with loose skin. You can do it!
— Alva
Summer Protection
